The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-11-11

A reporter OF The DAILY LEADER had
the pleasure OF visiting our public
schools, and in company with Superin-
tendent McClenon visited every depart
ment and made a personal inspection of
the work. To say that it was gratifying
in a high degree is no more than due
credit to the excellent work that is be-
ing done. Madison is noted for a city of
schools, and we'll may it be. Provision
is made for every child Of school ago
within it's borders and for many more
from without. The public schools are
the GROWING glory of the city as the
Normal school at this place is Of the
state.
Ia the first place the city has provi-
ded accommodations for its children
that are seldom equaled and never sur
passed. It's Central building, costing
Sl4 1000, in which is its High school de-
partment, is one Of the finest buildings
in the state. 1t may not be as large as
some, out its arrangement for convent
ence of pupils, teachers and supervision
is the best that we have seen. The
doors, stairways easy Of ascent, and hall
ways are all wide, and a few steps from
the door of one room brings you to any
other in the building. The single sit
tings, the blackboard walls and other
furnishings are elegance itself, and the
lighting and atmosphere Of the rooms
are cheerful. All these advantages, no
, doubt, have a very beneficial effect upon
the temperament and energy Of the
scholars and perhaps account for the
well-directed activity Of the pupils
which we observed on every hand.
: OF the individual work Of the teachers
J, and their respective departments it is
impossible to speak in detail IN this
4 limited article, but from the phonetics
and simple numbers of the primary
:, grade to the classics and higher mathe-
!" mates of the High school all is system,
method and practice. The eight grades
of the school dovetail into one another
. with an ease and completeness that
avoids friction and covers the whole
range of studies. Much of the credit
for harmonious blending of studies
d discipline and pedagogism in our public
It schools IS due to their efficient supervis
ion. AS an army imbibes much of the
% courage of its leader, so do subordinate:
, in school work to a much greater degree
pattern after their head. Supt. Nc
Clenon is a man who has full. control O
himself, knows child nature and Is con
l. scious Of his responsible position. Hi
y taught him the art of impressing those
under him-teachers and pupils-witl
the Importance and value of their oppor
l. tunity, hence the easy government ano
IL healthy moral tone of our schools. Blu
Il, this condition could not be attained
- were the superintendent not seconde,
- in his work by a corps of teachers near
. ly equally we'll qualified and self poised
Madison can we'll boast of her teachers
With one or two exceptions, they ar,
" lauies of much experience in their work
who cast aside bookish methods IN tn,
~ handling of their pupils and all evidentl,
he love their work and prepare for it. Th'
81 respect they have for authority them
selves and the hold they have upon thu
respect OF their pupils Will, perhaps, b.
". best illustrated by the answer of Supt
McClenon when asked by the reporte
IS what he considered contributed most t.
Ia. the success of the school, replied: "Th
harmonious work Of teachers and pupils
at and the loyalty of parents to the school.
The grades and teachers in our publ
;. schools are as follows:
-. ENTRAL BUILDING.
n. First or primary grade-Miss Laur
Fuller.
Second-Miss Ida Jones.
1hird-Miss Emily Clark.
Fourth-Miss Frances Munro.
~ Fifth and Sixth-Miss Celia Regan.
= Seventh and Eighth-Mrs. L. NJ
al Tolles.
I'd High School four years course)-
ID Supt. McClenon, Miss Hutchins and Les
ne lie Barnett.
IL EAS SID SCHOOL.
- First or primary grade-Mise Sati
~ Billings.
70 Second and Third-Miss Maud Cool
in Fourth and Fifth-Miss Edna Beck
I'd Sixth and Seventh-Miss thinner
lg mann.
o r In these different departments ar
enrolled 435 pupils out of a total scho<
population Of slightly over 500, maxim
wv an average Of nearly 40 pupils to th
n. teacher. The loyalty Of parents referre
ss- to by Supt. McClenon and the lively il
terest in school work manifested by til
pupils is we'll vouched for by the Pc
re centage of attendance which for th
Lng month Of October in all grades was
per cent. We doubt if a better recor