Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-05-18

CONCORD, TENN, May is, 1879.
Mr.. EDITOR: The High school at
the Academy here closed to-day with
an examination, and exhibition at
night. The school has been conducted
this year by Profs. Frank Smith and
w. II. Perkins, with Miss Jennie
Skinner and others as assistants, and
numbered. over one hundred and
thirty enrolled pupils. The school has
been conducted in the most excellent
manner and the examination of the
various classes to-day would have re.
fiected great credit on any community,
even in Massachusetts,.
1t was truly gratifying to hear the
exercises of the various classes, and
especially the clFsses in the 5th Reader,
Attn Arithmetic, End Grammar, End
Geography, Geology and Map-Draw-
ing. 1t is hard to draw q distinction
where all did so well, but the classes
mentioned / think showed somewhat
closer preparation. Prof. Perkins
method Of teaching map-drRwing il
winning for him merited praise in all
quarters where his pupils are found.
The maps drawn To-Day on the black
boards were excellent in construction
and charming in appearance.
The power of Prof. Smith and his
assistant in the primary department,
Miss Skinner, to take classes of chill
dren and learn them to read with ac-
curacy, or parse understandingly in
Grammar, or perform problems and
explain principles in Arithmetic in a
few months is wonder eul. These
classes, especially the smaller chill
dren, elected praise from every one.
am sure that Knox county should feel
very proud Of Frank Smith for his
great power as an educational worker.
The school-room can not afford to lose
him, and the office of SupeTintend.
ent needs just such man.
1t is the intention Of Prof. Perkins
to build up a permanent school here
with q normal branch especially for
qualifying young men and women for
teachers. No man is better adapted to
this work than he. Already
he has sent young teachers into
almost every district in Knox county.
Let Knox at once sustain and secure
this valuable man, for he will bring
order out of chaos. / do not like to
run into an excess of praise, but beg
the readers indulgence for one more
merited notice. l refer to the commu-
nifty of Concord. No man can go
among those people and not be
pleased and they seem to be
3 well-to-do class of citizens.
The college building occupies po-
sition on q commanding hill from
which the valley is visible for ten
miles up and down. To the south
bold hills covered with green fields
rise in magnificent splendor. Away
in the distance stands, grand and
beautiful, the Chilhowee Mountains,
and turn where you may Nature is
beautiful and inspiring. 1t is known
in all quarters that Knoxville has the
most excellent schools in the South,
and my prediction is that Knox
cOunty,.with her Concord, her PoweIPs
Station, her Heiskells Station, her
Thorn Grove, her Walnut Grove, will
soon be the banner county in East
Tennessee.
All praise is due to her tireless band of
workers; her Karnes, Smith, Perkins,
Murphy, McSpaddin, Craig, and all
the Misses and young men who have
worked so nobly and with such poor
pay for years past. The Normal School
for the county, begins at Concord the
let Of July, / understand. 1t will be
managed by Profs. Smith, Perkins,
Karnes, McSpadden, Murphy and
Craig. Board, six to eight dollars for
term. The Knox county teacher who
neglects this opportunity deserves TO
be sent, in exile. Roy.