Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1850-08-09
Dlrqinln fire. Dress.
!, By B. NJ GALLAHER s co.
FRIDITIM0RNING.
9
AUGUST o, $50.
PUBLIC ExAnINATIoN OF SCHOOLS.
[Fok rHr FaEE PRrss.

TFuk TFfr FREE PREss.
MEssRs EpiroRs II is row the usage, believe,
10 nearly all our schools 70 have public examinG-
tions-generaliy at the close of the lerm-in order
70 test in some measurehe skill and industry of The
teacher, and the proficiency Of the pupils. | am
hardly prepared 10 oppose this usage, because am
inclined tobelieye examinations arr of some utility
as means Of awakening an Interest in the parents
of children! Perhapstkey do something 10 stinia-
late school officers aud also excite The greater ef
tort curingshe term both c tie teacher and the pu-
pills Sull p1bllc exaHinssscss as frequently can-
ducteds arsRnol withoe sz1eas 4s3sFt5ns ls.-
lst. Theyzeerta1nly cannot be looked upen as
criierions q the failhinlness or success ofcaeets
/ A man lcitA tact, add pitssal honesty may make
his schoOlappeaf 70 farigfeater advantage than
better man can make better sehobi appear. This
has often happened: Isis not The most faithful and
thorough teaching that akesthe show and attracts
the applause at The public exhibition. IL the
superficial, mechanical ntemoziter exercise that IS
most i'm posing Who has not seen. class, thatre
cited by rule and in concert celebration win the
largest APPRECIATION when many oil the individuals
knew not The import Of The r0rds they uttered
Namesin Geography have been thus said or sang )"
when the things isignided were 10 ,he children as
really tsfra teosntt@ asthe fairy lands Of sinlad
the Sailor. :
3D. Nor can such exhibitions Do claimed justly
70 INDICATE the proficiency OF the pupils Eyefyiex
rerleneed teacher knows that The best scholars often
fail al public examination and HE most incident
and hcal often Distinguish themselves. The
spectators not uhtTequently, ID Poiasing out the
taleatoi me school make The teacher smile al their
blundefs .fS
Bird. They present strong tern ptation TO dis
honesty on the part of the teacherl3 Since so mach
Stress is laid upon the examination, il must be
rather an uncommon man who will have Sufficient
principle 10 exhibit his school as as and refuse 10
make those efforts 50 veEE-commonto have il appear
frhat IL iSRot. The wish expressed or i'm piled OF
the parents, and The ambition Of he~childreni an
conspife y make the teacher yield 10 a usage So
common Consequently, several weeks viii .be
spentto prepare the children to arEFe In
During this time, they Study not far Improvement
notidr future usefulness. bun inplyto make Sholr
at the public celebration. An unworthy and al IN
warrantaBle motive aetuates them during all this
process, and, at last, unless strangely benisIted
they are Gonsciens of holdng up afase appeara nee
10 tie world Now, under such circumstances
whatever of good is effected, by way Of eukindinr
a zeal in me parents, IS dearly purchased The
sacrifice df principle in teacher-much more in
The childrfn-s large Price % paEfor The applause
OF few Wisitors or evenfor an increase or interest
among them in The cause Of populaf education Ri
Examinations however, which are less shtwy
and which are otsuch characteTIas thoroughly 10
sill the teachings lhatiave been given ndtothwar
any Ingenious efforts specially for IA nj ma
tions that look back to the general teaching of the
term or the year. andes fhe accuracy ana thorough
ness of the nstrhetions4are enthusiastically very
desirable and useful To make them SD in the
highest sense and 10 EXEMPT them fron an ten
dencp upon the minds ofthe youugthenselves The
teacher Should Be ricily AanesL Not lesson should
be given with sole reference 10 the exhibition Ill he
close; not an exercise should be omitted because
the examination approaches. The good teacher
Which, lodk 70 ehpTs grSss @GEss Si9F
cou6tabis WEI etFiuifrs wnat ne may
acquire and not for what he may APPEAR TO have
acquired and that this accountability is not con
fined 10 single day soon to pass and be forgotten
but Il runs through all time and all eternity.
know not but the expectation Of an examination
may stimulate some to greater cxertion, and maks
them better scholars Ii this be 50 Ill may be well
enough and vet should be slow TO present such
motive to the mind Of child, because special or
secondary accountability always deiracts from The
general and chief.
A strong reason, In addition 10 those already as
signed, why special preparation should not Be made
for the examination, is, That where such prephra
cn is expected. the pupis become careless 10 their
ordinary exercises.
While then. think ioo much stress is placed MP
on SNOWY exhibitions and celebrations, and that OBJ
lections and dangers attend c1atiRiHatioRs as fire.
uuantlS conducted | would not recommend alto
gelher their discontinuahce. ] wgnll rather urge
that the teacher, BY his HiDhexibe honesty, should
make theni fair representations Of the 1ciualcondi-
lion Of his school, without relying very much upon
them asa means Of stimulating The pupils ID exer-
tion that the pupils should be made 10 feel That The
results Of theiH exertons through the term, rather
. than few special efforts near its close would be
brought into review that no hypocrisy manage
mcnt should ever be tolerated IN order 10 win the
applause Of The muliitnGe; that ITO particular les
sons should ever be assigned for the oecasion that
it shonld be remembered, that the moral effect of
lin occasional failure al examination will be more
santary upon the, school than unbroken success !;
and that the children are irreparaby injured when
they are made in any way the willing instruments
ci false preteuti0ps.
Under such circumstances, examinations may be
profitable to all concerned IF teacher and pupils
have done we'll they have an opportunity Of show
ing itwitheut violenceHto their own conscienccs.-
/ The emHloyet-. and patrons 100 have some means
Of forming correct estimate ofhe value of tAeir
school, and all parties may be encouraged and
stimulated But above all things LET THE TEACHER
BE HONEST,
IA FRIEND or EpUeATIoN.
Jefferson County, Va July ii 1850