The Newtown bee., 1899-06-09
ADVERTISING RATES.
LOCAL AFFAIRS.
The Newtown Academy.
HEARTY ENDORSEMENT FROM A HIGH
SOURCE.

HEARTY ENDORSEMENT FROM A HIGH
SOURCE.
The writer has been u patron of this
institution, each year, during the last
eight, and has taken no little interest in
the management and in the work done
from term to term. Having had expert
ence as teacher, and having children in
the various grades of school work, and
one in college, | have taken some pains
to keep in touch with the best education
al ideas, methods and practical results.
Therefore it seems to me proper that |
should express my appreciation OF the
skillful, comprehensive and faithful work
which has been done by Mr. and Mrs
Mac Farland and their able assistants,
during the year which is near it's close,
The Academy started this year with
carefully graded course of study ranging
all the way from primary work and bust
ness, to preparation for college. AS there
was not enough patronage in the lowest
grade to sustain that department it was
dropped at the close of the first term.
This Of necessity threw the work of that
grade upon the other teachers and to
some extent disturbed the system
throughout. To those who understand
the close relations of graded school-work
the difficulties involved IN the working
of the system in town where there il
no regular course of study, and little
grading, will be apparent. The pupils
had to be classed, on examination, as 1t
seemed best for the whole. II some
were disappointed it could not we'll be
helped.
There have been 70 pupils in attend
ance, all told, and there are so for the
last term. One of the most discouraginR
features OF the work is the irregular at
tendance of some, and the dropping out
Of the larger boys at the end Of the win
ter term, to labor. 1t may be necessary,
but 1t Ia hard on the school and bad for
the boys. Ii they come in again next
year they have lost their proper places
in the course, and all their relations to
the rest of the school have been disturb
ed, and the work of the teachers is con-
fused and perplexed. Dependent as we
are upon this school for the higher train
irg of our children it is great pity that
when we have what we need, it is not,
for one cause or another, sustained With
more liberal and assured patronage
IL 1t is of course not matter for blame
when for good reasons understood our
boys and girls are sent away out Of town
to school, but it is a plain case, after all,
hat IL we expect the Academy to do GER
tain work which we count necessity we
must support It. That great deal of
hard and eftectua1 service has been done
during the last year, under somewhat
trying circumstances, and without much
Co show for it in the form Of graduates.
external results, or material compensa.
ton, there can be no doubt.
Mr. and Mrs Mac Farland have sue
ceeded beyond nv most eager expecta
tions. And this l say not merely as the
result of my own observations, and be-
cause of my personal interest in the mat
ter, but as also expressing the united
testimony of the many patrons and
friends of the institution with whom
have talked on the subject. The parents
are pleased and the children are pleased;
and this, in these days when the family
government is so largely in the hands of
the children is very significant fact.
| have never seen such encouraging in
Jerest, enthusiasm and real Willingness
to work, among the pupils of the Acsde-
my; and in the matter of directed sport
and self-government there have been
marked results. And, for one, | am
earnestly hoping that the same good
work NAV be continued by them next
year.-[O. o. Wright.