Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1877-02-22
Plymouth Public Schools.

gence OF our people could be erected
than the most elegant and commodi-
Gus building which is occupied for
the purposes Of the schools. Viewed
from the outside it is at once impos-
ing and attractive. Its architecture
being OF modern cast. On entering
the building the visitor is struck by
the perfect neatness and good order
everywhere apparent. The hall floors
are fairly brilliant, presentinga glossy
appearance which makes the stranger
| feel as il he were liable to slip and
fall at any moment. This effect is
produced because the floors are kept
| scrupulously clean and we'll oiled.
Woe be unto to the youthful biped
who Is so careless as to carry any
portion of Marshall county mud upon
these floors. The spirit of the man
agement in this regard is highly COM
mendable, for it is doubtless a fact
that so little attention is paid to many
of our school house floors that they
resemble the floor of pig pen. Clean
illness is next to Goodness, and our
tea ,hers throughout the county
would do well to give enough atten-
ton, at least, to the matter to permit
clean shoes only to be put on their
floors. 1t would be branch of edu-
cation that would be highly apprecia-
ted by mothers. The entire interior
OF the Plymouth building is kept in
clean. tasty and attractive manner
During the cold weather the pupils
have been required to enter the side
basement doors, from whence they
proceed to their respective apart
ments, depositing their wrappers in
the closets for that purpose. No play
ing or noise Of any kind is permitted
inside the building. The exit is made
through the same doors, the pupils
falling into line and marching off to-
ward their homes to the tap of the
drum, in quasi military style. A
careful observance OF these rules has
had the effect of producing the most
complete discipline. which is of meal
culable benefit to the government OF
the different departments in the in
stitution. The temperature in the
entire building is most carefully reg
ulated so as to range from go to zoo.
A great many visitors from all
parts OF the State 60 through the
building-Indeed every person deep
ly interested in education who comes
to Plymouth visits the schools. To
enable visitors to go through without
disturbance q directory has been pre-
pared, printed copies of which may be
had at the main entrance.
Taking the departments in detail
commencing at the primary the Wis.,
itor will first enter Division G.. Ninth
Grade, Miss s. j. Small, Manchester,
Iowa, teacher-first floor left hand.
There are So enrolled pupils, with
desks for 30. Miss Small is firm, and
kind in her manner, and seems to
have the pupils well under control.
REGULATIONS are good.
Division +. Eighth Grade, Miss
Mary ID. Barbour, Elkhart county,
Ind, teacher, corresponds to the Sec
ond primary-first floor right hand.
Pupils enrolled 60, desks for 55. The
pupils appear to esteem Miss Bar
bour, who treats them with the ut
most kindness, and preserves good
order.
Division E. Seventh and Sixth
Grade, Miss Dell II. Weaver, Jerome.
Michigan, teacher-first floor left
hand. Pupils enrolled SO, desks for
50. The pupils in this department
are bright and intelligent; making
good Rotations, and preserving
good order.
Division ID. Fifth and Fourth
Grades, Miss Mary E. Arnold, Monroe,
Michigan, teacher-first floor right
hand. Pupils enrolled 50, desks for
30. Miss Arnold shows herself very
efficient teacher, her pupils being in
telligent and studious.
Division G. Fourth Grade, Miss Nell
Garrison, Bristol, Ind, teacher-sec-
ond floor right hand. Pupils en-
rolled 81, desks for fifty. The pupils
in this room are bright and studious.
The room Is supplied with an organ,
which Is quite an aid In the opening
exercises, which are musical and de-
votionaI.
Division B. Third and Second
Grades, Wellington 4. Bailey, Plym-
outh, teacher-second floor left hand.
Pupils enrolled SO, desks for 55. Mr..
Bailey conducts his department in a
creditable manner, some OF the reci-
tations being very interesting. This
room is also supplied with an organ.
I Division A. First Grade, Miss
Laura M. Page, Sturgis, Michigan,
teacher. Pupils enrolled AZ, desks
for 80. Pupils here receive the final
preparation for the High School.
They march to the Rotations to a
piano accompaniment. Miss Page is
an efficient and careful teacher, yet
the only disorder seen by the REPUB-
LIcAN reporter in the entire building
was in this room-some giggling girls
taking advantage OF the moment
when the teachers back was turned
toward them to indulge in pantomine
and laughter. Some of the High
School pupils study in this room, re-
citing to Miss Alice o. Allen in an
adjoining room. There are % pupils
in the High School.
1t would be q difficult matter to
particularize as to the best teachers
and best kept apartments. In gen.
eral way it may be said that an air of
neatness, cleanliness, and good order
prevails everywhere. Tho teachers
make it their business to teach and
the pupils from the primary up make
it their business to study. Compar-
ing the public schools OF Plymouth
with others in Indiana. it may be
safely asserted that the system, gov
eminent, and efficiency are equal, IL
not superior to anything in the State.
The trustees need to give their at
tention to the matter OF putting in a
few more desks in all the lower
grades. AS the matter now stands,
in each room there ere from three to
five Of tho pupils who have no desks.
They have their states and books to
take care OF, to say nothing OF the
discomfort OF sitting on the bare
forms during the hours of study. The
expense would be slight and the profit
great. The rooms are well supplied
with charts and maps. and indeed
everything that is needed in any way,
/ <k.A III 4