Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-05-01
CITY AND COUNTY.

passed


which was crowded. The essays and de.
camations were very good, and were deliver
Ell even better than those at the prize CONTEXT
in the same place = week ago. The exsr.
ciseF were sgreeably enliVened by music by
The high school choir, and piano solos BY
Misses Carrie Barnard and Emma S. Morse,
and Master c. IL. Smith
MIR. I. w. Iligginson, chairman of the
prize committee, read the following report,
announcing the names of those to whom the
Bullock prizes and the diplomas we're 10 be
given:
IMPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE BULLOCK
PRIZE MEDALs-lS62.
The committee of citizens appointed to
award the Bullock prize medals have attended
to their duty, aud report as follows
In the department of defamation and
reading they have held public oral sxhibi.
ton in the departments Of composition and
drawing they have carefully inspected the
specimens submitted to them. In all the 9th
er departments they have instituted private
written examinations, under their own exclu-
sive direction.
In these examinations the pupils were allow.
ed two hours for each set Of questions, and not
allowed to consult books or leave the room
during the time. The questions were not pre-
viously submitted to even the teachers, though
necessarily based upon their general reports
Of the grouni passed over by the several
classes. The answers Of the pupils in each de.
partment were collected by the committee
when finished, and examined and marked
without the co operation of the teachers. The
marks thus given were compared with the an
nual average of each pupil i'll that department,
asCertalned from the school register and =
mean between these two gave the exact
standing of each pupil in each department.
| All this was done without the knowledge en-
| the part of the committee Of the name OF any
| pupil with whom they were dealiug-every
| paper being marked with number only, and
the list of names corresponding to these num-
bers not being given to the committee ill after
| tile aW ards were all made
1t is believed that this method is as thorough
and accurate as any which can be adopted
No oral examination can possibly bear equally
on all, and to award the prizes without exam
| nation, would make them mere reflex OF the
opinions OF the teachers. But every good
| teacher welcomes thorough written examin-
alton, made by competent persons from out.
| side it sums up the years attachments OF the
scholars, distinguishes those vino have learned
| specifically from those who have learned.
thoroughly, and reminds the pupils that they
| are ansUerabe to the community as well as
to their instructors. 1t even tends TO correct
the limitations of teachers themselves, by aug
costing standards other than their own.
The committee have to report with pleasure,
most cordial interest in the examination, on
the part OF ali concerned. In every depart
ment tho papers were received with eager
meas, and in almost every one, they were an
swered with labor and care. II there was any
exception, it was in the few departments
where several incongruous classes have to be
reached by one set OF questiOns,-as in His
tory and English Llterature,-and where some
OF the classes touuI to their disappointment
that the questions went beyond the range of
their studies.
1t is not the function of this committee to
criticise the school, but only to compare the
scholars. Ii is not, however, improper to say
that the school appeared tavoraby. There
seems very healthy tone of thought and
feeling, high standard of honor and inteeri-
ty, and a cordial relation between teachers
and pupils. The range of requirements in
the institution is certainly not so great as i'll
some High schools whether this advantage
is not gained by grevious standard of over
work in other places, is different question
| The hours OF labor in this school are reason
able no small merit, now that the evils of
excessive labor are SO manifest in our educa-
tionSl system. The great point 10, that what
| is learned should be learned well and ia this
respect, though the result Of our examination
has not been triumphant, it has not been dis
creditable.
In one department, however, it is safe to
venture on more decided commentator. The
prize compositions were certainly very credit
able, in thought, expression and even me.
chAnical execution-for as writing is not
taught in the school, il was an agreeable sur.
prise Ia the pnu,miftaa IN And "a -
good The best compositions indicated care
tul and elaborate preparation and there were
some, evidently by juvenile pupils and proba-
| bly, written without hope of tile prize, which
| gave much promise for the future And in
the judgment Of the only member of the com.
mitIee who has served two yeArs, the compar.
iion with last yearss competitions is so re-.
| markably favorable, that the prize medal for
lo62 IN this department, lie an honor at least
twenty tive per cent. greater than the same
prize ter 1861.
having mentioned the most favorable "a
pect Of tile examination Of this year, the com.
mlttes may perhaps venture to speak of one
less favorable; namely, the exhibition OF dee.
lanlaIion. In almost all school defamation.
there is a tendency towards one Of two ex.
tremCs towards either the wooden Atyls ar
the exaggerated style. In this school there
is very little OF the wooden. The speaker,
generally came forward easily, stood we'll on
their feet, and used their arms and their voices
freely. The tendency was all the other way,
to an excess Of the dramatic, and the commit.
tee have felt bound to mark by their award
their appreciation of a simple, earnest, digni.
fled easy mode of utterance, as a thing supe-
rior to any style which, however good in other
respects, bears any trait Of exaggeratOn.
In the arrangement OF medals among the
different departments the committee have in
troduced no Important innovation. II las
been found necessary, however, to make some
change in tine construction to be placed on the
medals for department.. 1t appears by tho
teachers statements that there is no possibility
Oh making this award upon the basis VI
Hrpormeht only, since so large is the mum.
osr OF 'hose whose school demeanor IL unex.
GSepu1nable, that it would be impossible to ss.
lec'' IL WINS therefore unanimously decided by
the committee TO award these medals TO those
Iour puplls, among those unexcep,ionablV in
department, rs had como nearest TO prizps In
oihcr iirrctionsi and this has accordingly
been done. In tile case Of the first nrizs IN
department there was special reason also
which will be mentioned in its proper pnee