The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1878-08-01
From the Educational of the Chicago Evening.
Journal
LET US HAVE FEWER T,XAMIN-

\ LET Us HAVE FEWER EXAMIN-
/ ATOMS.
;. We fully agree with Hon. ". d.
Henkle, Of Ohio, in the following ut
terance in his speech on the subject of
i examinations, made at the meeting of
| the American Institute Oh the 10th in
slant: GAS to examination of schools at
the end Of the term, / do not believe
1 that they are any sure, critical test as
10 the pupils ability. Many make a
brilliant display at that time who at ell
other times are behindhand.'
But from the remedy proposed in
his very next sentence we humbly be-
seech him and all the educational doc
tors to spare us. Hear him: "To rem
/ edy this evil, would recommend the
/ greatest number of examinations pos
sible to be held during the year, and
the average Of these examinations tax
EN-, which will give a far more accu-
ate estimate Of the pupils knowledge"
! Much more to our liking were the
words Of Mrs. George Kilmer, of New
/ Y ork city, who, after having watched
for years the effects of the present per-
petual round Of examination on the
health Of teachers and scholars. ey-
claimed:
| This is a matter of fearful import
ance to us, ladies' When [ look around
at the effects Of these examinations uD-
on the nervous systems Of the children
and teachers, [ am struck with amaze
ment; and yet every movement seems
to be to increase the number Of exam
nations both of the teachers and schol-
airs, The practical result Of these ex-
aminatiOns OftentimeS show that our
best scholars utterly fail. Why? Be
cause Of the great strain upon their
nervous systems; and it. is the same in
our colleges. [ remember seeing a
very promising young lady about to
pass an examination, ana on asking her
why she looked so troubled, she said,
ooh. how [ dread to go Ito school! Il
cried all night" It is an undeniable
fact that lady teachers who have,
taught for years have terribly strained
their nervous organization, and are to-
tally unfit for the great work God in
tended them to perform-to become
wives, and the mothers of children.
Now let us look at the particulars of |
some Of these examinations. From |
time to time examiners have come in
to my class and have complained in re- !
gard to mathematics, and vet every
term l have made my teaching more
careful than before. [ then began to
study this matter, and commenced to
keep o record of the percentages, to
find out the reason; and I would like
to have all the teachers Of the country
do the same, and report rusults through
our educational journals, for it is not
a fair thing to complain Of us, as teach
ers, who have given the best portion
Of our lives to fit ourselves for our
profession. The demand is still made.
to "Advance! advanceI' though often
times on paper, and we are constantly
bid to go on, and on, crowding and
examining our children. Just look at
the course in q single day in our pri-
mary schools! and after getting
through with these innumerable stud
les with slight intermission for eat
ing, but no intermission for digestion,
we are bid to go home and study, study
for further examination!
We hive little respect for that teach
er who is not SO thoroughly acquainted
with the real progress made by each
Of his pupils as to pronounce Judgment
upon the scholarship of every one of
them far more correctly without look
ing at the markings given them in
their final examinations, than if COM
PEELED to accept those markings. Such
: expressions as these are let fall, by
teachers, after every such examina-
: tion: "What a pity that A-failedl
She was one of the best scholars in the
class. 1t was only because she was
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., nervous" It
seems to us that it would be far better
to base promotions upon the daily rec
ords. And if any scholar feels that he
has been WrOnged. and elaine tbo+ bo