The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-05-21
CLOSING EXERCISES AT
THE PRIMARY SCHOOL

This morning the closing exercises at
the primary school were held and while
no special program was prepared TO
entertain the visitors. the children had
been told to invite their parents and
friends and a great many Of them came.
some TO stay only short time while
others remained for the entire morn
ing's work, and most of them spent al
least a short time in each of the rooms
of the school
There are four large recitation rooms
but since the school became so crowd
ed. two small rooms originally intend
ed for other purposes are being used by
some of the smaller classes. The en-
rollment of the school is about $50. and
the average attendance is about 275,
and the school is now overcrowded and
with a great many children TO be ad-
mitted next session. it is going TO be
rather more than the teachers can dc
to provide for them.
In the primary grade Miss Frances
Chambers and Miss Marie Van Engel-
ken are the teachers. In the first grade
Miss Nellie Stevens, the principal of
the school, and Mrs. Martin are the
teachers In the second grade Miss
while in the third grade Miss Fannie
Clark is the teacher.
This morning the work Of the child
rem was spread out on tables in the
lobby upstairs and the visitors ex-
amined the childrens' work very care
fully and it was well worth an hour :
time. The children have done well
through the term and their written
af1 of he Ell les
shows advancement, neatness and close
application.
There was in addition many little ar
ticles of fancy work, the children's
own handiwork, and many of these
were given to the teachers as souve-
Mrs, each visitor. where possible, be-
ing given one of them.
In the class rooms the exercises were
mostly practical in reading. writing
mental and blackboard arithmetic
story telling, riddle asking and an
swering, speeches and songs, exercises
in drilling, marching, ETC. The deport-
ment of the children is splendid, tho
one always realizes that visitors day
demoralizes the little ones and they
are never seen at their best.
At this school many useful things
these teachings, through the life of the
child is untold. They are taught q
hundred things that were never taught
in the schools several decades ago ir
addition to those laid down in their
text books.
The children are taught in the care
of their teeth, their nails, cleanliness
| good manners, kindness, to be cour-
teous, to tell the truth, to be indus
home, to obey their parents and to be
punctual and to always appear neat
and tidy. Then they are taught Sc
many things from the fields, the wa
tiers and the forests of the land; the
cause, the reason and the effect of the
practical things of life, so that Wher
| one of these little ones leaves Mis-.
Stevens school for the high school OF
! the city, he or she is as well yersed II
| years ago was at much more advanc
ed age.
| Miss Stevens and Miss Clark anC
each of the teachers and assistants il
! the primary school of Oeala have every
| reason to be proud of the years worl
that will come 10 a close on Friday
afternoon. The parents feel mos
grateful to these excellent women foi
their kind. efficient and wise training
of these little ones and for the infinit,
patience and toll they have expended
upon them during the long period o
| the term,