National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-01-17
THE NORMAL SCHOOL.
An Interesting Examination on Commissions OF
Eaton Enthusiastic.

Eaton Enthusiastic.
The second quarterly examination of the
Normal school was held yesterday from $3.50
until 1890 o'clock, in the franklin school
building. There were present many friends
of the young ladies, Superintondcnt Wilson,
Trustees Loveioy. Lambert and Farley, Gen.
eral Eaton, Commissioner Of Education II.
N. Copp, principal of the first division Miss
HolbrOok, principe of tho Female grammar
school; Colonel w. II. Chase aud wife, and u
large delegation of female pupils from the
Colored Normal school. Tho exercises goner.
ally were conducted under the supervision Of
Miss Smith, the principal of the school. Tho
examination comprised psychology, music,
physics, teaching, reading exercises by pu.
pills teaching in practice schools, including,
arithmetic, drawing aud penmanships
and was unusually interesting The exercise
in practice teaching were especially entertain
ing, and inspiring, to use an expression of the
Commissioner of Education These little
pupils are taught mainly through tho assist
ance OF objects either in solids or drawings eX.
hibitod by the teacher. Through the assist
amce of these objects aud drawings the teacher
is enabled TO make herself more readily under
stood by her pupils, and tho ideas and facts
thus presented are thereby more lastingly i'm.
pressed upon tho memory of the little ones.
Tho value OF n knowledge of mechanical draw
ing possessed by the teacher was clearly, pleas
luElS anu COuClSelN NenOnslTdlcu by tne lIdC-
tical illustrations witnessed yesterday. 1t was
stated that special attention had been given to
mechanical drawing during the pas. term. At
the conclusion of the examination General
Eaton made few remarks, in which
no stated that we were only on the
threshold of understanding the philosophy
of instruction. He was glad to learn that
they had advanced so far in the system. Nor
NAL instruction was the right method. We
do not begin yet to appreciate the power OF
drawing in the hands of the teacher. How
often do we find the most learned men of our
country deficient In expression Some of
them cannot even express themselves in cor
rect English. lie had seen the practical illus
tration in the exercise III practice teaching
lie felt specially gratiiied it made his heart
bound with JOY, it was inspiring, IL was 70.
iroshing. Every school-room should be inspir.
ing, and every means should bo adopted
by which tho faculties and powers may be
brought into beautiful and pleasing play. He
felt sure that the methods aud ideas wcro
going out among the schools of Washington to
bless the whole city and every child in it.
Superintendent Wilson said that he was 50
well pleased with what bad been done that he
would say word to encourage them. We are
not apt to appreciate the slow steps by which
we acquire degree of perfection. We can
become masters only by intelligent, patient
persevering practice. lie then read sclec
tion from the words of the eminent Walter
Smith, recOunting the perseverance, aud the III
innate success of the illustrious artist, Turner
ANNIE LEWIS, Congregational church, Jan