Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-05-29
KNOXvILLE'S CITY SCHOOLS.
Closing up the Weeks Examinations a
Peabody and Austin Scbools

Peabody and Austin Schools.
In one sense of the word all are no doubt
glad, but in another sorry that the very in
teresting and entertaining exercises which
made up the work of examination week in
our city schools, have been brought to a
close, after continued seige of FIVE days.
The examinations yesterday occurred at the
Peabody and Austin schools.
At the Peabody building we first en-
counter the room of Miss Sallie Butler,
which is packed to overhowing with a col
lection of bright and merry little faces
eagerly bent on searching for mental train
ing. She has about 80 children, boys and
girls, all beginners, and some of very ten
der ages, who are instructed in the rudi-
ments of an education. She has two
sections, however, and only has
half in the morning and half in the
evening. Miss Butler is entirely at home in
the school room, is a thoroughly accom-
plished and experienced instructress, and
has few superiors She has a difficult task,
it's true, with SO many naturally unruly
youths to govern, but she is equal to the
emergency, and her excellent training is
manifest not only in their learning, but in
point of department. The rapid advance
ment of the little fellows is astonishing
The visitors next come to the room of
Miss Annie Stuart, also on the first floor,
w
about the same number as Miss Butler di-
vided in sections in the same way. Her pu-
pills are some older than the first grade, but
yet of tenders years, and they are making
very satisfactory progress under the
superior training of their excel
lent teacher, for Miss Stuart ranks
among the most proficient of the
teached in our schools, without doubt.
She is wonderfully methodical and accurate
in her manner of instruction, possesses the
warmest affections of her pupils, and the
results of that training are plainly manifest
in the examinations.
On the second floor is Miss Nellie Bridges,
who has the third grade, and a class
of about As pupils more advanced in
years as well as in studies.
Miss Bridges, although comparatively new
in our schools, has extended experience
in the school-room, and possesses the ac-
quirements and adaptability for such pro-
fession in an eminent degree. She ap-
parently has her pupils under excellent dis
cipline, and is certainly accomplishing salts
factory results in their mental training.
The last room to be visited here is that of
Mr.. w. Z. White, who is on this floor,
teaching the 4th and 5th grades, and has
about IS boys under his charge The more
advanced branches of an English education
are taught by Mr.. White with great pro-
iciency, and the boys, though young in
years, dive deep into intricate and difficult
problems in such manner that would put
to shame mauy older heads. Mr.. White
has the advantage of thorough training fol
the teachers room, which he has improved
upon, and the splendid acquittal of his
pupils on examination speak in eloquent
terms of the thorough competency and
adaptation of Mr.. White in his chosen
sphere.
This concludes the exercises at the Pea
body. The examinations were attended by
many visitors. AS in all the other schools,
music and calisthentics are leading and en-
tertaining features. By the way, Miss
Buffers room accomplish wonders in music
for children SO young. They are well train
ed, and carry two parts in music. The cal
isthenics in the whole building rooms
are performed in unison, with Miss Butler at
the organ and leaders standing in each
door, with the general leader at the
head of the steps. The number of pupils
now in attendance is about 300 Near $50
were enrolled during the year.
! There was no visit made during the en-
tire week with more pleasant and gratifying
results than a visit to the Austin colored
school, the examinations in which were held
yesterday.
Mrs J. S. Fowler teaches the first grade,
one branch of it, and in her
room are located about 80 colored
boys and girls who bear an intelligent ap-
pearance. This room contains all the new
beginners coming in, many of them having
entered only last November, and also quite
youthful, but they are learning very rapidly,
indeed, under the excellent training and dis
cipline of Mrs Fowler, who is thoroughly
qualified, takes deep interest, and is ac-
complishing a wonderful work. All these
little fellows can write, some of them quite
legibly, and are equally up in other
branches
Mr.. W. S. Williams has another room in
the first grade, with about 80 pupils In
both these there are two sections, morning
and evening. Mr.. Williams is well known
in the Austin School, as an excellent teacher,
and his examinations testify themselves to
the character of his work. Although put
to severe tests his pupils demonstrated that
it is not mere machine work.
Prof r. A. Scott, who has charge of the
second grade, has about 45 pupils, who are
taught in some more advanced grades of the
elementary rudiments of an education.
Professor Scott has had long years expert
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