The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-06-21
Another School Year Completed.


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10 sgdaGeo Closing E1ereisess BIZ ~ .5iGi
The closing exercises of the differentde-
partments of our public schools were this
year 80 arranged as 10 give opportunity to
be present at the greater portion Of Them,
and to some extent to form an idea of the
progress madein the different departments.
Those who have given the matter attention
during TIE year feel warranted in saying
that the work. on the part of both teachers
and pupils, has never been more conscien7
tiously and thoroughly done, and that in
methods and standards there has been q
mshifea improFement, ferwhich teachers
and superintendent are entitled to, our
gratitude. The Organization at the be-
ginning of the year, with so many new
teachers in the lower grades, was Justly
regarded as an experiment, but the result
has exceeded the most sanguine 'expecta-
tfons. The government has been unusual
ly free from friction, and q pleasant and
cordial feeling between teachers and pu-
pills has been the rule. The fame of our
schools is year by year extending to sur
rounding towns, and they have furnished
us larger number Of tuition scholars than
in any previous year; and we are glad to
be able to add that they have been among
our very best students; indeed, they seem
quite able to divide the honors with our
village pupils . f,e
There were nearly $50 promotions in the
different grades, leaving only twelve pupils
who were unable to successfully pass their
examinations-a proportion unprecedently
small Those who win take the trouble TO
examine the work done in the various de
partments cannot fail to be gratified by its
excellence. The penmanship under the
charge of Prof. Kline, and the music
taught by Prof: Harding, both Of oberlin,
deserve especial mention. In the first
branch, even down to the primary grades,
the excellent quality of the work is simply
surprising Pupils from eight to fifteen
years of age have acquired a style that for
accuracy and beauty can hardly be ex-
celled by students of any age and amount
of practice, and such as would be delight
to any lover of good bookkeeping, how
ever fastidious. We cannot express our
pleasure on account Of the proficiency at
tanned in this department. for we regard il
in no small degree as an art education, q
means of culture and refinement, that
promises more for the education of the. in
tellect and heart than would be thought
possible by those who have given little
thought to the subject. - Go .sss-
All that we have said with regard to
penmanship is true Of music. Poetry and
music have much in common, and the
young man or woman, who has a taste for
and love of either, has restraining in
fiuence that will do much to preventhis or
her going very far astray in the paths of
evil and sin; and much more, when COM
bined in their best and highest forms, do
they act as refiner and purifier of the
thoughts and affections and s;stimulapt to
purity of life and heart. Those who have
only moderate knowledge of music are
furnished with means for innocent recrea-
tion and an aid to sociability elevating in
moral tone, infinitely superior to, and an
effectual substitute for, the idiotictwaddle
and the simpering nonsense so prevalent
with many Of the young OF the period.
Music is powerful magnet to entice the
young from lower and more questionable
forms of amusement; an educator of the
hearts best impulses; stimnlant to the
good, the noble and the pure. It cult
Yates the perceptions, and is in itself a
liberal education in fine art. Prof Har-
ding has succeeded in infusing q large
measure Of the enthusiasm for which he is
so Justly noted, into his pupils. The pro
gress made during the two years of his
teaching here IS as wonderful as it is gra-
tifying, the fruits of which are already, be-
ginning 10 be seen in the music of our
choirs and social circles. The public had
a little taste on Commencement occasion
of the pleasure in store for rs in the good
time coming, when The younger children
shall have had the training they viii re-
ceive as they come up through the differ
ent grades into the closing years Of the
High School A chorus Of seventy voices
from the A and B Grammar and High
Schools sung anthems and choruses in such
excellent time and taste, with such strength
and purity of voice, as to delight the large
audience It il not claimed there was
such perfection Of art as trained musicians
exhibit but considering their age and op-
portunities. as truly remarkable. and the
patrons of the schools were especially
grasifed 70 have such an opportunity of
judging of their proficiency in this depart
ment: We are assured that it was much
more satisfactory than the best talent that
could have been procured from abroad,
and we hope year after year to have an
opportunity of watching their progress in
this divine art, .--,s .sF-f, IS ~
An increasing interest in the schools was
shown this year by the large attendance at
the closing exercises Of the several depart
meats, all Of which were very interesting