The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-05-01


try districts for the parents to go to
visit the school. and, i'm response to
several pressing invitations from
teachers and couple OF the pupils, i
recently spent the day at the Hope
street high school, and found IL so en-
tertaining L want TO recommend the
diversion To busy fathers and tired
mothers who wish 10 rest and grow
younger for short time.
So many citizens availed themselves
OF the privilege OF viewing the new
building last lall that any detailed de-
scrption of ii is entirely unnecessary.
My idea was to visit some OF the class
es and get a general outline OF the rou-
tine work OF the school ana l sue
ceeded fairly well.
1t was just O'clock on a Tuesday
when | found myself in the long hall OF
the main floor. Everything was quiet
the pupils having already come 10 or
der in their various rooms, only an oc-
casional late conner quietly seeking ms
proper place, DISTURBED the perfect still
ness. / soug.1 the floor above, ana
while nndiag my way TO Room IL IL, 4
heard the signal for the first recitation.
Immediately. below. and all around
me, | heard an orderly movement and
the regular tramp OF many feet Tor
about two minutes. when the classes
seemed to have taken their places IN
the different rooms.
1 reached the room I was seeking
just as the class in United States his
tory filed in and took seats In the COM
Portable lecture room chairs. Is IL al
lowable. | wonder. to use the names
OF the teachers | was so fortunate as
TO meet? III / do SO, IL is not 10 be
supposed that the others are not equ-
ally interesting, but that one session
Is not long enough TO enable one TO en-
Joy all that is 10 be found In such
school.
AT any rate. II was Miss Devereux
who met me at the door and welcoming
me cordially placed a chair In con-
venient position for me to observe the
class in recitaaon.
The lesson under consideration was
THE 81 Year OF the Civil War
There are teachers and teachers, but
IL there IL a pupil so dull he failed 10
get reused up under Miss Devereux's
method he must be too duh TO con-
slider. The lesson was carefully analy-
zed and as the topics were recited up
on by the different pupils the teacher
placed an outline upon the board which
the class copied and would be expected
to review in some future recitation.
The motives that actuated certain
movements during that stirring time
In our country's history were brought
out and commented upon In an original
manner. quite consistent with the de-
ve!opment OF the grade of the pupils.
which is that styled Juniors ?. IL Is
the class which would have graduated
at the grammar schools this year, but
which was entered as preparatory IN
the high school instead. and IL Is taxi
ing the finishing grammar school stud
les while beginning Latin, French. Ale
zebra, etc, getting started more lels-
urely in the higher course OF study. IL
has worked well this year which Is
the first, and Miss Devereux, who has
one OF the classes. says 1t is a bright,
enjoyable class.
AT the close OF the recitation In his
tory, being interested In a member OF
the class / accepted the teachers in
vitatiOn 10 remain through the next ex-
ercise which was In sight reading. The
articles selected by the teachers were
interesting and the pupils read with
animation, accepting quite readily the
suggestions given by the teacher,
whose idea seems to be that 10 learn to
read one must read.
Recitation being finished, ! followed
the class into the next room where they
sit for study. which is under the care
OF Miss Peirce, a teacher of the regu-
lar first year high school. Her class
WAS reciting in Roman history on the
Second Punic war; | noticed that Miss
Peirce gave the pupils opportunity FOR
discussion on interesting points, and
they were able TO make some very
pleasing. original remarks.
But, all too soon, for the interested
visitor the signal sounded and the class
was dismissed, desks were cleared and
the whole room was soon In order Sew
eral signals sounded and soon, in or
derly files from every direction came
class after class, marching To some
unseen music, all in the direction OF
h.. hah nd tn
coo pupils were seated quietly awaiting
the directions Of Prof. Russell. who was
swinging his baton for the benefit or
the orchestra. still playing the march.
At its close, a piece OF music was
given out and the whole school sang II
sn unison. Then a page was given out
which proved to be an entirely new
piece, as | gathered from the looks and
low comments of near neighbors. The
second basses were requested 10 sing
their part through alone, To certain
section. which they did. twice, after
which the first basses sang their part
through In the same way. Then the
Atasa- parts sang together. Then the al
tos sang alone. then with the two male
parts: then the soprano sang alone.
then altogether. with fine effect. The
other two sections of the piece were
sunr-tf1rough In the same way, and be-
fore the short music session was over,
the whole chorus sang the piece to-
yether. both verses, correctly, as 10
time and tone and with real express
sion. IL was not baby piece. either
for the time was quite difficult and the
movement varied in the parts.
I was pleased TO see Prof Russells
method Of taking up a new piece. Dur
ing the singing. Prof Jacobs made
rounds OF the hall 10 see that the pu-
pills were paying the attention neces-
sary, while the other teachers, seated
near their several classes kept watch
full eye upon them. The order was
most excellent. AS one teacher re-
marked. "One would not believe there
were 600 young people i'm the hall'' At
the close OF the session the classes filed
out again I'm perfect order keeping ad-
mrable step TO the march which was
pl yed by the orchestra and soon, obey