Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-07-17
OUR COUNTY SCHOOLS.
comments and suggestions by the
County superintendent.
DIsRIcT 30. )

DIsRIcT \ )
has an i'll furnished log school house In
Higgins Bend, with q small blackboard
aud a few rough slab benches, but without
desks. Number Of legal scholars, 81,
number % school roll, 81 Of whom only
- were on duty July 18Th, owing to
whooping cough. Order and atteu,ion to
business excellent. People Of the district
all spoke highly Of the school. On exam
lining the results Of the teachers efforts for
three months past, l was well satisfied
With his methods in reading, spelling and
the common branches; except that being
allowed no desks he had not taught pen
manship. The teacher is a young man OF
Is living near by, and MS first school gives
promise OF increased usefulness if he con
tinues to educate and prepare himself for
the profession. First superintendent visit
ever made TO lhis district.
JOINT DISTRICT no. II
has a log school house slightly better pro
vided than the last, standing two rods west
Of the line of Clay county, near Mr. Far
gos, OF the 20 pupils enrolled July 18th,
10 were present; bat these TIN showed
signs OF harder school work and greater
ability to teach than any country school
yet visited this season. | listened TWO
hours 10 a review Of their requirements.
The teacher, t. S. Dickson, says be was
recently a lawyer in Chicago; but starting
for the Black Hills and becoming destitute,
he took the school tea weeks ago. The
amount he taught these ten small boys and
girls In this brief time was surprising, and
develops rare tact and fondness for teaching
IN one who has a sound and accurate libe-
raj education. 1t should also be said that
he found better materia! among his pupils
than the average.
DISTRICT NO. G
is a small weak district, reporting Is legal
scholars and destitute of a school house.
School was taught by a young lady of the
district, in a small building used for that
purpose. 1t was her first effort, but was
quite credltable to her. Ten children were on
the list and five present July 18th. Very
few conveniences for instruction were furn-
lshed. But the inhabitants deserve praise
Tor Keeping up a school when so many
stronger districts give it up in despair aud
lose their organization.
JOINT DIsTRICT no. 20
at Gayyllle has the best school house and
largest blackboard, but not patent desks,
Here found the first wall map in a school
rooms small map of the United States.
This is a strong district, reporting 76 legal
scholars. The roll showed about 25, but
only II or 10 were present at the closing
exercises, July 18th. Several visitors and
patrons were present, and listened to read
ing, spelling. history and Rotations of
poetry. The order was good and the school
seemed to work tremendously, though the
Evolutionary training was quite defective,
especially among the children of foreign
parentage. This school and that In Joint
district No. IL, were recently inspected by
the superintendent of Clay county.
A L EXAMINATION
was given on Saturday, July 18th, by Mr..
Dickson's school beginning at 1917 a. m. in
the grove by the residence of s. G. Fargo,
IL was attended by his ten pupils-bright
little boys and girls, and an audience Of
some thirty visitors. First came the read
ing class, standing on the platform used on
Inc 4th OF July, and the audience occupy
ing the seats. Notwithstanding the strong
breeze rustling through the trees, they all
reao IN a loud, clear tone distinctly audible
to all; which of itself was quite an unusual
feat. They then sustained a fine examina-
ton in arithmetic, geography of the world,
grammar, orthography, and history, sacred
ana profane, ancient AID modern. They
recited with uniform excellence the princi-
pal events OF ancient and bible times, the
lists OF Jewish kings, Roman emperors
from Romulus to Augustus, names of all
monarchs OF England, dates of rise and
fall OF empires and of discoveries in the
new world, names of presidents and scores
OF other topics that had been taught them
orally by their teacher. His method of
teaching is chiefly oral. dispensing with
books and depending upon The learning
Stored In his very letentive memory. An
abundant picnic dinner followed, then AN
ADDRESS by the superintendent, and a series
OF dialogues and spoken pieces, closing
with games, plays, swinging, boating aud
other sport. The whole Affair was nor only