The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-04-24
THE MURPHY SCHOOL
The Number of Visitors Larger
Than on Thursday.
PROGRAM is BEING MADE
CALISnHENIC EXERCISES DE
LIGHT ALL VISITORS.
THE MOSES PHONETIC SYSTEM
Is the Feature OF the Raleigh Graded
School--lt , as Given Them
Most Reputation.
THE MOSES PHONETIC SYSTEM


Yesterday the number of visitors at
the Murphy School was even larger than
the day before at the Centennial,
At this school Miss Hicks teaches the
beginners. From her they go to Miss
Bates, then to Mrs. Sherwood, then to
Miss Marsh. These four teachers occupy
the room downstairs, and all their pupils
are below the fourth year. Many of the
third year pupils sit in the study hall up
stairs and recite to Miss Strong.
This is because the Murphy School is
so crowded For it would be better if
all the third and fourth year pupils could
be in rooms by themselves, and under the
constant care of one teacher.
Miss Lawrence teaches most of the
fourth year pupils. Mrs. Williamson
teaches arithmetic and some reading and
language classes; Miss Womble teaches
geography and manages the library;
Miss DevereuX teaches history and litera-
ture; Miss Pool is principal of the school,
and teaches Latin, French and Algebra;
Miss Newsom is assistant to the prin-
cipal, and teaches physiology, calisthen-
les, and some OF the reading and IAN
guage classes.
The visitors were cordially received
by teachers and scholars. Every teach
er had for exhibition work done by their
pupils in every study. All the papers
were characterized by neatness. The
writing in this school is exceptionally
good.
The calisthenic exercises of the girls
in the study hall was gone through with
to the music Of a piano, and was beau
tiful scene.
L.. al,
er Of French. Her method is the CONVEX
sational. or natural method.
The feature of the Raleigh
schools that have given them most
reputation, is the phonic system of teach
ing beginners to read, originated by Prof
Moses while superintendent. 1t has been
continued and improved by Superintend-
ent Howell.
Yesterday there was always Il large
crowd in Miss Hicks's room to hear the
first grade pupils spell and read. They
read script as well as print, and write as
well as they read; and it was pleasure
to the little tots to show the visitors
how smart they are. No wonder the
crowds fingered there.
For the past month the teacher has
been giving them little fables and poems
terday this new one was given them in
order that the visitors might see how they
study out words by means of their phonic
training. Though this piece has some
long words that the children had never
seen before, they pronounced every one
without help:
THE OWL AND THE JAY BIRD.
AN owl sat all day in barn
The HIGHT was dim in tho har
The owl was watching for mice.
He sat right still and did not say
a word.
The jay bird was a great gossip.
She was always going about
She Went to the barn to see the owl.
The jay began to talk.
The owl kept right STILL
The jay talked, and talked.
She staid a long time.
The owl did not say word
At last the jay flew away.
She told the cat-bird she had never had
such delightful chat.
She said that Mr.. Owl was the most
entertaining bird she knew"
During period of seven months, in
which the children have had the benefit
of only two and half hours in school
daily, the beginners have accomplished
the following:
Spelling have written on black
board approximately, two thousand
words; have spelled in Moses's Reader
three thousand words.
Reading.-They have read through
Parker and Marvers Supplementary
Reader, Bow Wow and New New, and
Aesop's Fables. No. Z.
Writing.-Copying from black board ;
Reading stories in script.
Nature.--Collected seeds, planted and
watched them sprout: watched for the
moon: found Orion and the Big Dipper.
Clay Modelling nodded the
sphere. the apple and the orange
Color Work.-Haye learned red, yell
low, blue; drawn the triangle, the circle
and the square.
Among the visitors were Miss McVea
and Mrs. Mack, of st. Mary's School,
and most of the members of the Senior
Glass.
The public reception was a good idea,
and we hope they will be held often.