Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-03-30
THE SCHOOL EXAMINATIONS.

| attended by the people OF the village, anu
deep ana wide spread interest was devel-
oped which was highly gratifying to those
having the schools in charge. The exam
nations in both departments were Of the
most thorough and careful character. II
was evident that none of the classes had
been crammed for the occasion, and the on
| ~ effort was to show just what were the at
tainments of each individual member Of
the schools. Thursdays examination OF
tho Grammar school classes, under Miss
Slason and her assistants, was undoubted-
| ly new revelation TO many who were
present of the drill aud capabilities OF the
boys aud girls OF that school, aud there
was manifest fascination about tho reci-
tations which kept visitors there through
out the day, aud brought them back, with
large increase of numbers, on Friday.
| The Grammar school rhetorical exercises
on Thursday evening consisted of recita-
tions, declarations and dialogues, inter-
spersed with singing by the school in cho-
rus. In every instance the children partic-
| ipating acquitted themselves creditably.
The selections for reci alton and declama-
| ton were of high order aud the manner
in which they were delivered showed, not
only competent rhetorical drill, but an
Intelligent appreciation of the spirit and
sentiment of the pieces attempted. The
parts in the three dialogues, the "Sewing
| Circle" the Spelling SCHOOL, and the
Domestic Scene" were admirably taken,
and in several cases the manner in which
the different actors lost themselves in their
| al, Iarf IN lao do.
sired. When we consider that the ages of the
children who carried out the evenings pro-
grsmme were only from nine years up 10
| fifteen, or lhereabouts, il is no wonder that
the large audience felt that their perform
ances were of a remarkable degree Of mer-
it, and signiiied their approval by repeated
rounds of applause. 1t is probable that
the minds OF more than one father and
mother went back to the time of their own
childhood, at say ten or twelve years, and
made mental comparison OF their capa
biities at that time with what their chill
dren are now doing.
The only regret in connection with the
examination of the High school was that
the comparatively brief time " hich could
be given to each recitation did not permit
Of that extended and critical examination
which the different classes were prepared
to endure, while Rotations in several of
the most important and interesting branch
es were necessarily omitted. Nothing but
another full days time could have done
ample justice TO all the branches taught.
Enough was done, however, both as re-
CARDS this and the Grammar school, 10 fully
In oil hat a H., l..
review of their work. A competent and
critical audience were present during the
examination ofMiss Walkers Latin classes
on Friday morning, and their expressions
OF satisfaction with the progress shown
were unqualified. Miss Howe's History
class in the afternoon exhibited remark
able familiarity with names aud dates, as
well as with causes and effects, pertaining
to the early history of the country. The
Arithmetic aud Algebra Rotations uu-
der Mr.. Bingham, and the Geometry I'M
der Miss Walker, delighted all who heard
them and have received no end of favora-
BILE comment. For ourselves we felt per-
sonal regret that visitors could not witness
a careful examination OF Mr.. Bingham's
Senior class, in Higher Arithmetic and in
Astronomy, but time did not permit. If
we may judge from the expressions of cor
dial commentator which We have heard
on every side, what impressed visitors
most favorably during Fridays examina-
ton was not alone the degree and accuracy
OF knowledge displayed by each pupil, but
it was, still more than this, the spirit OF
quick and Independent thought with which
the individual members of the classes had
been inspired by their teachers. The spec
linens of drawing were prominently ex-
hibited on both days and attracted univer-
sal attention and admiration.
The general air of ready sympathy, strict
discipline, and hearty operation which
was manifested between teachers aud pu-
pills on both days made a marked impress
sion on the listeners, and the evident result
Of these examinations was 10 give the peo-
pie Of the district better idea than they
ever had before of tho high standard of ex-
cellence, admirable methods and more than
satisfactory attainments which have been
reached in our schools through years OF
bard work. The peoples appreciation of
their schools, and their cordial approval OF
the manner in which they are conducted,
were never So intelligent or so well-ground-
ed as they are to-day.
The exercises on Friday evening consist
ed of singing by the full chorus of the two
schools, upward of 200 in number, with es-
says by the young ladies and declarations
by the young gentlemen ofthe High school
graduating class. The pupils and teachers
occupied the platform, which was neatly
arranged and decorated for the occasion,
leaving The whole body of the house and
the gallery for the audience. Every foot of
room was occupied, and it is doubtful IL
the town hall ever held so many people at
one time before. 1t is at least certain that
it never before held so many delighted and
satisfied listeners. Miss Cooke presided at
the organ and led the chorus in singing.
Some eighteen or twenty different selec-
lions were given, intersperse1 with the
other exercises, and exhibiting, by their va
riety of style aud movement, the thorough
drill and instruction which the schools
have received in this branch. Probably
with no one feature of the examinations
were the people more pleased and surprised
than with the full, inspiring, and carefully
attuned voices of the children as they
poured forth 10 the different numbers of
this evenings programme. The essays of
The young ladies were uniformly Of high
er order than are often heard on an occasion
like this. The line Of thought was in ey-
cry case well defined, and often original
and individual in its tone, while the style
Of expression was coucise, finished and
graceful. The declarations by the young
gentlemen were, without exception, of su-