Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-28

pupils severally present . creditable record
that reflects great praise upon their parents.
The school houss 10 this district
" about to be replaced BY
10 new one better suited to The
wants of the people, one which will, with
nut doubt. offer what of requisite facility Is
now needed for q nearer approach to the
school.room work demanded for the living
interest being felt by the people 10 the edu.
ca,i"nal advancement Of their children.
On the 2ai I visited the school taught by
Miss Anna Nolt, In
sTR1C NUMBER IS,
situated In the northwest corner Of the
county, to attend the closing exercises Of
the term. I met here 25 pupils. all, or
nearly all, Scandinavian. There are 81 en-
rolled.
I found the pupils diligent and very or.
derlv | ntheir department. presenting for the
last three months Of the four months term,
: very creditable record for attendance and
= showing, on the roll of honor kept by the
teacher, deserving no less honorable men.
ton.
The reading classes range from the pri-
mary up to the fifth, and, except. perbaps.
10 force of u'tcrance, the pupils, 10 point of
proficiency, are up to the average school. I
tound the several spelling classes kept in
close communion with the dictionary
They are fairly acquainted with the outlines
OF geography, and in grammar, strange to
say, because anomalous. they excel their
proficiency In any other branch. Aritbme
nc ts not only taught but t.ught mathodic.
ally, and the rules not only learned but
learned with the logic that cements their
structure-the pupils at the blackboard be-
ing required not only to solve the problem.
but to demonstrate the theory that attends
the operation. Nearly all tbs pupils prac-
ttce penmanship ard afford rare promise Of
excellence.
On the same day I took the necessary
steps preliminary to the Organization Of the
10 miles lying east OF district IS into q new
school district, and On the day following
spent the forenoon in visiting the school
taught by Nj. Murphy, in
DISTRICT NUMBER 26.
lying along the north line Of the county
and comprising an area of 16 square miles.
School at present is being held in the house
of Martin johnson, situated about 8 miles
east of the school in district 25. I found
but a limited number of pupils present and
these all young, a circumstance fairly attri-
butable to the size of the district. I was
greatly pleased with the reading of the
classes, the articulation being loud and clear
without being strained, and great care taken
to enforce a proper observation of the pro-
per pauses. I found the pupils, after the
reading exercise, ~conversaat with the sub
stance of the lesson. Only a limited mum.
Der practice penmanship, yet these few
exhibit a we'll defined advance during the
term. Their spelling keeps pace with their
reading. In arithmetic none are advanced
beyond the fundamental rules, but one stu.
dies geography and non study grammar.
The classification of the pupils is good
and excellent discipline and order preva.
lent. l learned before I left the district
that a number of the children are being
kept at home, engrossed in the study of
what of German is necessary, preparatory
to the rite of confirmation, which they in
tend assuming during the coming spring.
The same day I visited the school in
DISTRICT NUMBER 81,
situated about six miles southeast Of the
school in district 26. The school here has
been taught for the last two weeks BY Mr..
Dineen in the house Of Mr.. Garness, the
preceding two months of the term having
been taught in the house of Mr.. Geraldson.
The change was made when it was found
impracticable to send the children to school
from one extremity of the district to the
other, and, there being no school-house yet
erected in the centre of the district, resort is
thus had to the houses in the district
eligible FOR the purpose. The pupils whom
I met here, therefore, constituted a new
school, 10 point of proficiency. however,
presenting an average standing about equal
to that observed in my first visit, earlier in
the season, to the other end of the district.
I found 16 pupils enrolled and II present.
The pupils appeared obedient. studious
and progressive and throughout their ex-
animation 10 the reading, spelling, sritbme
tic and geography classes. exhibited re-.
markable aptitude. The appliances of the
school are necessarily poor for very efsc
tive work. but l entertain the hope that the
summer, In the erection of the new
school house voted. and for which q tax is
already levied, will bring to the communion
Of the school room, that district rivalry and
those essential aids without which . large
share OF the school room work of teacher