Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-06-29
Montpelier School Examinations.

The annual examination OF the classes In WASH
ington County Grammar School occurred on
Wednesday, the 22d instant. The languages and
the higher English branches form course OF
study in this school, supplementing and extending
the instruction after the pupils pass from grade
10 Of the Union School. The various examinations
In Greek and Latin, in the mathematics, In bot
any, physiology and rhetoric disclosed approved
methods of instruction on the part OF teachers,
Mr. Bracket, the principal, and Misses Reynolds
and Terrell. The pupils showed evidence OF
thorough and honest effort on their part, and all
the exercises conveyed an impression which we
sure is not unfounded that especially mertori-
Gus work has been done during the past year by
teacher and scholar alike That the study OF French
has been successfully pursued was very satisfac-
toriy demonstrated The rooms were tastefully
decorated with flowers and a few appreciative
visitors were in attendance.
Thursday morning the annual examinations OF
the classes in the Union School commenced The
blackboards gave ocular proof OF successful in
struetion and good degree OF proficiency on the
part Of the pupils in most OF the departments in |
freehand drawing, an accomplishment in which |
the hands OF most Of the visitors were doubtless la
mentally in bondage. but the desirabity Of which |
they have appreciated as they have seen the free |
hand Of one practiced in the art, with few ready
strokes Of the pencil illustrate an idea give in
eligibility to a description of an object by a
deity executed sketch Of IL. There were also
commendable specimens of more elaborate work
by some Of the pupils, in map, object and landscape
drawing, framed and adjoining the walls OF some
Of the grades, noticeably in and taught by
Miss Stone. The determination of the district
tfo mat
ton in music into the school has been practically
and progressively carried out Singing from
charts is daily taught in all the grades, and during
examination day the air around Union School
was vocal with the songs of the Juveniles, az each
grade displayed its proficiency and entertained its
visitors with the unique music of the schools
throwing into the vacation carols an exuberance Of
spirit which the prospect Of green fields land long
summer days OF sports unbroken by the irksome
school bell call to study always inspires in ire
pressible school children. With varying degrees
OF efficiency, arithmetic geography, history and
grammar seem to have been taught in the differ
| ent grades. Painstaking thoroughness in drill
| and in rudimentary instruction. promptness and
precision in recitation, were generally apparent in
| the examination exercises. The method OF pro-
cedure in examining pupils evinced a conscien-
tious impartality the part of teachers, and the
pupils, the whole, displayed that readiness and
assurance which comes from the confidence in
spired by thorough-going instruction. An exer-
else in grammar in grade No. o. taught by Miss
| Joslin, much outside Of the customary
| method OF instruction that it demands special
| tice and commentator. This teacher has given
her pupils oral instruction in grammar. The
mysteries OF the parts Of speech and the ntrcacies
| OF grammatical analysis have all been unfolded
| by the instructress and acquired by the pupils
| without the Intervention of a textbook. The
facility displayed by her pupils in dissecting
fences showed that the grammatical way through
the higher grades had been effectively paved.
| With most satisfactory results, it is evident that
oral instruction can be extended to arithmetic and
| to other branches which enter into a common
| school education.
| 1t will be allowable to make personal reference
| to the primary grades 1 and ., taught by Miss
Sweet without mourning the charge Of making
nvidious distinctions. All the exercises here
displayed discipline, energy and tact Variety
was shown in the choice of methods designed to
wake up and develop the young idea and the
school exhibited an entirely successful adapta-
ton Of the means employed to the end sought.
The Exercise in numbers" where elementary
operations in arithmetic were carried on by means
of splints, was busy and suggestive scene The
kids" ranged around long table, worked
like beavers in counting and parceling out their
splints according to the question they were re-
quired to solve. II, for instance they were asked
how many tours in twenty-four, the latter num-
Der of splints was rapidly counted out, by each
pupil in the division, from the supply upon the
table, and then the work of separating them into
groups of four each was made with competitive ce-
lerity, and count of the groups gave the solution
to the teachers question The various other COM
binations possible with twenty-four splints would,
in like manner, be required and made before call
ing for new deal, and the identity between these
operations and numbers enforced by calling
upon different ones to write out upon the black
board their proper arithmetica expression. En-
tirely original compositions. written and read
from states, exhibited the "young ideas skill
and proficiency IN rifle practice and reading,
singing and general exercises, all proceeded
with characteristic vim and crispness. The pri-
, mary pupils Of Union school undeniably get a
good send-off day OF observation spent in
: Miss Sweets department would be a profitable
investment for the primary schoolma'ams Of
Washington county. Except in Misses Sweet
and Houghtons rooms primary, reading and
spelling we're conspicuously absent from the ex-
animation exercises and the query, not without
reason, was raised, Have these od-fashioned
, branches been discarded from the upper grades
Of the Union and the Grammar Schools? It IL
hoped that another years examination will prove
conclusively that the apprehension is unfounded.
OF the teachers not already mentioned-Mis.
IIoughton in grades 3 and A, Miss Abbott in and
@, Miss Stone in and ard Miss Joslin in Git
will not be necessary to speak. They have served
several terms and their merits and efficiency are
known and appreciated. Miss Van Dsusen, in
grade TO- is new teacher That she is sustain
ing the high degree of efficiency formerly achieved
!, in this grade by Miss Markham is high praise
and it can be truthfully bestowed. Mr.. Bracket
the efficient principal, has brought all the schools
up to high grade of practical excellence BY
a the direction of the committee he has assumed
more active and detailed supervision of the differ
n ent grades and departments than has been prac
=. ticed heretofore. AMI without detracng from the
high need OF credit due to the conscientious per
sonal efforts OF each teacher, it is simple justic,
to say that his administration of the duties OF hi
difficult position, judged by evident beneficial re
!, suits, has been eminently successful in promot
q ing good practical work and wholesome disci
o pine,
n The presence upon their desks of various beau
It tful and valuable articles showed that the teach
ers in the different grades had been very crate
i fully remembered by their pupils.
d sIxTY-EGHTH ANNIVERSARY.
J. On Friday evening occurred the public exercise
Is Of the graduating class and the annual levee
e The programme, interpreted with music by tn
In Montpelier band, was as follows: Prayer, by Rev