Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-07-30

AS already stated. the entire teach
1874, numbered 80, two of whom were
music teachers, and two drawing
teachers, and two classed as
teachers at large who were expected
TO be ready at a moments notice, to go
into any school from the high to the
primary grade and teach anything
that was in the common school cur
riculum. The two teachers at large
this year were Anna NJ. Hays and Will
liam NJ. Fahnestock. The latter has
been identified with the city's educa-
tfonal work ever since, and has been
Tor many years a prominent
of the Central high school faculty.
There was also n substitute list num-
bering eleven.
The teacher of ornamental draw
ing was Miss Margaretta Spiese, a tall
ented and amiahle lady. who was cut
down by death soon after. The teach
err of mechanical drawing at this time
and for many following years, was
Thomas G. Behring, who conducted
a business place in Montgomery street.
Mr.. Behring was a man of consider
teacher that the boys of the high
school looked forward with genuine
pleasure to the hours that he would
be with them. His work was confined
to the boys of the high and grammar
grades. His few hours of instruction
in these schools was the only step in
technical education afforded by the
Harrisburg school curriculum of 1874.
What a contrast to the magnificent
ly equipped Technical high school now
standing on the very spot where most
of his labors were performed.
How Every Public School Teacher of
Harrisburg Became a Music Teacher
For many years, Professor S. B. Ell
lenberger had charge of the music
in the Harrisburg schools. He was
an accomplished teacher of vocal mu-
sic h left his impress upon the COM
munity, both in his teachings, his un-
firing church labors, and his author
ship of several attractive collections of
song service amongst which were
Songs of Low and Praise" Bright
Gems and Songs of victory" with,
perhaps, others which I do not have
in my library. His assistant in 1874
proficient and accomplished vocal mu-
sic teacher.
AS the years passed along a time
came when the Harrisburg Board Of
School Control took a queer kink into
its head. 1t was resolved that, for
one year, every teacher in the city
should attend music classes conducted
ny IIOleSSpT ElleHueTSST, anu tHdl At
the expiration of that time the posi-
tions of special music teachers in the
schools should be abolished and every
teacher should teach music in his or
her own school. 1t was a delicately
worded invitation to Professor Ellen
berger to labor assiduously in sharp
ening the AK that was to chop off his
own official head. All the same the
professor worked diligently at the
task imposed. The writer of these
! sketches still has his certificate receiv-
ed at the end of a years study. set
ting forth that he had passed a per-
feet examination in the theory of mu-
sic Mark hat word theory" Like
la good many more of those made-to-
/ order music teachers, his actual musi-
cal efforts had best be conducted
afar from the ears of others of the hui
man species.
The new order went into effect with
the opening of the school term, Sep
TENDER 8, 1880. OF course it was a
farce. Some teachers had the musical
ability to do fair work in their re-
spective schools. Others had not. The
plan was soon abandoned.