SALISBURY ACADEMY EXAMINATION, 1819.
REPORT OF THE EXAMINATION OF THE SALISBURY FEMALE ACADEMY, SECOND SESSION, 1819.
THE examination commenced on Wednesday the first, and closed on Friday, the third of December. The students, generally, manifested such accuracy and readiness in the course of a very strict and impartial examination, conducted by the ladies who had them in charge, in the presence of the Board of Trustees and a large and respectable audience. The Board were satisfied that the exhibition was not conducted upon any previous selection of particular passages of pupil's studies, upon which their skill was tried, but promiscuously through the various branches on which they had been taught during the season.
The fifth, or lowest Class, were examined on spelling in two syllables, and reading from the spelling-book.
The fourth, on reading from Goldsmith's History of England, on hurry's abridgment of the English Grammar, and Willet's abridgment of the Geography of the United States.
The third class appeared on English Grammar, parsing, reading from Goldsmith's History of Rome, Willet's abridged Geography of Asia and Africa, and on the map of the World.
The second Class read from Thompson's Seasons; were examined on English Grammar, parsing, correcting instances of false Grammar, Geography, the use of the Globes, and elements of Astronomy.
The first Class read and parsed from Cooper's Task; shewed specimens of writing; were examined on the rules of perspicuity and precision in composition, and the exercises corresponding with them; Cumming's abridgment of the Geography of Europe; the maps of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, together with the map of the World, by Arrowsmith; on the use of the Globes; Elements of Astronomy, Rhetoric and Moral Philosophy, and on Arithmetic.
There were produced various elegant and tasteful specimens of Drawing, Painting, Embroidery, Fancy and Needle Work; and a variety of pleasing exhibitions upon the Piano Forte.
The Board again repeat to Miss Eliza Slater and to Miss Mary Ann Slater, the increased obligations they are under to them for the ability, faithfulness and care with which they have presided over the learned and useful branches of education submitted to them.
They reiterated to Miss Mitchell, likewise, their increased obligation to her for her eminent skill and zealous attention in the conduct of the ornamental branches.
The next session commences on the first of January. The course of studies will be the same as heretofore taught in the school, which is still under the conduct of the same ladies. The Trustees take a pleasure in recommending to the public this Institution, for the great accuracy which the students are taught. It is not to read, but to understand what is read, which forms the great disideratum of education. To attain this object, constitutes the leading feature in their plan. They expected that the Male Academy would have been opened on the first of January likewise, and that the reverend gentleman would have occasionally visited the Female School; but owing to a disappointment, this plan, so desirable to the Trustees, cannot be effected before the end of the present quarter. Thomas L. Cowan, Sec'y.
—The Star, February 18, 1820.
(Source: North Carolina Schools and Academies, 1790-1840, By Charles L. Coon 1914)
