connected with me, as an assistant teacher, gave me entire satisfaction in the discharge of her duties. I consider her well qualified, and eminently fitted to give instruction to the young. Her success in New Bedford justifies me in the use of this language. I should rejoice to labor side by side with one, whose mode of instruction, discipline and general management gave me so much satisfaction. * JOHN F. EMERSON, Master." From New Bedford, Miss R. M. Pennell removed to Walpole, and took charge of the 1st division of the Centre School. Miss Eliza Pennell was at the same time, or had been, the teacher of another of the public schools of the town; the following certificate shows with what success : "The subscribers, school committee of Walpole, Mass., have employed Miss Rebecca M. Pennell, and Miss Eliza Pennell, as teachers in two of the public schools of the town. The schools have had an unusual prosperity under their care. To sufficient intellectual qualifications, they have added a peculiar tact in gaining the affections of the pupils, and have maintained the necessary discipline without severity or harshness. Their influence upon the manners and morals of the scholars has been of the most desirable character. We consider ourselves fortunate in securing their services. JOHN M. MERRICK, ASAHEL BIGELOW." Walpole, Oct. 9, 1844. Four of the Normal pupils, Misses Swift, E. and A. Rogers, Wight and Coolidge, have been employed as teachers in the Institution for the Blind,-to what acceptance, may be learnt from the following:— "MR. MAY, "BOSTON, October 14, 1844. "DEAR SIR,-It gives me great pleasure to answer your inquiries respecting the young ladies from the Lexington Normal School, who have been employed here as teachers. "We have employed four of them, and three are now in our service. They have all proved to be able and efficient teachers. Before employing teachers from the Normal Schools, we had experienced much difficulty in procuring persons, who could adapt themselves to the peculiar method used with the blind; but with the Normal pupils no such difficulty has existed; and I account for it only by the fact, that the latter were well acquainted with the principles of teaching, while our former assistants were used only to the routine. "Indeed, after the success of the first teacher from the Normal School, I advised a young lady, who was then trying to teach in our institution, but not very successfully, (although her natural capacity was good,) to go to Lexington and study awhile. She did so, and after about a year, returned, resumed her duties and became an excellent teacher. The change and improvement, which had been effected in her case, were so marked, that had I never had any other evidence of the excellence of the Normal School, I should have been inclined to admit it. "I have the honor to be, dear sir, very truly yours, S. G. HOWE." Miss Jane Fessenden left the Normal School in 1840. Since then she has taught a district school in Lexington three seasons, five months each; also in Townsend, one term of ten weeks, and in Woburn, one term and a half. The following are copies of the certificates she has received: "TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: "This certifies that one of the district schools in this town has been taught by Miss Jane Fessenden, during the last three summers. The rapid improvement and thorough knowledge of her pupils, in the various branches taught, were highly satisfactory to the district, and at the close of the school received the unqualified approbation of the committee. It gives us pleasure to recommend her as a faithful and successful teacher. CHARLES TIDD, Secretary of the School Committee." Lexington, Sept. 1, 1844. "TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: "Miss Jane Fessenden of Lexington, a former pupil of the Normal School, has had charge of a primary school in this town for several months. The committee have been fully satisfied with the results of Miss Fessenden's school, and with the progress which has been manifested from the very commencement. Her government is perfect, kind, gentle, and yet sufficiently stringent.* Her method of instruction is very clear and thorough. Her explanations are peculiarly suited to the comprehension of scholars; and the whole result has been most satisfactory to the pupils, the parents and the committee. The committee desire to give Miss Fessenden their unqualified approbation. A. H. NELSON, Chairman of the School Committee.” Woburn, Oct. 5, 1844. Miss Mary E. Fiske gives the following statement in her letter. "I left the Normal School August 18, 1841. I commenced teaching in my native village (East Lexington) November 29, 1841, at the age of 17, and here I have taught the primary and grammar schools alternately up to the present time. The weeks that have elapsed between these schools, I have been engaged in teaching private schools, in the same place. My primary schools have varied from Without corporal punishment. 53 to 58 pupils, from 3 to 10 years of age. My grammar schools from 65 to 69 pupils, from 7 to 21. My private schools have varied from 40 to 71 pupils, from 3 to 21 years of age. "When I commenced teaching, so much opposition to Normal principles was manifested in the district, I feared I should not succeed. I have had some severe trials, but in every instance I have overcome them, without resorting to the rod, and feel conscious that I have carried out what I have professed. For further particulars, I refer you to the committees, and to the parents of the children I have had under my charge." I have not asked for any certificates of her success. It is known and acknowledged generally; and the fact that she has been employed as a teacher in the same district for more than three years, is alone sufficient evidence of the estimation in which she is held. Miss Catharine R. Nelson left the Normal School in April, 1842,-and has since taught a school of 68 pupils, during eight months, in Lexington, and a school of 50 for three months in Woburn. The following certificate was given her by the committee of the former town: "This certifies that the Centre District School in this town was taught during the last two terms by Miss Catharine R. Nelson. Although the school was one which required more than ordinary disciplinary powers on the part of the teacher, yet it was distinguished for good order,-not the effect of severity, but of that happy union of mildness and firmness, which secured the love, without diminishing the respect of the pupils. The improvement and thoroughness of her pupils, in the various branches pursued, were highly satisfactory to the district, and at the close, received the unqualified approbation of the committee. We believe that in Miss Nelson, are happily united the natural and acquired qualifications of a good instructress. By order of the school committee, Lexington, April 11, 1844. CHARLES TIDD, Secretary." The following letter is from A. G. Mead Esq., of Brattleboro', Vt. It contains high commendation of three of the Normal pupils, who have successively taught in that town. "BRATTLEBORO', Vt., Oct. 8, 1844. "MR. MAY:-I am told you propose presenting to the Legislature of Massachusetts, some account of the success of the pupils of the Lexington Normal School in teaching; and I have been requested to speak of those who have taught in this place. "We have had three teachers from Lexington. Miss Emily Johnson was the pioneer, and was eminently successful. She introduced the system of instruc tion in which she had been trained at Lexington, and we approved it so much, that it was introduced into the three other schools in our village. We feel much indebted to her, both for the excellent system of instruction she introduced amongst us, and for the able and faithful manner in which she carried it out. "Last year Miss Delia Damon, from your school, taught here one term,--long enough, however, to convince me that she is well qualified for the business, and in a good school would make a valuable teacher. "During the spring term of the present year, Miss M. A. E. Davis, of Lexington, taught in one of our Common Schools; and gave the most perfect satisfaction to the committee, who employed her, and who frequently visited her school. A. G. MEAD, Chairman of School Committee." I have valuable testimonials of the success of Miss Johnson, as a teacher in South Reading and in Lexington, of Miss Damon's success in West Cambridge, and of Miss Davis's success in Norton, and in Newburyport. Miss Esther Parmenter, after leaving the Normal School in 1842,-taught in Waltham one year, a large school averaging 56 pupils, with excellent success. She then returned to the Normal School, and spent the greater part of two terms under my instruction. Since then she has taught during five months in the town of Bedford. The following certificate will show with what success: "This may certify that Miss Esther Parmenter, late from the Normal School in Lexington, has taught the Centre School in this town for twenty weeks, with strikingly good results. It is a large school, containing only the larger scholars of the district. Her excellence has been apparent, in drawing out the minds of the children, and teaching them to think, giving clear and definite ideas, and an understanding of the principles and philosophy of what they learnt. This she has done for the more advanced scholars, as far as one who has tried to do the same would think practicable in the time. With the younger pupils, whose only studies were reading and spelling, her success has not been so striking. "Her least excellence has been in government, which has not quite corresponded to the other features of her school; though in this, the latter part of the time has much exceeded the former. GEO. W. WOODWARD, Bedford, Ms., Oct. 22, 1844. Miss Louisa E. Harris left the Normal School December, 1840, and commenced teaching in Roxbury, in primary school No. 4, where she has contin ued ever since. The average number of her pupils has been somewhat more than 50. The following is an extract from the last Report of the school committee, written by the Hon. Samuel H. Walley, Jr. "I examined the pupils in reading, spelling, both from the book and the reading exercise, also in arithmetic and geography. I was very favorably impressed with the demeanor and recitations of the scholars, and I think that, taken as a whole, I never saw a primary school appear to more advantage." Miss Mary C. Paddock, since she left the Normal School, has taught very acceptably in several towns, as the following certificates will show. "I hereby certify that Miss Mary C. Paddock taught school in Dist. No. 10, in this town, during eight months in 1842,-that she gave entire satisfaction to the people of the district, and was eminently successful in governing and communicating instruction to the pupils under her charge. Dennis, Oct. 8, 1844. AARON CROWELL, JR., "This is to certify that Mary C. Paddock taught school in District No. 9, in this town, for the term of 9 months, during 1843,—and that she conducted the school entirely to my satisfaction, and to the satisfaction of all concerned so far as I have ascertained." Oct. 6, 1844. JOSHUA CROWELL, . Miss Eliza W. Thompson has been engaged, during the last eighteen months, at West Cambridge, as a teacher in the primary department of the Northwest grammar school. She has had on an average 50 pupils, and has been very successful as the following certificates show : "WEST CAMBRIDGE, Nov. 29, 1844. "This may certify that Miss Eliza W. Thompson, formerly a pupil of the Lexington Normal School, has for nearly two years been employed as a teacher in the Northwest primary school. It is gratifying to be able to state that during this period she has been a successful and constantly improving teacher. She appears to possess that easy influence over the manners of her pupils, that ensures the best order, without resort to harsh measures. The children seem happy in their studies, and at the same time give good evidence of the best progress. From my own examinations, my impressions of her powers, as an instructress, have been altogether favorable. But other members of the committee have known her longer than myself, and their language is more emphatic than even my own in her commendation. WILLIAM WARE, Chairman of W. Cambridge School Committee." |