Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-06-15
Some Minutes with the Little Ones in the
Public Schools.

Last Friday we dropped In at tlle Scilooi
Of Miss Leila Beers, who was examining
her Juvenile scholars. This room is to us
the NEST int resting in the Academy, Sc
as we could not find time to see them all,
we stopped an hour to see the little ones
put through. There are over forty of them,
from 5 to 10 years Of age and the average
is ears. A class called up as we walked
in, had fourteen in it ranging from q span
long to at least a yard Some Of them
could not spell alb ab last October, some
didn't even know their letter. But they
ratified off such words as ''beautiful,''
'perceive," "surprise,'' ''through,,' ely
ing" &C., without moments hesitation,
only one word was missed and that was
goDbled up by the next boy.
The same class then read with remarka-
Bile fluency in the I'd Reader, scarcely one
slipping up, tho they were scared half to
death.
These children were taught by the new
word method, by which as much seems to
be accomplished in or months as is Or
dinarily done in tWo years.
The next class of seven, none over IL
years, read from the Sd Reader and spelt
and defined difficult words without sin
gle mistake.
The youngest Geography class we have
seen was next called up, several of them
were not six years of age end didn't know
their letters eight months ago. They now
have a very good idea of the world we
live ill.," Here is q sample question asked
little Harry Haines, a bright S year old.
What is the difference between an island
and a peninsula ? Ans. promptly.-"An
island is piece Of land entirely surround
ed by water, d p 'ninsula is not entirely
surrounded by water" What is the use
of rivers and lakes Ans.-To turn ma
chinery and for sending people and goods
about-no hesitation or prompting.
rhetorical exercises being in order, q
sweet little Miss of II, the big girl Of the
room, Maggie Robinson, delivered g neat
stlutatory address with a good deal of
sense and self possession.
After which DR.. Brown had them all up
TO sing, Happy greeting" and they did it
with vim and spirit rarely seen in grown
people. There is where children get the
advantage over grown folks in singing: he
crown folks often simulate the spirit which
they know they ought to show, but the
children really feel it; and it is VOL derful
how the teacher Of these mites Of singers
ever got them trained to keep such adj
nirable time as they do.
Defamation is next in order, and the
first declaimer was Clarke Strasburg, a.
youthful orator about two feet long. His
piece, GA soldier! Oh, let me be q sol
dier!n WAS spoken with real spirit, as if
the speaker was fired with military ardor,
and only lacked inches and opportunities
to make him q hero. He must have been
Inspired just before coming to the school
room by one Of the Stonewall Band S
marches.
Six little girls, sweetly dressed, and
with bright faces, then stepped out. The
first sung q couplet expressing strong de-
sire to be yellow bird The whole school
joined in the chorus, ''Oh, we are always
wishing for what we cannot be-" Then
the next little girl wanted to be CLUTTER
hy," and was also reproached by the
chorus. Then came D crimson rose, q dia-
mond, q maple tree, and the anomaly, a
nice, obedient girl, closing still with the
deprecatory chorus. 1t was a pretty piece,
{ and well sung.
There were several OF the small fry so
much overcome, either by the sadness Of
these closing scenes or the presence Of
strangers, as to cause their voices to Waver
ana their eyes to overflow with tears, but
with the encouragement Of the sympathiz
ing superintendent they persisted until
they all got through. Net one failed to
perform his or her part, and q valuable les
son of endurance and perseverance was
| learned.
Little Bessy Shumate delivered an ap-
| propriate and touching valedictory. and at
the conclusion the teacher presented Julia
Halnes with a pretty prize book, for regu-
lar attendance, not having been absent
once during the session.
Prof. Ladd, the Superintendent, in his
| good bye talk said that he had never known
q school in which there were so many in
stances Of remarkable precocity Of intellect
and rapid advancement; that Miss Beers
had devoted herself to those fifty children
unremittingly, even beyond what could
! have been expected Of her. AS certain
ones had advanced more rapidly than
others lie had promoted them, thus form
ing new classes and adding to the labor of
the teacher. But she had met every re-
quirement, and her labor had been one of
love, which had been rewarded by love and
confidence on the part Of the children
such as is rarely met with. In fact it was
evident to every observer that there was a
most perfect understanding between teach
CT and pupils, resting upon mutual conf
dence and affection, state of things I'M
fortunately too rarely met with in schools
public OF private.
We had also prepared an account of the
examination in Mrs. billions school, which
has been unavoidably crowded out till next
week.
MILITARY VIsIToRs.-The welcome
visit Of the Harrisonburg Guards, Capt. 0.
3. Roller, was surprise to the Staunton
people, Saturday, in more ways than one.
Few OF them knew that town had mill
tary company, it having been organized
only few days. and were not prepared to-
see handsome, trim-looking set of men,.
marching our streets with the step of vet
Grams. Besides being q fine-looking COM,
pany, their bearing was unexceptionables
and their quiet, gentlemanly department off
duty, excited as many compliments as