Our School Journal from Columbus, Kansas • 2

School for the Winter term: ma mmii Females Total 32 Mnlea It 11 28 21 Enrollment Daily attendance Published monthly under the auspices of the Columbus Gkaded School. COLUMBUS, KAXSAS. The prospects for the Spring term are good but the enrollment will not be as large, as at the winter term, owing to the fact that many of the pupils have been emnloycd to teach in the District schools. Term Report. Accompanying this, are reports from In many respects, the -winter term of the teachers in charge of tho other de partments, to which I invite your attcn tioy.

The following is the consolidated re port of the City schools for the winter term Enrollment IligU School, Intermediate, 2nd Primary, 1st Primary. sixty-eight Arithmetic; they all study Penmanship, and many ot them seem to be improving, some of them very rapidly. In their several studies the mostrf the pupils are piogressing well, and some who arc the most studious are making great progress. It is my aim to have my pupils thoroughly understand the lesson before passing it, therefore they may not pass as quickly through the book as some, but I flatter myself they comprehend more perfectly what they have gone over. I believe our school is doing remarkably well, but it would be gratifying as well as encouraging to the teachers of the school if the patrons would visit us and judge tor themselves of the deportment and progess of the pupils.

"Report of First Primary Department. Thc second term commenced Dec. 10th, 1877, and closed March loth, 1878. Immediately after the holidays the attendance was very large, but soon begun to decrease on account of sickness and continued rain. Average attendance forty, enrollment eighty-one.

During the term there were but six who were not absent a day. AltaIlood, Mary Hasel-tme, Ilarrie Smith, Leon Turner and Jimmie Throop. In this department three branches are taught. Reading, Writing and Spelling. The improvement was good.

Annie E. Snevely. Males Females Total 11 28 42 2(i 30 39 3f ,,75 32 81 128. 12(3. 251 11 21 32 18 21 41 3i) 25 f-5 20 5: 927l 89.

181, Daily attendance School, Intermediate, 2nd Primary, 1st Primary, our City schools, may be regarded as the most successful taught since the organization of the city. Tho pupils at no former time have appeared to manifest the same degree of earnestness in their studies, and as a result we can report a progress which is alike flattering to both teachers and pupils. The enrollment was larger than at any former period, all thc rooms being in a crowded condition. The good opinion entertained for our school by the citizens of our county, was exhibited by the large enrollment of nonresident pupils, the most of whom were so far advanced, as to be beyond the course of study usually found in our district schools. Thc aim of the teachers in charge has been to have every step thoroughly and critically mastered, and to sufl'er no superficial work to pass unheeded.

The pupil understood that his or her position in the class depended upon the quality of work performed, and that wantjof ability or applicationwas sure to forfeit his or her position. During the term it was found necessary to re-grade several classes in the High School, promoting some of the grade to the and turning back some of the old grade scholars. In this manner true merit and diligence were rewarded, Intermediate Department. The second term of this department, of the Columbus Graded School, closed on Friday March 15th. The last two days were spent Jn a written examination of the members of the two grades of which the department is composed, and the result of the examination was very satisfactory; and as an evidence of the extent and thoroughness to which I refer, a list of the questions on a few branches of study pursued in the department is found in another column.

Owing to the remarkably wet and unfavorable weather through the winter, and some other untoward circumstances, Non-Resident Pupils. By a late decision of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, non-resident pupils cannot be debarred from any public school of the State. By paying a tuition fee they are entitled to all the privileges of tho resident pupiljand are to be received into the schools upon a similar footing. We heartily approve of this law, as it is in harmony with the true spirit of our free school system. The action tak Local Items.

"No s'in, no morn, November," no Union Schools Review. Our thanks are duo to TTon Alfred Grey, and Hon AV, Walton for lavors received. Professors. Smith of r.oy'rr, and Wiles of Cherokee, amended the last examination of Teachers. The Youths Casket again enter an appearance.

Is it not about time for it to increase in size? One thing is plain to be peen by a perusal of its pngos, and that is, thatTruex is a live County Superintendent. There is a project on foot, to unite all that part of Dist. 93. lying wesl of Brush Creek, to the Columbus school district. It is a good move In the riarht direction, and we hope our citizens will encourage it all they can.

Blind Tom gave a concert in our town on Monday eve. A gentleman from Kansas City in expressing his opinion of this phenomenon, said; "He truly a remarkable progeny," Prodigy is the word used in this town. -On Friday last the Rev. Thrall Mr. William Anderson and Mr.

Jonathan Pickering honored us with a pleasant visit and "rfirf" the school. Such visits are the more prized as they are of so rare occurrence. Come again. McGill of the Independent, compliments the entertainment given by the Oswego Schools on last Wednesday evening. He says, "the colored pupils won the The next time Prof Hoover presents his school to the public, we hope he will "post" us before ami not after the entertainment, Oh! "how, we should have liked to have been there." What is more beautiful to the eye than on a bright spring day, to be sitting at the windows of our school building, and gaze on the wide prairies covered with beautiful green grass and sweet-scented flowers, decorating the earth with their beautiful colors.

We also can see the farmer as he is tilling the soil and setting it ready to plant his corn, and in a few days that scope ot black coil we now see will be covered with beautiful green blades of corn resembling the ven-dure of the prairies. Again we tho peach tree which but a few weeks ago stood like a dead tree of the forest, decorated with beautiful green leaves, pink and white blosoms, waving their branches through the fragrant air. What is more pleasant than beautiful spring in all her prime. The transfer of Miss Snevely from the First to the Second Primary was not made on account of her health, as stated by the Courier, but was made because her services were needed at that time in that room. Nearly every pupil in the Second Primary is engaged in the study of geography and many of them have made remarkable proficiency, considering their years, under the former tuiiion of Miss Wilson.

The principil now wishes map drawing and free hand drawing introduced, and no one who has had the privilege of seeing the work of Miss Snevely at the M. E. Church, will ask why she was selected for this purpose. Miss Snevely possesses exquisite rasto in this line of school work, and the children of the Second Primary are of tho right age to engage In it. Miss Wilson is at home any place in the school room, beinganold, experienced teacher; so nothing was lost, but a gun was derived in transferring MissSnevelj to a room where the pupils were of sufficient age, and were sufficiently advanced to receive instruction in a branch wherein she stands unrivaled as an instructor.

So much for the transfer, the attendance has not been as regular as 1 desired it should have been; but' sftfi'rI think it has been reasonably goodas the following statistics will ehow: en by'some districts at their annual meet, ngs, forbidding the enrollment of nonresident pupils, always hadjnore or less of the ''dog in the manger" spirit in it. No. of different pupils enrolled, Total at'danco in days, Average daily-attendance, Average- daily No. belonging. Percentage of daity Atte.

No. of vis'tors. No. of pupils who have not been absent or tardy, Cases of Males. IVmls.

Total. 2(5. 3 J. 56. 1,386.

1,935. 2,311. 18 3-4 19.3-4. 38 11 20 18. 23.

41. 92. 7. 6. 12.

2. 6. 41. 62. 103.

fhis putsa quietus upon such action and makes the Kansas Schools, free in pirit, as well as in name. and idleness and carelessness rebuked. The grade is now composed of pupils; 'of which, age considered, the school may well be proud. No study has been made a hobby, but the basis has been laid for a thorough, broad scholarship, which is sure to make a good impression upon the future of our schools. It requires a long time to introduce a system ot instruction into a graded school, especially if the changes to be made are radical.

There seemed to be a lack of plan when 1 was sected as principal. It appeared to be left optional with each teacher as to what branches should be taught in his or her room, and consequently an imperfect system of gradation, prevailed throughout the school, I found it necessary to remove prejudices which were so deep-seated that they could not be blotted out at once. Mathematics was made a hobby from the 1st Primary to the High School and every branch ot study was ottered as a sacrifice to it. The grade of scholarship was established upon this basis and this basis only. Time however, has perfected the plan originally formed, and I venture the assertion that no town in.

the state, of our size, can show a wider range, or more comprehensive basis of scholarship than ours. IJhave had many hinderances in my work, but have finally removed them all. The system now is in harmonious working order. Each pupil understands just what entitles him to be promoted from one grade to another, and pursues the studies required in Ms or. her grade under the direction of the teacher rather than the parent.

A great hindering cause to my labors, has been the great demand for qualified teachers; and in conscience thereof, my most advanced pupils are usually taken from the school at the time, seemingly, when they arc making the mo.it rapid progress. Thc following is the report of thc lligh In explanation of the cases of tardiness, I may say, that more than three-fourths are charged to the children in three families; the parents, I fear, not being sufficiently interested in the education of their children, to see that they were ready for school in good time. As one of the most careless pupils has quit school entirely, and the others manitest a disposition to be more punctual I hope to make a better showing in this respect for the next term. The progress mad by the pupils in the 4 'A" grade justifies me in the hope I indulge, that if they attend regularly, and continue to be as dilligent during the coming term as they have in the past, that nearly all of them may be promoted to the High School Department, at the beginning of the next school year, J. L.

McDowell. Teacher. A Pleasant Visit. On last Tuesday, we were favored with a visit from Prof. II.

Quick, Mr. Loren, L. Brown, Mrs. L. L.

Brown, Mrs. A. J. Georgia and Miss Cornelia Stearns. Prof.

Quick and Miss Stearns are connected with the Girarcl Schools, the former as Principal, the latter, as teacher of the Primary Department. Such visits are calculated to do a great deal of good, as they have a tendency to arouse a generous rivalry which is sure to result to the benefit of all parties concerned. In Prof. Quick and Miss Stearns we found representative teachers who are alike an honor to society and their; profession. Speaking from a biief acquaint ance with these parties, we feel assured in saying that the Public schools ot Girard are under far better management than at any former period Bince the organization of that city.

To the citizens of Girard, we feel like offering this advice; now, that you have found useful, competent and energetic instructors, retain them. The value to be placed upon a teacher's labors depends in agreat measure upon thelength of time he or she has the school under his or her own immediate supervision. Every valuable instructor has a theory of his or her own, and it takes time to put it into practice and exhibit its beneficial results. Report of "2nd" Primary Department. For the term just closing I have enrolled on the Register of this Department the names of seventy-four pupils.

Of this number twenty-three use the Third Header and lifty-two the Fourth Reader, fifty-six study Geography and.