Jasper County Democrat, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1902 — CLASSICAL SCHOOL FOR GIRLS [ARTICLE]

CLASSICAL SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

Thls school was opened In September. 1582. It was founded by the late Theodore Lovett Bewail, A- 8.. A. M., of Harvard university. It was Mr. Sewall’s purpose in founding this school to give to his wife, Mrs. May Wright Sewall, who has from Its opening been 1U principal, an opportunity to earn’ out some of her advanced ideas regarding the education of girls. From the outset great attention has been paid by this school to the physical culture of Its students. The progress In the United States In this direction In the last twenty years is told In the history of the Girls’ Classical. When It was opened and Its principal applied to Dr. Sargent, the director of the gymnasium of Harvard, for a teacher of physical culture. Dr. Sargent replied that he knew of no woman in the country fitted to take such a position. A protracted search discovered none, and the physical Instruction was begun under the direction of Mr. Psrtuch. whose knowledge of gymnastics was limited to the exercises indicated by the name turnvereln. The efforts of the classical school to find competent teachers of physical culture were an Important factor In opening Dr Bargent’s gymnasium to women, and in turning the attention of educators to the necessity for doing something for the bodies of tholr pupils. With the highest Intellectual Ideals and In surroundings In which comfort and refinement are studiously sought, this school Is a thoroughly democratic institution. Its patronage has always been drawn from the heat families of the city and from the corresponding circles In all parts of the United States. The reputation of the school for sound physical culture, for the highest Intellectual standards, and for the unique ■odal opportunities enjoyed by its pupils, have drawn students from all sections of the country; from twentyfour different etates and territories and from cities as widely separated as San Francisco. Philadelphia and New Orleans. The Girls' Classical school has been a pioneer in _ Indianapolis for the higher education of women, and In Its short life It has already graduated 106 young women, sixty-seven of whom have been Inspired under Its Influence to carry forward their education In the best colleges and universities of the United States. In Its relation to other Institutions of learning, the schfol has always been as entirely Independent as In Its own methods of work and In Its ldeala Not a nominal feeder of any on# college It has made preparation to meet the requirements of the Harvard entrance examinations, Its standard for graduation from Its highest course; and the distribution of lfs students among the best colleges Is fairly shown by the fact that at the present time It Is represented by its graduates at Vassar, Smith and Bryn Mawr colleges and at Chicago. Leland Stanford and Cornell universities. Beginning with only the classical curriculum. It has added other courses, until now It Is completely equipped for teaching chemistry, physics and the various subjects of natural history by the laboratory method, and In addition to Its physical and chemical laboratories it has a model kitchen. In which the application of theoretical chemistry Is made. The model kitchen Is under the able direction of a graduate of Drexel Institute. The Girls’ Classical school from Its commencement set A new standard for teachers In this community, employing only teachers of experience from some one of the small number of best Institutions In the country. The school Insists on the Individual character of all true education. Its principal keeps In close touch with every pupil and through the large number of highly educated Instructors in its faculty Its pupils enjoy the advantage of constant personal association with men and women of real culture and roll Dement who seek constantly to study Individual needs. Ths school has steadily grown until It has developed a harmonious course of study covering a period of fifteen years, thus enabling it to take pupils at kinder-

garten age and to lead them In a continuous path to the door of the moat exacting university. By a steady loyalty to Its original purpose, by employing only the best instructors, by being free to use the best books and ths best appliances and by keeping before ail o'/ its pupils the thought that the school is only ah Introduction to an education which the college and university must continue and which life alone can complete, the Girls’ Classical school has exerted an Influence upon education in this state out of all proportion to its youth and to the number of its pupil*