The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1874-05-02
The above is the standing of the

scholars of the Lehightou High School
during the school year which has just
closed. This is by no means all the
scholars that have attended during the
year, but only those whose names ap-
pear on the roll during I'he last month
There were some who came late in the
year 1873 and left early in 1G74, whose
names do not appear on the list, simply
because we do not consider it proper tc
compare the grade of those who hav''
labored faithfully during the year and
have endured the brunt and toll Of
eight long and often weary months: be-
cause we do not consider it just to COM
pare the work of those earnest students
with the ignis fatuus endeavors of others
who simply came to school for a short
time because they did not know what
else to do. During the year we have
made progress, and we do not consider
ourselves as egotistical, when we say we
have done as well as could be reasonably
expected from us under the circumstan-
ces in which we were placed.
In looking over the above report 1t
will be seen that there are three COL
umns the first allied Term Grade; end
Examination Grade; 3rd Average Grade.
These are computed respectively as fol.
lows: During the term all lessons re-
ceived the following marks. When
lesson was perfect the mark received for
it was 10; failure to recte lesson
received 0, and all intermediate marks
between 0 and 10 were received accor-
ding as the pupil recited. At the end
of the week these averages were count
ed up and the grade tor the week was
marked down. At the end Of the year
these grades were counted up and the
u ade for the year was made, which in
the report is called Term Grade. On
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday,
April 22nd, 23rd and Gath, examina-
tiOns were held In the Academy, which
were marked In the same manner and
the average of these taken and called
examination grade. Thus, say person
received 9.65 for Penmanship, 9.45 for
Mental Arithmetic, S.75 for Spelling, 10.
for Reading, 10 for Written Arithmetic,
S.43 for Grammar, $40 for Geography,
&C., his grade would be 81. 20 the sum
OF all divided by Z, number of lessons,
or S.S1 examination grade. The aver.
age grade is made out by multiplying
term grade by 2, adding In the exami-
nation grade and dividing by 8. This
manner of marking pupils we found by
experience on the whole to be tie simp-
lest and most just, whilst at the same
time it gave the best satisfaction to both
pupil and teacher.
By referring to the above report, it
will be seen that there were many
scholars who have only term grade.
The reason of this ls, that when 1t was
announced that there would be an exam
ination, and the day set for said exam
inatlon, there was falling off Of pupils,
which continued until the very day OF
examination. This Is something which
the teacher cannot prevent. He can and
must have the obedience of his scholars
whilst In the school room, and at the
same time 1t Is his evident duty to in
struct the pupils when they come to
school, but he cannot, nor dare 1t be
asked Of him, that he should bring them
into the school room. This duty de-
wolves upon the parents and school
directors. Surely there is no one but
will acknowledge that it is proper to
hold an examination before the school
closes, but yet how many parents allow
ed their children to stay away because
they dreaded the examination, may be-
seen by referring to the above report.
Strange inconsistency, TO send children
to school for eight months. to let them
have q full review Of all they have
gone over during the year and then be-
cause they dread the examination, to
allow them to use their own pleasure
about attending it when II is well known
that they will shrik 1t If possible. 1t
is the Directors duty to see TO this, and
1t Is binding upon parents not to permit
1t. Parents are committing a grave
error by allowing their children to at
tend school only when they desire, and
to use their own pleasure In matters of
such import. This much for the High
School.
Concerning the other schools Of the
borough, we cannot but speak compli.
mentary, for the teachers and scholars
both have faithfully and manfully
discharged the duties and res possibilities
placed upon them. They have energeti-
cally, and, we hope, successfully COM
batted the many difficulties with which
they were surrounded. With school
buildings that are disgrace to borough
of such standing as l,ehighton, with
OvereTOwded rooms, and without any of
the appliances and apparatus which
are help to the teachers, they have
courageously gone forward with their
work.
Concerning the work done, we can
not speak as plainly aud fully as we
desire In as much as we were not per-
mitted 70 examine aud grade them, the