Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-12-21

THE EXAMINATION.

ton--the merits of the plan, Sc.
To the Editor of the Central Gazette.
To such of your leaders as take interest in
the University, it mag perhaps AFFORD the same
qualification that II has to myself, to become ac-
quaiOed with the plan pursued IN the examination ,
which has jus, taken place there. will eudeav our
therefore to sketch It's outlines and point out hose
beauties in il which have been source OF pleasure
10 mr.
A series of questions is prepared for each class,
and published TO them ihsf sn'rsnce l"to the |
examination room. To such of these he can
master within the allotted time, each indI, du,l |
writes his answers. These all deliver before !
the class is dismissed, and subsequently subjected
TO the following admirable process for determining |
both the positive and the relative proficiency O
The respondents
Previous TO taking any OF the answers under con-
sideration, the relative difficulty of the several
questions is weighed and determined with all at
iainable accuracy; and number expressive OF this
relative difficulty affixed 10 each. The OF
every student hen separately brought into view:
e'ch answer Carefully weighed; and, according 10
is iGliness and accuracy, stamped with either a
portion, the = hole, OF the numerical value pre-
vIousiy affixed To the question. AS Tie several |
values thus stamped the answers, give The de- |
gree of knowledge appearing from their respective
answers; does the sum OF these values, / any |
individual, afford the measure OF The proficiency
evinced by MIN In the entire examination Thus, !
tain the greatest possible amount OF values, and
evince the greatest possible degree OF proficiency
which the examination wa- calculated to develop
so Ear as tie examination goes, the student ha.
proved himself perfect
These are The outlines Of the system; now for a
glance at lis merits. AND irsi, TO the q10nfuni
OF examination which it admits In the ordinary
oral examinations, the degree in which the pro-
iciency OF the several members of class Can,
within given time, he tested, i in reisely the
number of those members. rh: time must of
course be divided, and fraction only allotted to
each: In class comprising fifty students, each
can receive much scrutiny only oHe tiitieth
part OF the time admits Ii lhis fiiteth part allow
OF BIZ, two questions, these 'wo questions the
extent OF the possible test to each The system
unIer consideration allows the ichOic time 10 ev cry
student: under The same surpoeiuon as that made
with reference to the oral mode, each student Is
subject to hundred questions, that IS, to fifty
times as many tests. And, generally, the quan,um
OF examination degree OF scrutiny, demo. strably
amounts 10 as great multiple oi the degree ad-
mitted by the oral mode, The number OF the class
is OF UNITY
The superior precision admit Ell 10y n written an
swer, next claims attention. Conference makes
the ready; but writing. the t.rGrt man, 80 says
Bacon: aud If writing be conducive and necessary
to the formation OF that habit in the mind, il il l.
less 80 to the exactness as well as iuilness OF
single answer. This mode admits therefore not
only of more est, but of tar more specific re-
suits to those tests Add 10 this That il is u wing
in bu, faint degree TO those feelings of dIidence
which generally prevail most in the most ingenious
and deserving, and which, in an oral examination,
IL is almost i'm; o>sibe ~ TepTesS.
Thus much of the system Is mode of develop
Ing the poSikiUe proficiency OF those subjected 10
II. Let US now consider II under new aspect:
as presenting their relative advancement also,-
affortng data for comparative estimate of their
proficiency. Here, tie very same questions are
propounded 10 all; every answer Is separately
sured by the previously adopted standard, and
its value noted; the sum at these values taken,
with regard to each competitor; and these sums
compared. Can any thing be more satisfactory?
Fhe number Of questions precluGes chance; the
ncde cf answer protects from confusion, and ena-
bles profound and precise knowledge to Distinguish
itself from that which W ie and superlcial; the
mode of comparison affords line and orpntunry
for deliberate examination: aud by coaring IN.
performances, not with one another, but with
separate standard protects the Judge from the
danger of pre- conceived partiaiu ie- AMI prejudice
How is II wih the ordinary system? There,
different questions put to each student: these
questions answered OTGilyt-in manner pre-
Guiding the possibility OF catching the shades Of
diifsI ence in the answers, even # the questions
wee the To compare The values OF these
answers, requires the complete operation OF com
parfag together at tie same time, The compound
values oil many questions AID answers as there
are questions propounded: and tLe materials for
this operation are The vague and ileeing impress
sIons made by oral questions and oral answers On
minds distracted with a constantly varying success
sion Of objects. Let the class be little hume
rous: and where is the mind equal to this opera
iionI that could perform IL to even its own salts
faction? II does not exist. " o man, conscicn-
tiously disposed TO do justice, and acquainted with
the difficulties of the task would lie satisfied with
such impressions grounds Of decision. Ii the
writer be no, very much mistaken, this conviction
forces itself on all who have TO make such deer
sions; aud public examinations, AZ usually conduct
Cd enter for tat very little the determination
OF the standing OF students. they are at bottom
title more than FORMS and rank in the glass rests
chiefly the previously formed opinions OF the
instructor a single, fsllib!e Judgment which
personal department aud the numberle-s other eau
ses of prejudice against some and partiaIty to
whole course. oPECIAIOR.
Let il be recollecled also, that where the time
bestowed on each is short, and the questions must
therefore, necessarily be divided, the student may
even without the slightest collision with the pro-
lessor or examiner, infer with pretty ap-
proach at accuracy, from his standing and other
circumstances, what questions will fall to- him and
accordingly specially prepare on Them
CONGRESS.
WAsHIvcTo., Dec. 80 In the Senate Mr..
Reeds resolul ion, considered Friday last, and
then, rejected, was yesterday reconsidered aud
agreed 10. Mr. Johnston OF Kentucky, submitted I
4 resolution, nsirucing the Committee Military
Af.;.,, ;n,,,;re in 10 the expedieucy of Pstabah