The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-02-17
School Reperts--Vain show.

0~1&SO4 4&SHS% OS S@@@@ 49, -
In giving o place to the Educational
Column in the TELEGRAPH, we expected
to benefit the public, rather than to allow
it to be used for vain show. Not long
since report came in with Aunbsrs div
ided go snail rs TO be expressed ia vulgar
fractions We directed the eompositors
to take no notice of the parts of Humbers
expressed 10 vulgar fractions. This week
we publish report which comes 70 rs
through the Educational Department in
proof for reading and correction.
We call the attention Of our readers,
particularly those interested in Educo-
tiansl reports, to the report OF District
School No. 5, Somers. We do not select
this report because il Is worse than others
but we Use it now, because we think it
time to suppress that part Of the reports
which only amounts TO vain shsw, though
increasing enormously the labofs OF the
compositions and publisher. and is one
cause sf the reports falling 10 command
the attention and respect which they
would otherwise receive. We refer 10
the fractions used in giving the Punctu-
atty, Attendance, Scholarship, Deport-
ment and General Average Of the Schel-
ars.
To start with, unit is divided into
one hundred parts, SO that any number
less than 100 expresses SO many parts
Of one. The fractional numbers used
express so many thousandths part OF one.
There are rs sch GLARS names and " frac
tional numbers. OF these fractional num-
bers SO are cyphers and neither increase
nor diminish the value. To print these
fractional numbers requires the use of n
figures and an equal number of fractional
points, making 1874 Now how much and
what do these 1874 figures and fractional
points express? The sum Of all the frac-
tions is 1885, To do more than justice to
the report, cali it 200, this is, two tenths,
or one fifth of one. To express this one
fifth of one in the aggregate, embracing
the punctuality, attendance, scholarship,
deport ment, and general average
of IS scholars, these 154 figures and
FRACTIONAL points are brought into
requisition. If this is not 0ais shesc, We
really do not know whas would be. Sure
ly, the exhibition of peacock's feather
in turkey cocks tail when strutting,
would not be.
The report closes as follows: Not
single communication has been reported
during the last seven weeks, and only
one during the two months" What does
the word. single. express here. Let us
see. There is not Il single man or woman
in Somers They axe all married. There
is not single boy or girl in school.
Tsey are all paired. Not single COM
EluOkCdblCA dIo OSC4 P'ASSO" oAAS
scholar has whispered to another, and
that scholar has whispered back again
The communications reported have all
been in pairs or double, except one du-
ring the first week. So, as we understand
it, the word, single, in place Of adding
pctspicuity and force to the sentence,
add, obscurity and uncertainty. The
sentence would be perfect without it.
In closing, we say again that onr re-
marks are not intended to be personal III
their application particularly to the
writer Of the report used for illustration,
but they are intended to be of general
application And We trust that those
who, hereafter make reports for public
alton, win save lis the unplcasantness OF
refusing to publish part of their re-
ports