The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-06-12
SCHOOL COMMANDMENTS.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

our puulic ScuOOiS utlfiiS tflc past SCafs ii'
one who is interested enough in them to OBJ
serve their working, can deny. A. u matter
OF course, they are as yet far from perfect,
but considering the revolution to which, in
measure, they have been subjected, the
result is most gratifying. The new and able
Superintendent, DIR. Hamilton, has during
the past ten months laid the foundation for
general graduation that eventually will make
the Staunton Schools model. 1t will take
time, patience aud labor to accomplish this,
and the full fruit of the work may not be
apparent for several years. but with each
succeeding session the improvement will be
| as marked as it has been within the last.
The system which is now being introduced
is the only system upon which large schools
can be successfully operated. 1t contcm-
plates the thorough groundin. and under
standing OF the pupil in the studies pursued,
and permits the advancement of none until
they are thoroughly prepared. 1t may not be
as gratifying to scholars, nor indeed to par
ents, as the old plan of pushing forward the
child from one grade to another, whatever
its attachments may be. but the wisdom OF
this course will be manifest in the result
achieved and the benefits l)wing from it.
10 lay the founda broad and deep should
be the first aim of an educleor and If we
mistake not it is this very object that is
guiding DR.. Hamilton in the discharge Of
of his official duties. In order to the accom-
II; e,,li eel.
the hearty sympathy and cooperation OF not
only the parents but the city government
will be needed, and they should be rendered
with no stinted generosity.
The recent examina tions bear abundant
testimony to the zeal and efficiency with
which the work is going on and demonstrate
the advance made in the mode Of instruction.
Last week the colored schools had their
closing examinations. We were debarred
from attending any but that OF the senior
class, taught by Miss Mitchell. In this room
the Oldest pupils were perhaps sixteen. The
studies upon which they were examined
were reading, arithmetic, grammar and ge-
! ography, with some good specimens of elocu-
Ttion. In all of these the pupils showed a
proficiency remarkable. 1t was not so m uch
that they had gene over the studies, and
could give ready and correct answers to the
questions, but they seemed to thoroughly
understand and appreciate the subjects.
This was perhaps most noticeable in the
arithmetic class. The problems were work
ed rapidly and with few exceptions correctly,
but the analysis occupied perhaps double
the time required in solving the problem. 1t
was tedious, but showed that the principles
involved had been mastered. These pupils
were rigidly examined in examples requir-
| ing the multiplication, division and subtrac-
| ton of common and decimal fractions and
acquitted themselves most crelitably. There
were some of them who deserved special
mention but we are too much crowded this
week TO give them the credit they deserve.
| Yesterday and the day before the classes
taught by Misses Howard, johnson, Atkinson
younger members of the school going pop ula-
ton passed, and very creditably passed their
examinations. The rooms were crowd ed
with the plrents of the scholars, and there
was some embarrassment manifested but
the young students, whether in elocution or
upon their studies. gave evidence of work
under good instructors.
| D. D & B. INSTITUTION.
With the return of each June, in the whirl
OF commencement exercises, there is one
occasion that never fails to awaken special
| interest, and which our people look forward
| to, not so much because it is fashionable and
popular, as that they are drawn to it by the
cords of that kindness and curious sympa-
| thy that make the world akin. That occa-
| sion is the annual closing exercises of the D.
D. 6 B. Institution. Day after day, we who
hurry hither and thither through the busy
streets of Staunton, are accustomed to
blind walk cautiously, feeling their way
along the curbing, and no one is so intent
| upon his own affairs that he does not, un-
consciously it may be, step aside to leave
their pathway unobstructed. The deaf and
dumb 60 by unnoticed, save by a passing
nod, and no one stops to give one thought
to their condition. We see them in the
evening, when the daily task is done, and
each pursues the bent of fancy in seeking re.
creation. The blind, with arms twined round
each others waists, saunter along the gravell-
ed walks, treading on stones as soulless as the
vacant eyes turned t'ward them. On either
side nature spreads out her rich repast, as il
in cruel mockery, and arts embe.lish-
ments, to them, are covered with pail as
deep and sombre as Deaths dark night
But through the gloom there comes the per-
fume of the, flowers, and strains Of music, soft,
low and sweet. Perchance sunbeam now
and then breaks through the cloud, and fan
| cy paints her scenery in richer coloring, far,
than mortal eyes ere looked upon. No won.
der that the nature of the blind is exquisi-
lively sensitive. They wander in realm Of
sound and touch, the sense of inhalation and
fancy, and pleasant Spirits. commune with
them there, for the faces though sad are smil.
ing, and joyoft gains the mastery where sor-
row sits enthroned.
The deaf and dumb join in the outdoor
sports with just as much of zest and earn
estness as children ever show, but it is so like
pantomime. There is no shout of Joy at
meeting the open air, no linking of the
voices to sing some doggrel song; no merry,
ringing Taught er at playmate's mishap OF
mischief's triumph-all is dumb; or if a
sound escape, it CRATES like lamentation on
| the ear, 80 toneless, aimless and all incompre-
hensible it is. But even these seem happy
and contented, and full of life and hope,
and those who see them often half forget
that they are not as others. 1t is only when
the last days Of the session come, and the
public is invited to witness the evidences OF
their progress in the various studies, that
people ever think Of the great work that is
being accomplished. and the difficulties Of
that accomplishment. Those of experience
know something of the task of teaching
children, possessed of all their faculties, bul
even they can form little idea Of the patient
tireless work performed by those who teach
the blind and deaf and dumb. But these