The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-06-01
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL ExHIBI-
TiON.


If anyone does not believe that our
public schools have been rightly managed
during the past year, or that the instruc-
ton has not been all 1t should have been,
he would certainly have had that notion
dissipated by visiting the High School
Saturday. For the first time in the history
of the schools n public exhibition was
made of the work Of all the different
grades Of pupils in the various schools.
About 600 pupils were represented in
the work that adorned the walls of the
rooms in the third story OF the building
and that filed to Overlooking the desks
and hung in festoons about the rooms.
A large number Of visitors dropped n
during the day and the universal ex-
preston at the good things they saw was
one of delight.
The hall was devoted to the exhibits
of the work in drawing and writing of
the High School students. Several fine
ly executed pictures and original de-
signs testified to the rare instruction the
school offers, and a number Of working
drawings proved the practical character
Of this instruction.
The large recitation Don on the left
wal devoted to the work of the Pleasant
Grove School, and a fine exhibition it
was. All of the grades we've represented
with samples of drawing and writing.
Many of the former were SIMPLY won
derlul, considering the age ofthe pupils;
while the latter, as in all the schools,
was very neat. Examples were shown
of the writing done last September with
that of this month placed just below.
All showed extraordinary improvement,
while some was so much better as not to
be recognized as being the work of the
same pupils. Included in the drawing
work were pretty examples of object
drawing, some of which would bear a
microscopic test, working drawings, COM
ical silhouettes in India ink, needle per-
foration work, leather p~erfOration work,
etc. The primary grades showed differ
ent kinds of work in paper, as %parquet-
ry, paper folding and paper cutting and
also slat work.
In the right hand room were the ex-
hibits of the Union, FRANKLIN and West
Mankato schools. These included many
of the articles found in the other rooms.
There were also some fine examples in
clay moulding and also a little left-hand-
ed work. Some pretty bracket work
was also seen here.
Much of the drawing in the schools is
original and shows great inventive abil-
lty. Taking that part of the exhibit al
ready mentioned through, it proves the
painstaking spirit IN which the faithful
taanha - hoyn uynrln1 Hnrinn tho vnor |
They, with their excellent superintend-
ent, Prof. Bechdolt, have brought the
public schools of the city to a high grade
of excellence and given them a fine rep
utation throughout the State. Time and
space forbid us to mention the work of
each teacher separately but we can con-
scientiously commend them all for their
work.
Not the least interesting in the ex-
hibit was the display of domestic worK
The array of tempting cakes, pies, etc.,
made the mouths of the visitors water,
and guaranteed the domestic felicity of
many a future husband. All kinds Of
embroidery and lace work, needle work
and etching, crazy patching and paint
ing, were included in this exhibit, which
occupied the desks of both rooms. Vari-
GUS other kinds of work. such as wood
and a thousand other things proved the
invention, industry and skill of the
pupils. We would iain mention the
names of the different pupils who dis
tinguished themselves, but should such
attempt be made it would be difficult
to draw the line, and each of the six
hundred would receive a deserving
mention. The exhibition was a COM
plete success. The teachers were pres
and aided the superintendent n
courteously showing the visitors the diff
ferent objects of interest.