Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-05-25
KNOXVILLE'S PRIDE.
Public Examinations in the City schoo

Public Examinations in the City Schools
This will be red letter week in the his
tory of the Knoxville city public schools,
that great and growing institution of which
every true Knoxvillian should be, and no
doubt is, proud in the fullest sense of the
word This is examination week, the
annual occurrence of which is
greeted with glanness and welcome
by the hundreds of patrons and friends
from the fact that it furnishes such delight
full opportunity for them to look in upon
the workings of this wonderful agency of
enlightment and civilization, and witness
with their own eyes what grand work is
being accomplished by that noble band of
mental laborers in the moral vineyard, the
teachers, and see for themselves what a
great work is being accomplished
from term to term. The CHRONICLES
representative always finds it source of
supreme enjoyment to make the rounds
during examination week.
Starting out bright and early yesterday
morning the first halt was made at the Bell
House, in the room of Miss Susie Cornick,
who is on the first floor, with the first
grade. Miss Susie's room is well filed with
about so Ii tile children, girls and boys,
all of tender ages, most of whom
are just in their first year
as school, and they are instructed in the
very rudiments of the language, being
pretty well started in spelling, reading,
writing, arithmetic, mental and practical,
and phonics, new method which he's been
introduced in our schools. 1t would seem
that the precious little fellows could not be
in better hands to make a start Being
possessed of all the necessary requirements,
intellectually Miss Cornick seems to have
the entire confidence and esteem of every one
of the children, who seem happy to do her
every bidding, and in their examinations
they all give evidence of astonishing adj
vancement under her sldllful teaching.
Next in point of grade is the room of
Miss Jennie Cannon, on the second floor
She also teaches the first grade, and has an
interesting room full of bright little boys
and girls, about forty in number She
teaches first grade, but her pupils are some
what further advanced in the same branches
taught by Miss Cornick. Evidences of the
fact that Miss Cannon is peculiarly adapt
ed to the work of teaching the young idea
how to shoot are plainly to be seen in the
excellent department, thorough discipline
and rapid advancement of those pupils of
such tender age. She is clearly in her
element, and gives entire satisfaction
Taking another step in the line of grades
we reach Miss Fannie Caulkins, who teaches
second grade and presides with be-
coming grace and dignity over room
of about 80 attractive and intelligent little
+ boys and girls, who are instructed III spell
ing, reading, writing, geography, practical
and mental arithmetic and other branches,
slight degree more advanced Miss Caul-
kins is one of the best and most experienced
teachers in the Bell House, and her efficient
work is plainly manifest in the highly salts
factory results of her examinations
! Miss Mollie Nelson also wields the sceptre
of instruction over class of about 40 girls
and boys in the I'd grade, equally intelligent
and Interesting, who are instructed in the
same branches as in Miss Caulkins room. 1t
requires but brief stay in Miss Nelson's
room to satisfy the spectator of her peculiar
adaptation to the work of instructing the
f,,J l,o &c Nv
in the branches to be taught, and has a
happy faculty of imparting the instruction,
and winning the confidence and good will of
her pupils, which enables her to render her
schools, and her pupils show marked i'm
provement.
| The third grade is the highest reached in
J yesterdays examinations. 1t this grade are
congregated on the second floor about IS
Or 50 boys and girls, of still more advanced
age, who are instructed in the various
branches taught below, though of CORE
spondingly higher and more advanced
grade, including also grammar. This is
one of the most interesting rooms in the
school, and is efficiently and satisfactorily
presided over by Mrs. w F, Cummins and
Mrs. Belle Smith. Both these ladies have
the advantage of superior attanments and
long experience in the school-room, and it
is really difficulty to see where an improve
ment could be made in their methods, and
the results of yesterdays examinations
speak in eloquent tones of their rare quail
fcations and the great work being accom-
plished.
Very prominent, and at the same time
commendable features of the instruction in
all the grades and rooms are the music, and
calisthenics, which are uniform with all, and
it is trul y richly worth visit to the school
to witness either one of these attainments,
which are of wonderful value in the educa
ton of the youth of the present day, and it
is pleasant to bear witness to the marked
contrast for the better in the advantages
possessed by these little ones over those
possessed by the children of a score of
years ago. It is also matter of wonder
and astonishment to witness the almost per-
feet order, regularity and discipline with
which all the movements are accomplished.
It seems almost perfection and everything