The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1881-06-15
The Winchester Normal.


ueriul to us that a man can gain such
perfect control of school of near 300
pupils, Of all ages, sizes and conditions,
as Prot. Terrill has of his. 1t becomes
a vast complex, sentient, thinking ma
chine in his hands, but each part of the
structure retaining its own selfasserting
acknowledgement separate individual
dutltully and cheerfully laboring for the
success of the whole; this is the won
derful part to us. This evinces the
proud boast of the faculty that the nor
NAL system of teaching is the system of
educating the mind to think, to reason
for itself, thus keeping abreast of "the
spirit of the age,"-PRoGREss. The
method is rational and simple-rational,
because it meets the demands of the stu
dent searching for "more light; sim
pie, because it readily and easily adapts
itself to the comprehension OF the pupil.
We see at the examinations of this
school what we venture has never be-
fore been seen in this country upon
such occasions-people going to the
school-building in the morning and re-
naming all day, fearing that they will
lose a seat if they leave for dinner.
These people live in town and its near
vicinity, too.
We cannot particularize, for should
we begin there would be no place to
stop; each department of the school,
each teacher and assistant, each class,
and almost each member of every class
would require special mention should
we undertake the task of giving all the
separate notice they deserve. We can
only say that the institution is deserving
the highest encomiums that can possibly
be passed upon it, and the work of the
week showed that all the teachers and
assistants have conscientiously discharg-
ed their duty toward the pupils, and
their work answers for itself. There is
fulsome in what we say, either
indeed, it would be difficult to overesti-
nate the work (and its value) that the
school is doing. 1t is power in the
and that must and will be felt for good.
We must confess that the normal sys-
tenn is, as was stated in last weeks issue,
he system of educating, and we are
N ore and more impressed with the fact.
It was boastcd of this school, n year
lgo, that if every teacher in the school
should be sick at one time, the whole
could and would move on in
is accustomed grooves. We were
ceptical about it at the time, but are
convinced that it would do so. During
he past examination we saw young
men and ladies, pupils in the school,
axe classes and handle them in the
presence of the crowded audien ccs
with an ease and assurance wonder
i'll. And here is place for another
condeJM thing about the school: The
pupils recognize the one who is in con-
rot as being the one to whom respectful
obedience is due--that one is the repre-
cntative of the head of the school, and
eceives the respect Of each student as
uch. On the occasion of a pupil being
Il charge of class, all familiarity Of the
choolmate is laid aside, and the same
difference is shown such pupil as is ex-
libited to the President himself, Illus
rating the beauty of the system.
The interest manifested on the first
wo days of the examination continued
lot only undiminished, but
nth a constantly increasing attention.
thursday forenoon Col. A. s. Colyar
nd ex.Gov. A. S. Marks made, each, a
ew well-timed remarks upon the extern
ion of the building. Mr.. Colyar said,
4 his remarks, that the question had
cen asked him on the streets, What he t
lought of the school his reply was, it il
the first lightning school | ever saw. =
II regard to the subscription of money
,r building additions to the house, g
e said that people should cheerfully "
i've every dollar asked for by the
,hool for building purposes. Z
The commencement exercises in the +,
fternoon of Thursday were very i'm
ressive. Each applicant for the degree
digniged and confident manner read
r spoke, rejecting credit on the insti-
ltiOn and receiving honor With their
egree. After the comforting the de-
rees came the Annual Address by W.
:. Colyar, of Tracy City, in his happy
nd inimitable style. The address
lowed that much thought and close 1
udy had been given to the subject.
he leading thought enunciated we ,
ould like to see elaborated. There is
luch in it it, and much that is new.
We regret to learn that Mr.. G. refuses
is manuscript for publication. We
link such ideas should 60 forth as food
n thought to thousands of others.
here is dearth in original thought
the land, and nothing of
,at sort should be lost. We trust MIR.