The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1878-03-21
COUPE HIVE EXAMINATION .


coNPE TIVE EXAMINATION.
The publishers of the IlduS'raHsf, an educa
tional journal OF Manhattan, have offered pre-
miums TO the pupils, of the different schools o.
kansas, who excel in any one ef several
branches.
While we do not believe in competing fol
every prize that we see advertised, still it is .
good idea to do SO once in while. The premium
in this case consists in the Iadusfieiis being sem
to the winner for two months.
Professor McKim announced, last week, his
intention OF having his pupils compete for these
price. We Imagine how the eyes Of the more
ambitious pupils lighted up, aud shone like =
new one hundred cent silver dollar, at this an
nouncement; while others, content with their
pres,ut achievements, would turn up their
noses and look perfectly Disguised.
The teacher appointed the last half hour in the
forenoon, the usual time for Writing and
Drawing, to conduct these examinations.
The examination in Writing was first All the
pupils were required, after some practice, to
write the lrst eight lines Of that beautiful poem
"a b srbar,, Frietchie,'' which begins like this;
a. Up from the meadows rich with corn,
Clear IA tue c ,ol sept mber morn.
The clustered spires OF frederick stand
CTeeu-Na bA Inc mis- Ol idill
The papers were then handed to Mr.. Bruce, who
rendered his decision in favor Of one of the
young indies.
Next came the Spelling One hundred words,
not exactly jawbreakers but akin to such, were
spelled. Reconnaissance, fascinating, hypoc-
risy, and coercion are good examples Of these
sords. Two per cent. was deducted for each
misspelled word. The per cents. ranged all the
way from zero up 10 eighfy-six. John Dimes was
highest, missing seven words, There were sew
erai above eighty. 1t may look TO many as if
they could easily spell great a number OF
words and not miss so many; but after they
have tried they may think differently. This
thing Of Spelling is one of great importance 1
suppose all OF as have experienced Il feeling of
disgust on receiving a letter from friend and
finding a majority the words incorrectly spelled.
therefore urge upon the teachers the necessity
of paying especial attention to this subject, and
know of no other way TO do it tlian to spell and
keep spelling from day to day and from week to
week
Then came the examination in figuring. Five
simple examples in the fundamental rules of
Arithmetic We're selected, and the person show
ing correct results, best figuring and neatest pa
per was winner. James Mead carried of this
honor.
Next, came the drawing ola floor-plan of our
S hool house, the scale of an eighth Of an inch
to each foot. think We should be careful who
gets hold OF these plans, as we do not want
schoolhouses all over the state like ours. 1t is
not yet knownwho is the victorious one in this
branch.
Last but not least OF these struggles was the
writing Of local on the subject of Competitive
Examinations - An were requested, but not
required to take part in this exercise. Each was
to consider himselfasa reporter to write up''
an account Of these examinations. For several
days some would be seen wandering about ap-
parently in deep thought They were dreaming.
of the time hen they nigh. cast TO the
Great Bird of south western Kansas news
and sentiments, which it would scream, not
only to the inhabitants of thes Atantic coast. but
the winds, taking up the sound, would carry it
beyond that great barrier of the Rocky Noun
iains as FAX as the Pacific shores.
Well these pupils may put forth their best and
every effort, not Only for the prize offered, but
for the more gittering reward which is always
bestowed on those who excel. Dear Friends.
don { stop with earthly prizes but press for
ward to something higher and nobler, so that
When all the nations of the earth shall be
gathered together you may truly cry EXCEL
sIoR. No. 81.