Morning journal and courier., 1893-02-14
BIRMINGHAM EVENTS.

Sch ooIs and School Boards-Hopes Of
 the Future - "Reminiscences of
 School Management-Work Success
 fuly-The Ice and the Rivers.
 BIRMINGHAM, Feb. 13.-To- morrow even ing the board of education of Derby will hold meeting at the public school, the ses- sion being quite novel in its intention and highly promising of benefit to all concerned. Town boards of education frequently amount to nil, so far as supervising the instruction of the youth. The members meet, discuss teachers fitness, now and then raise a rumpus in the town by promulgating new textbook and s5ume that the course of study is satisfactory. They are allowed to qualify @ teacher and shift the school books, but all other measures they think ought to be adopted they can only suggest to the district committees who can do as they please about following the boards suggestions. Until year or so ago the sessions of Derby's board of school visitors have not been very en- tertaining. quorum sometimes could not be secured Dr. Beardsley, who has been connected with the board for nearly fifteen years, has be- lieved for some time that the members would all attend to the calls the exercises were of interest to the board To this end scheme of his to bring before the board specimens of the work done in the various rooms and SclOOlS was tr1eQ SOIuo "OHtnS ago. and the result was that every person became stirred to examine the samples of spelling, Ian guage penmanship and arithmetic, and closer acouaintance was made with the status of the teaching other appointments of the school and the scholarship generally. These meetings were greatly relished by the members and stimulated the sch olars so mulch that Dr. Beardsley has been planning another session, the features of which are decidedly original and promise to bs exciu- ing. The public no sooner heard of the project than they more than approved of the plan-all wanted to go As the meeting Is to be held in the Dr Beardsley has been obliged to conflne the invitations to the parents of those who are to re the first in their studies. The program to be fol lowed is after this order: From room No. 5 four vii show how penmanship is taught and will copy at sight sentence they have never seen on the board. From the same room the ten best spoilers will be chosen and also three of those proficient in reading music at sight. These who spell and read the score will combine with those selected from the other rooms and will be grouped into a single class. From the room next higher two are to be named for spelling, one to demonstrate analytical arithmetic and two for the music class From the room next in arithmeticians will be chosen, each of whom will elucidate the methods taught in these branches in that particular room. From the last or high read a selection from "Evangeline." There will be shown specimens of map drawing, and four essays will be read, two on the affirmative and two on the negative side of the debate, 'Was the treatment of the American Indian by the Puri- tans justif1able?' All who have been elected to
 
 words, these words being such as have been in l the lessons the past month. Professor Gooda!e will shown some of the features of his methods | in sight-rea1 ding in music, and a team of twenty will go through the calisthenic drill so that the board can witness what is required of | the scholars in athletics. The winner in the spelling contest will have the privilege and fur of subjecting the nine members of the board to 8 spelling bee This trial is sup pposed to wake uI some sleeping talent in the board and suggest tc not few that orthography is lost art often | exceedingly practical plan to bring out what ! very few know-the way that the English | report was wired Saturday to New Haver | that the Lon bridge was gone. The structure if still there although it is four feet nearer the sky than the designers intended it.
 l This years ice-jam surpasses all preceding l freshets. No carriages can to-day pass beyond squantuck and just above that epot is e huge | Ice pack. Near the Low bridge he tpiIes of ic, | are solid and mountain like. The house of Ed l ward French is seriously weakened by the blow ings this side for some distan e flooded. Tn, | church sheds and the cemetery fence smashed l into kindling wood. Everybody who owns camera is en route to the bridge to-day fol l 'Shots"
 PASSED AWAY.
 Mrs. Ann R. Wallace, aged seventy weight det
 Sunday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Josepl l A. Macdonald, after an illness of three weeks l duration. She the first unmarried Irisl | girl to settle in the town. She came here in 1886 | and in 1888 married George Wallace then al
 employe Of Phelps, Dodge < O.; when that nrn l Donald, wife of Joseph A. Macdonald Of St l Augustine, F1a and Thomas Wallace, of tn
 same place. Many relatives reside in New Heven l among them being ex-Commissioner Jame
 Reilly of Bradley street, and Mrs. Leonard 0 | Elliott street. The funeral will be held Wednes
 day morning with solemn high mass ot requier
 brated by Rev. Father Walsh of Plainville, he | nephew.