The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-12-17
Tests at Martin College.
To the CITIZEN.

10 the CITIZEN.
Friday morning at Martin Colleg
was the occasion of some of the fin
est teaching and class work W,
have ever had the pleasure of wit
Messing. After devotional exerci
ses and q chorus, handsomely lee
by Miss Avirett, with Miss Magru
der singing first soprano, a ment a
arithmetic class was called to the
rostrum Next followed a drawing
class from the primary and prepar-
atory depts. These little people
evinced a complete knowledge OF
the basis language of the art they
are studying, stepping theoretically
TO the board to illustrate with pref
tily drawn figures or to follow die
tation by Miss Trabue. No one
looking on could fail to value the
opportunity thus offered the chill
dren of Pulaski. Not to speak of
the training of hand and eye, of the
cultivation OF habits of attention
and observation, and the general
development Of mind that the teach
ing of drawing is known to secure, a
fundamental knowledge is here laid
for the study of geometry and the
whole range of the practical scien-
ces.
An exercise in chemistry was
then conducted by Miss Blalock
who led her pupils gracefully along
from the thought first suggested
through a vide range of the whole
science. The young ladies showed
themselves thoroughly conversant
with the subject in hand. After a
few minutes recess q Little Sci
ence" class was called out. The
familiarity of these small children
with physiology is astonishing.
They can name and locate the six
systems of the human frame and
apply their knowledge to them
selves and objects about them with
entire ease. One tiny child stepped
to the front and named the bones,
pointing to her own little body as
she spoke. Another took the mus
cular system in the sane way;
chicken bones were held up and
named by the class; a kitten was
brought in and the interested little
ones named her bones and muscles;
one little girl biting a piece of
bread and describing the digestive |
process. Such teaching cannot go
unrewarded. Our people will re-
cognize it's excellence. What adds |
to the value of this test is the fact
that the class has had but two half |
hours instruction per week while
the other members of tue school
were engaged in chorus work.
Miss Avirett's theory and history
of music classes we're called to the |
rostrum at IL o'clock and held the
interest of school and visitors until
after II. To say that this young
lady does credit to the institution
of which she is graduate 1.-The Col
lege of Music, Ciucinnati-is to say
little enough. Points in the theory
of music were illustrated on the
black board and by performance
upon the piano; scales we're written,
explained and played
upon the piano as requested. Com
posers and their lives and works
were freely and intelligently dis
cussed by the young ladies, and Sc
lections from different composers
were performed on the piano. That
the teaching in this dept. is thor
oughly pains taking and patient is
certain.
Altogether, a most delightful
morning was afforded those who
were present. 1t is the universal
verdict that finer teaching has new
er been done in our county. There
can be no question that these teach
ers are abreast of the times.
But before closing this communi-
cation l desire to call the attention
of the patrons of the school and the
people generally to the want of in
terest manifested by them in the
operations of the school.
1t is the duty of every patron to see
for himself or herself how his or her
are being taught, and
they are doing their children, as
well as the ladies who are conduct
ing the school, great injustice when
they do not go to the college and
see for themselves the manner in
which the instruction is given. Be-
sides they are missing a great pleas
ure in not attending and they can
not in this way appreciate or intel
ligently decide upon the superior
methods employed or the merits of
the school. l hope that the princi
pals of the school will give the PEG
pie further opportunities to see
their work and that every patron OF
the college and friend of education
will attend. A LADY VISITOR.