The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-06-21

The public schools of Stanton closed
Friday last. in quiet way, at the new
school building on Main street. Supt.
Robertson says the work of the session just
closed has been entirely satisfactory III
both the white and colored schools. The
teachers have worked well have kept fully
up to all the requirements made OF them
as to extra duty. and by close and earnest
attention TO teachers meetings. are thor
oughly well prepared for the work OF the
next session. So much time had been con-
sumed during the session in moving sew
eral of the schools from place to place, be-
fore the completion OF the new building,
and in the necessity which existed for a
time in using the limited quarters, for
double sessions, that it was not deemed
iudicious to take up the time of the pupils
in preparing for public exhibition.
On Friday last the several schools, ex-
cept the high schools, were quietly DIS
missed about 10 O'Clock; and few OF the
city ofiic ais, and friends of the public
schools. together with the teachers of all
the schools, aud the high school pupils,
assembled in one of the rooms OF TIE new
school building to witness the distribution
of medals and prizes.
The exercises commenced With singing
by the school led by Supt Robertson, fol-
lowed by prayer by DR.. Mcfarland, of the
First Presbyterian church The prizes,
medals and DISTINCT ions were delivered 10y
Snpt. Robertson, and Profs. Bader aid
| DeBeil, q list OF which we give below.
The single full diploma given was CON
| ferred Oh r. Bumgardner, Esq. The pre-
sentation was made by Judge Grattan. in
the absence of Mr.. Witt. the president of
the School Board. 1t was plainly seen
| that the training in all the departments
of the school, was most thorough, and
Supt. Robertson took occasion to bear tes.r
timony to the fidelity with which the
teachers had done the session work.
Stanton is to be congratulated upon the
able and faithful corps of teachers in her
public schools The high character If the
| teachers. the interest they manifest III the
conduct OF the schools, and the sacrifices
! they have personally made, in attaining
| the high standard they have reached. as
! testified by Supt. Robertson, i'll keeping
abreast with the increasing demands made
upon them, and III preparing for the adj
| vancing work of the schools, give an as
surapce to the school officials aud the oiti-
zens generally that our public schools
are i'll good hands. We believe our
public schools are as good as any in the
land. a boy or girl who goes through the
entire course, and uses proftably the OPP
| portunilies offered has good education
and is thoroughly prepared for all the du-
ties of life.
The work in map drawing and diagrams
was on exhibition. and the prizes and dis
| tinctions were awarded by a committee.
| when the ages of the pupils are consd
cred. the work exhibited was wonderful.
1t was done with remarkable accuracy
and neatness, and received the commenda-
tion Of the entire committee. The first
prize in map drawing was awarded to Miss
Annie F1fer. It was remarkable piece
of work, and was declared by all present
to be perfect. Miss Fifer is the
daughter of b. T. Fifer, so long and we'll
known as the inspector of flour for our
city. She is only II years old, has done
this work without any assistance, and al
most entirely with pen.
There were very many neat specimens
of ''diagrams.' This is new method of
analyzing sentences, and looks to an old
fogy, like parsing ty geometrieal figures.
1t struck US as being thoroughly practical
and calculated to impress the theory on
the minds OF The pupils. It has been used
In the public schools several years.
PRIZES AND MEDALS.