Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1878-10-03

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Ist. tits claimed that certain persons
received credits or branches not men,
toned in the examination and the idea
j. conveyed that such credits we're used
to put up the general average and so in
crease the grade Of these persons. /
think ] state fairly this allegation and
its consequent. The allegation Is true,
bat the conclusion drawn from IL is not
50. I eRdeavored TO explain this mat
ter on Saturday week last. and thought
| had made my position plain. Ill try
10 DO so now. There are ten branches,
Including Orthography, On which appli-
cants for 1st Grade Certificates are exam
ined, and all candidates are examined on
these alike. The sum of all the possible
credits on each particular branch is al
ways100except in spelling which unite
with style, or mode ofexpression,t to make
up the 100. The various questions are
valued according 10 the difficulty in
volyed In the answers. The papers Of
the candidates are carefully examined,
end each candidate il credited with such
value TO each answer nc seems TO me
Just, making due allowance for the haste
and confusion necessarily attending
public examination. Adding up the
total values or credits thus obtained, j
divide by 10, which gives the general
average, on which, and on trhieh alone,
my recommendation is based. When
the certificate is finally ordered (after
examination by the Board) / allow on
It's face the exact credits on the various
branches examined on, except spelling.
on whlch, II allow 90 full credit-furthS
er sometimes allow credits on branches
not examined on-bWt these credits hare
absolutely nothing 10 do with the grade.
For instance, / may know one to be
good classical scholar. / would not
hesitate, in such case, TO note the fact
on the certificate. That might act as
an additional recommendation to the To-
cal trustees or patrons, but would net
in any way affect the grade.
While on this subject, viii add that
the examination papers Of candidates are
examined, as a rule, with The utmost
care by the members OF the Board be-
fore taking final action on them, so that
il any partiality or uniairness is at
tempted it must be participated in by the
four gentlemen composing the Board
a supposition which, to the average
mind, would involve, TO say the least,
very great improbabiIIty.
I'd. II is claimed that certain teachers
"who left Mr.. Tippett's examination in
despair" are now holding 1st grade GER
tifcates while another person who
states that he has been a student for six
years, has been turned down. What
is intended by this charge ! do not ex-
actly see. but as 1t seems 10 be in the
nature of charge, I mention it for
what il is worth. II will not be out OF
place 10 give here the names OF those
TO whom have granted LIST Grade GER
tifcaies. They are ]. j. Langley, Thos.
b. Cough, A. A. Drury. Chas. F. Nor
ris, Jesse Turner, Jno. A. Scott am
Geo. NJ. Thomas. Those who know
these gentlemen can scarcely find
fault with an examiner who has recog-
nized their merits in an educational
point Of view. They may not be skilled
as instructors or Importers of knowl-
edge. On that point the Trustees and
patrons must in the main decide-but
as to the matters Of education and men,
tai force, there can be no question in
the case Of any one Of them. / trust
the gentlemen named will pardon my
mention OF them-but as kind of slur it
seems TO me was sought to be cast on
my lst Grade appointments had no
other defence than to do as have done.
Ord. II is charged that some one IS
holding LIST Grade certificate while a
class-mate of his is cut down. Now
this charge is terrible, and / am afraid
it is true; for it is gravely stated and there
must be good foundation for it. That
any Examiner should be found so der
ekct as to grant Est Grade certificate
TO any one and refuse it 10 his class
mates is appalling evidence Of the rot
tenness of the entire school system. /
fear l am guilty and must throw my
self upon the mercy of my judges
Overcome with the gravity OF this adj
mission and fearful Of firing the public
with too lengthy a communication !
will deter until another day, examination
Of other complaints.
Respectfully,
GEO. THOMAS.