Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-10-26
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

=
An Inspection of the Madison school-A
Model Building-An Able Corps of
Teachers-The Discipline and Manage
ment = Interesting Exercises Miss
Browns Primary Department Composed
of intellectual Prodigles. +,
Parents residing in the school district in
which the Madison school is located may
consider themselves fortunate, for their
children's sake. A visit to the school makes
this apparent i'll two ways: In the COM
Portable building and suitable rooms to
which the children are consigned during the
''tiresome" school hours; and in the able
corps of teachers to whom the intellectual
and moral training of the children are COM
mitted.
The conclusion reached after the G1oBE's
inspection of the school could be summarized
in the one word, excellent, and
would be, did not q sense of JUS
tice demand that the excellence encountered
throughout the building-as to the appoint
ments, the admirable conduct of the pupils,
| their proficiency and the consumate skill
and care exercised by the teachers in the
DISCHARGE of their duty-should be publicly
noticed and acknowledged.
THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING.
The Madison is one of the latest build
ings erected for educational purposes in the
city. It has been designed and built with
!, thorough understanding of the needs,
suitable comforts and conYeniences of a
school building, and happily with the idea
| that proper ventilation is one of the first
requisites.
Standing, as it does, upon commanding
site, it should have been, as it is, an impos-
! ing edifce. The exterior looks fresh and
| new, the stone of which it is built and exte-
rior wood work is untarnished, though the
building was erected in 1872.
THE INTERIOR OF THE BUILDING.
The interior, though subject to the wear
and use of nearly eight years, is in an ex-
cellent state of repair. The walls are un-
scanned by crack or break, comparatively
fresh and clean; and the wood work, there
being much panel work throughout the
building, is fresh in paint. Throughout the
whole building the walls are not defaced by
single pencil mark, nor the wood scratched
or cut. This speaks volumes for the BOYS
who have attended the Madison possibly
they are unlike their brother Americans, not
having been; born with jack knives in their
fists.
The building, floors, blaokboards, school
furniture-even to loft and basement, is
kept sorupulously clean.
| VENTILATION, FIRE ESCAPE, ETC.
Tho school or class rooms are large and
airy. Ventilation Is afforded by we'll arrang-
ed ventilators, and through the windows.
Gold aid hot draughts are avoided by we'll
regulated heat from furnace, which has
been in use for eight years and is unimpair-
ed in any respect.
All the doors in the building open outwards.
ngress is afforded by stairways, sufficient in
width and easy in pitch, to Railways or Ger
ridors running from front to rear of the
building. These stairways are situated at
either end of the halls: In case of fire ample
means of escape are afforded by the avenues
mentioned. Moreover. danger from this
cause is removed by the absence of stoves
and from the fact that the building is heated
by furnace in perfect order.
THE SCHOOL FURNITURE.
The class rooms are supplied with excel.
lent school furniture. Each pupil has 6
desk alone, of shape and size with seat
attached which prevents lolling, yet is moi
uncomfortable. The furniture has been in
use eight years, and looks as if new from
| the mandatory.
They are blinds or interior shutters to all
the windows exposed to the sun.
THE ENROLMENT AND TEACHERS.
There are 466 scholars in daily atten-
dance. They are assigned to classes from
the LIST to the 9th grade inclusive, and ru1
through the gamut of youthful intelligence
from the prattler wrestling with
the mystery of A B G to
the Miss and youth, who entertain suspicious
they have attained the dignity of woman
hood and manhood. Eleven teachers, beside
the principal, Gen. Geo. G. Smith, ARE engaged
in the tuition of this host of youog people
Miss Newson is in charge of the most ad
vanced scholars, or A and B classes of tn,
eighth grade, numbering 35. H. "'' "
Miss Dennison has charge of the seventh
grade, the enrolment being A, but the aver
age daily attendance being about 35.
Miss Wormwood's class is the sixth grade
in attendance 81. a..-:} .
Miss Wright has charge of IS of the fft]
grade. ri. ,a... t....,..,.,, ,
l. Miss McKenty's class of the fourth grade
numbers 40. .,....
Miss Dougherty instruots GAP class of tn
third grade. A pupils.
Miss Hitchcock has 'B" class of the thirt
grade, 81 pupils. -.
Miss Whitney's class "A' of the secon,
grade has an average daily attendance of 4s
pupils. :-'.a ..o-. .,.'Ea
grade numbers so pupils. .r,..a.
l ~l>1 hn~ - n
) children of the first grade, or primary de
partment, and in an adjoining room 81
children of the primary department are com
mitted to the care of Miss Holmes.
TIE DISCIPLINE AND MANAGEMENT.
If SO much good can be written of tn
building, in coming to speak of the teachers
only the superlative degree is permissible
There's An esprit du corps about all tn
teachers of the school which attracts atten
ton and commands commendation.1 "A sys
tenn peculiar to the school, in its manage
ment and discipline has grown up, which
while not at variance with the written rules
of the public school system, intensifes those
rules and compels their observance as vel
in spirit as in letter. The teachers have
quiet air of kindly authority about them
the exercise of which is mani
fest in the {decorous conduct
of tho children. They are erec
| and attentive in their seats. Theysare drill
led, as it were, in their movements anG
manner to be quick, respectful and attentive
INTERESTING EXERCISES. = g.. s
It was the GLOBES good fortune to sex
all the classes at exercise in their studies
The lesson for the day, without previous
drill from the teacher, was recited. Uni
formiy the recitations were so good, pupi