, 1874-05-03
Chicago combine the most perfect system with
all tho de1ibility that is desirable.

Chicago combine the most perfect system with
all the he1ibility that is desirable.
THE SPRING EXAMINATIONS.
Enough has been said to give tho reader IN
idea Of The grading and general work Of the dis
trlct schools. Pupils thus complete Practical
Art hmetic, Political Geography, short course
Of English Grammar, brief History OF the
cou1se Of vocal music, md the study, chiefly
oral, OF various topics Of natural science and
general information, which serve to relieve tho
monotony which is populary supposed to be en-
throacd in every schooi-room. These topics thus
pursued are not the only things that serve to
arouse both teachers and pupils The annual
examination for admission to the High School, is
looked forward to with intense interest BY those
whom it concerns especial1y-the teachers and
pupils OF the first grade.
But the device which more than all others
6tirs up the interest and excites the feelings OF
tho whole grammar department is the "Spring
Examination" Sec. 50 of the Rules OF the
Board Of Education provides that: "a At some
time during the Last part OF the winter torn the
Superintendent shall have written examination
Of one or more grades il the Grammar Depart
ment in such branches as he may designate"
Tho pupils in this department, as we'll as their
teachers, work during the year, knowing their
Of % the wintar ~' term ' to show fheir Teiativo
knowledge Of any topic included in their Own
or any previous grade, IS compared with any
and all the other schools in the city.
The questions upon the separate topics
for tIo fated grades are prepared by the
SupeHntepdent some time previously, and seal
ed up. "pot to bo broken until the tune for e1-
animation in that topic arrives" There ia
sufficient amount Of uncertainty in this, both as
to the time and matter OF the examination, to
lend to 1t constantly increasing interest, which
only eliminates whom the sacred seal which
hides the :. questions " is broken, at the hour
when the examination begins.
TIE DEFECT.
It is not easy to conceive any plan better cal
cuIated to arouse tho interest appealed to than
tLis. Tt is au application on the part Of the
Scnool-Board to tie teachers Of what the latter
in their dealings with their pupils innoceutly
call tact" II is true that it may be regarded
by many honest but worldly minded people as
"leep expedient to get work out Of ambitious
teachers and unwilling youth. But proper
spirit Of emulation is universally recognized
and approved incentive to effort in school
work. Tho examinations for successive years
ere never pyeciaely alike, and the variety tends
townrd fair-lealine. aud to check any dis
position that might be felt on the part OF Princ-
rails to conduct their school-Uork with Il view
simply to make good appearance on this oc~
casion. One wear q given proportion OF the
renrosant eech school. On another occasion,
,l1 nunils who haa been kept in their grade more
than ten months were excluded, This year.
avery nun;l in the third and fourth grades III
the CITY was examined It will thus be
readily soeu that tho only safe course for schools
which desire to stand well to pursuo is to do all
their work well. and to do it IN q reasonable
anount amor Of tine. 1t need not be- added that this
annnnl test promotes tho progress Of the pupils,
and is in every sense an admirable ezpedien1 to
accomplish that object.
SPRUNG EXAMINATION OF 1874.
The enrjnr e.gmination OF. the present year
+ook n1nca 'phnrsdny. April 16. AS already in
timated MI nnnlls in tho third aud fourth
,,re5as vxara romined The number of schools
IN which were found pupils in those grades, and
therefTa narticipatinp in the examination. was
twentv-six' The uunber OF pupils examined
was not far from 5000. Each grade was az
am;ned m questions on two topics-arithmetic
and lancnage. The papers upon tho latter sub
iect received three marks,-one in reference to
ihc questions asked. one in spelling. aud one
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