 The Sunday Gazetteer Sunday, July 1, 1883 pg. 1 EDUCATIONAL MATTERS IN THE TERRITORY Commencement Exercises of the Bloomfield Academy The Aptitude of Indian Children as Scholars - Scholastic Standing, an Unexceptional Standard - An Original Composition by a Fifteen-Year-Old Student - The Past and the Future of the Academy - Principal R.L. Boyd - Brilliant Evening Services - Personal Notes The commencement exercises of Bloomfield Academy, I.T., took place Friday, June 22. Prof. Summerville of the public school, Mr. J.A. Manning of Chicago, George McLagan and the correspondent of the Gazetteer attended from Denison. To escape the intolerable heat of the day, the party made an early start, arriving on the Academy grounds at 10:30 a.m. The distance from Denison to Bloomfield is ten miles. The highway was in splendid condition, almost entirely free from dust, and the trip was made in two hours. Mr. J.A. Manning of Chicago handled the ribbons with the quick finger and cool head of an experienced whip. Our team were of the sedate and thoughtful type, born to take things complacently and without any fiery or spirited nonsense about them. The trip from Denison to the river is not without interest. Many beautiful and well cultivated farms greet the eye, and it is evident that the country is keeping stride with the phenomenal growth of the city. At Carpenters Bluff the river is crossed by ferry to the Territory. A pleasant drive of two miles through the shady recess of green woods the prairie is reached. Looking north the faint outlines of the Academy building are discernible through the vista of a noble grove of forest trees, which crown the summit of the Academy hill. We cannot imagine a more lovely and desirable spot for the situation of an institution of learning. It is said that the study of nature develops the understanding, those who selected this site must have believed the truism - it is looking up through nature to nature's God. THE ACADEMY Bloomfield Academy is a plain two story building, without any pretentions to architectural beauty. It was built in 1852. The principal first in charge was the Rev. Carr, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Rev. Carr remained in charge for a period of five years, and was succeeded by Prof. Coles, who served the same number of years as his predecessor. Prof. Wharten was called to the charge of the Academy in '74 and remained for a period of nearly ten years. By a recent act of the Chickasaw Legislature, which was concurred in by the Senate and approved by the Governor, non-citizens were disqualified for the position of principal. The Orphans Home, Rock Academy, Chickasaw Male Academy and Bloomfield Academy are conducted by Chickasaws, their assistants are white persons. R.L. Boyd was appointed principal of Bloomfield Academy and entered upon his duties October 1st, '82. It is our intention to particularly of this gentleman. He has always held positions of high trust, and is esteemed by all classes of people, irrespective of color or race. During our long intercourse with the people of the Territory, we never enjoyed the hospitality of a more perfect and agreeable gentleman. He more than anyone else fills out our beau-idea of nature's nobleman. His hospitality is proverbial, a man of ardent affections, hopeful, cheerful, and with a great love in his heart for those who have been entrusted to his keeping. His wife ably seconds her husband in all his good works and is devotedly love by the pupils. Mr. Boyd conducted your correspondent over the grounds and pointed out many improvements that have been made during his administration. The grounds compromising some fifteen acres have been enclosed by a substantial fence. The garden south of the school building is a matter of pride with Mr. Boyd, as he gives it his personal supervision. It is a small patch of ground, but cultivated with great care. It abundantly supplies the needs of the school. The number of pupils attending Bloomfield is limited to thirty young miners. At the convening of the next Legislature, the school will likely be increased to sixty pupils. The legal qualifications for admittance are that the applicant must read well in Fifth Readers and corresponding advancement in other branches. This rule is not always strictly adhered to. The exercises of the day consist of the examination of pupils in various branches - reading, speaking, Geography, Arithmetic and several of the higher branches. Mr. R.M. King, an excellent teacher and first assistant to Mr. Boyd, conducted the recitation. We make the assertion, and challenge contradiction, that the pupils are further advanced and brighter in their studies than most white children of a corresponding age. Mr. Mannings of Chicago, a polished scholar, who was educated in a Jewish college and is a competent judge, expresses the same opinion. There is not a dull student attending Bloomfield Academy. COMPOSITIONS A number of compositions were read. From the number we select the following, not from any superior merit, as they were all good, but it will give the reader some idea of the workings of the school. The writer is Miss Georgie Collins, a young lady fifteen years of age. OUR SCHOOL There was quite a commotion last year about our schools, of which, as you know, we have four in regular scholastic session. The Orphans Home, Rock Academy, Chickasaw Academy and our own dear Bloomfield Academy. The past year has been, in a measure, experimental with us. In preceding years our school was conducted by non residents. Our own people have now taken upon themselves the responsibility of governing their own educational institutions, with what success you are to judge. We are Chickasaws, we stand on our own soil, we have the same interests at stake, we have our honor as a people to sustain, we are allied by the kindred ties of blood and marriage, is it not apparent to every rational being that one of our own race would have our interests deeper at heart than a total stranger? The present contractor of Bloomfield is related by nature or marriage to almost every student in our happy little circle. It has been his study to make us comfortable and happy at all times, in which he has succeeded beyond my power to express. Kinder or better care than our dearly beloved friends have bestowed upon us, it is impossible to find. The magic rod by which they rule is love. We all know the power of that little word. How sweet the task performed, how pleasant the study, when instead of frowning censure or peevish impatience, our young efforts are met with a gentle smile and our puzzled minds led on to more earnest duty by a loving word of encouragement. O! It is a fearful mistake when preceptors call the rod to their assistance. Its cruel welts never yet made clearer a misty explanation, or awakened the flagging spirits to renewed energy. "Rome was not built in a day," neither can the young, in a day, or a month or a year, attain that degree of excellence that belongs to more mature years. The great oak comes up from a tiny acorn, its tender roots are nourished by sunshine and cooling rains, the swaying breeze fans it, year after year it gradually grows until, lo! it is the knightliest tree in the forest; so it is with the mind. It is the growth of years of patient training. When we are grown we are apt to forget the weary heartaches a poor, unmastered lesson has caused us in school days, and often we do as many as predecessor has done - we expect perfection from too miniature a mind. That I and my companions have tried hard by faithful study to repay in some measure the great interest manifested in our welfare, I can truthfully affirm. It may be that we have not always shone this earnestness, for youth is prone to heedlessness, but deep down in our hearts their kindness has awakened a grateful affection that time cannot obliterate. Who does not love the pleasant sunshine better than the cloudy storm? What heart so hard that will not soften before the holy, loved, sincere friendship? What wonder then that we should feel so strong an affection for those friends in whose guiding care we have been for one happy year? Look out upon our grounds. View the surrounding prairie, its velvety green carpet spread out before your gaze, our trees with their rough arms raised over us, forming a cooling canopy to shied us from the sun's scorching beams; listen to our chorus of birds, each little throat swelling with notes whose liquid melody, falling on the enraptured ear, bring a glad smile to the lips and an answering light to the eye! Let the picture dwell for a moment within your mind. We deem it a lovely little panorama - beauty without end, love and kindness within. What more is needed to make our school a happy Paradise? Miss Johnson, daughter of Thos. Johnson, National Secretary, read an essay on the subject of "Home." It was an elegant and thoughtful composition, and it is a matter of regret that the Gazetteer has not room for it in its columns. Mr. King has kindly placed at our disposal for publication the monthly report of the scholastic standing for June, the last month of the session. The number 100 is the standard of perfection.\ BLOOMFIELD ACADEMY R.L. Boyd, Principal Monthly Report of Scholastic Standing for the month of June 1883.
R.M. King, Teacher   Bloomfield Academy History  Chickasaw Roots Native American Roots Schools Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message.  |