Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-08-14
SELECTIONS.
UNIVERSITY OF VINGINI,


UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA.
The second public examination of the University
Of Virginia concluded Wednesday the 18th
nit. The anxiety which every citizen must feel for
the interests OF this institution and the diffusion OF
useful knowledge, induces us 80 make few re-
marks on what conceive to be essentially ne
cesssIy to the success Of all schools and colleges -
we mean complete, impartial, public exam:ns-
ipD.
About the two first named requisites no one cRG
have dcutt. An examination ought 10 be COM
rlefe investigation OF Students sttsinments in HE
respective classes without this, il is only decep-
ton pracised on the community. AN examna-
lien should also Claim and deserve the merit of
Impartiali'y- Otherwise 1t can never gain general
confidence.
AS the examinations in the University of Virgil
MA are conducted, as far as we know, in different
manner from those of oher American Institutions,
We think II due TO those who recommended and
those who sanctioned this system, present it TO
cur readers in plain and ineligible form. We do
not hesitate to express our appreciation of this
mode oil examination, and TO pronounce II infinitely
superior to that which is In general use. AT the
same time, claim the privilege OF expressing
freely our opinion of any art of the whole, which
may seem 10 US susceptible OF improvement.
The examinations take place at the end of each
session. The Students on entering the Univ ersily,
choose their own schools; some attend one school,
some join two. and others many three. A
Z. efessor generally finds it convenient to have
eI classes, TO accommodate the different degrees
OF proficiency Of those who ale under his instIuc-
tior.
From this division and subdivision, it necessarily
follows that many separate examinations are re-
CURED, and that several days, SIX seven, at least
q employed in the examination of al the classes
On the late occasion, II vas found necessary 10
have four distinct examinations in the day. one Of
three hours and the other thee Of two hours length
Many students attended two examinations in one
day, and some even three; nor was this confined 10
a single day, but r some casee extended TO three or
four.s We cannot help thinking this labor is too
iaiigu;ng, both for the examiners and the students
but particularly for the latter An addition Of few
days the time allotted would remove this cbiec-
ton. II may be said that too much time will be
occupied in examining the students, il il is extend.
ed beyond that at present allowed Bat this is
mere rifle when The object Is to ascertain conpEefe-
IN The stuGenl's proficiency. Any thing which in
teflcTes with this, which consider an essential
Of good examination, should. in opinion, be
promptly and eHsctually removed. We must MOI
omit to add, that, the classes in the University
sfe nj present constituted an examination conduc CT.
ed in the common way would occupy much more
time than in the new mode even if four or five adj
ditiOBal days are required. And what is of more
importance, the result would be much less sstisfac
tory, If Obtained in the usual ways and this leads
TO the consideration Of the peculiar character
Isles OF the examination in the University of Viz
Sinia.
s;Sers TO question:, solutions Of problems or trans
lstioBs hOm the different languages which they
have studied. For the performances of these ex-
ercises tw and in cases, jhree hours are al
royedi the answers, solutions, TRANSACTIONS, are
written pt per- and, at the end Of the time given
in 10 the examineI.t
The most manifest advantages Of this mode
seem to be, let, that every student in each class has
the same questions TO answer or exercises TO per-
form BADLY, that in limited time the Students
may lie examined more completely than they could
be IN tie same or much longer time, If each
wSrs examined By himself BY this system, the
examination is made leas partial less unequal in
difficulty than b5 any other mode: for no e4amina-
zion can be impartial, where two students have
differ ent questions to different exerci.es
20 Eefform. There must te in 'hese questions, &c
vsfous degrees OF didicullyi and Of course, where
the thing proposed 10 each is not the same, one
list have an unfair advantage over another.
This system has other recommendations so obyi-
Gus, that merely 10 mention them will be sufficient
Many questions requiring the exercise Of the rea-
soning power, or an arrangement in which memory
and judgment are combined, well as solutions OF
difficult problems not before seen By the student
cannot be proposed in an examination where uuess
tons are answered orally, problems are perform
oil only on the black board The nsw mode is
adapted 10 cases 70 which The older is altogether
j1s pplieable
Such students as ere imid and easily discUncer,-
Cd, cannot enter into competition with those of
contrary disposition, except by allowing TO all sufTi-
cient time for calm consideration and the arrange
msnt Of their IDEAS paper. Such students, as
experience proves. Oflen found among those who
really possess most knowledge. Some advantage,
80 think, is derived from The students writing their
s'swsFs or usnsations on paper it may spprar
10 many TOO trivial 20 mention, but in tie present
state Of sducaiioa in our country, we believe that
q n highly useful and necessary exercise
The studenis are expected 10 be prepared on ell
Tue subjects on which tsiey have received instfuc
ion during tbs session, and they are liable 10 be
sx1mined on eay psrs VI these jecis. no books
sWs have been informed that more than one stu
Gent attended many fifteen distinct exarnina-
lions.
In the Schools Of ancient and ncdefa !7aspags.
sat- 81 ossi tts1inai,n ~