National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-02-23
Communications.
iHbiic Examination.

We very much regret that the publication
ufanY facts hN US, aud especially the pihlio@'
tinu Of a letter received by rs from the Stcie
taly of the board ol Education, has given
birth t. such unpleasant reflections M the
uind of 81 " Tor NJ should NJ once infer that
the even tcnorund pleasant language ct hi'
last two article. published Ia tho Opinion,
giNes ample proof that he is labOriug under a
decidedly bad state ut mind We have Thought
that perhap. the events which tunsplrcd AZ
the examination, and thc Facts which have
been revealed since, have brought iresh into
the memory vt Ia and other individuals,
the events and circumstances under which -
certain school teacher felt constrained to
make retreat In hot haste FROM New Jorrcy
IN days gone by.
Although We feel that an article made up
mainly of slauX and ialsehopd, is never worth
u reply, vet We feel rnnpcllod TO take mp the
pcn once more aud lay before the public the
lew remaining fact, ia relation 20 tho exam
nation ui the young lady IN Question: winch
until now have been withheld from puhhrd-
tiun. The proper way Ia conduct an eSatlln.
ntion, under the new school laws, aAd accord
ing to the printed regulations governing cn-
animation which regulations ara sent, with
the oup. tiuus, a. each Supt. by the Secretary
Of the Board OF Education, - 10 place IN the
hands of each candidate one copy of the list of
questions, tugnthcr with slips OF paper on
which to write the snswers to the questions
ON each branch Of study, and each candidate
shall write an nnswer to each question to the
beat of their ability, aud alter answering All
the uurs, ions upon one hcane h OF study, shall
hand In the slip ~ paper on VIII h the aus.
wer, are written, To- The Supt, and this shall
close the examination upon that one branch
of study hut at the examination IN question:
allowed tli. regulation 10 b. entirely over
Ionkrti, hN allOWm. each candidate to make
Just a, many trial, us they wished to make Tor
the reason, that, rs We publicly stated at the
examination, we wished 10 nave every cthIiu-
ate get "A certificate ; and We think ,htt the
Young lady ia question improved this priv
lrgc to the best of her ability Tor tho reason
that sac made mere than one trial upon every
branch of study excepting Orthogtaphy aud
upun one particular branch she made four
sepcratr and distinct trials.
At the commencement of the examination
the young mdy made the inquiry how many
questions II WAS nrcessary 10 answer correctly |
to srcu!r :, certificate, and upon beng INFORM |
ed, she puhliclv dcol,.rrd her intention TO ans |
wrr lust thc required number, and To select |
the easiest ones
She acted according to her declaration, and |
tlercsult is well known. At the close of the |
examination, with failure in each branch of
study, with one exception, staring IA IA tho
face, We informed tine young iady, IN kindness,
that We could not grant certificate SHE "Sh-
ed for some of the incorrect answers, amt We
Simply referred to one branch of study, having
correct answers than what Wa absolutely
necessary and the fact that she failed in ey-
cry hranch of study except orthography. vas
not made public or revealed to any one until
m article from tie pen OF H. compelled Ms
% max, It so, in srli defence aud the result
81 this "di.cussiuu' which he commenced,
has been simply to lay before the public all
The incorrect answers and mistakes made by
The Young lady ~ the examination, which has
cen an injury to the credit of the young lady.
and no satisfaction to Us aud ii the fruits of
Ms ''discus ION" the facts reVeaiedh the re-
plies given to the beautiful articles from ~
lave giNru any pleasure to that gentleman,
ve should Judge that his last articles mlsrcp-
resented his feeling very much the publica-
non OF the letter from the Secretary of the
Board of Education appears to seriously dis
arb the equilibrium OF his mind, and it Is
.ealy amusing to notice the manner in which
ie tIys TO bridge over il; but facts are stub
,orn things, and he makes up hill work Of 1t
It hess.
Wien we laid the matter before TIC Secre-
any. we stated to him that the young lady
rs a teacher Of experience, and that public
ointment was IA her favor as "a teacher, but
hat We did not feel Justified III rant4ng IL Ger
iHcatr, under the new school laws, upon the
csuit ui her examination, and we wished to
NOW whether We were right or wrong in re-
using certificate under the circumstances,
nd the reply received speaks for itself.