Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-04-03
THE EXAMINATION QUESTION.

EDS. RECORD UNION Again, as the time
for the annual examination of our public
schools approaches, the annual bugbear, Me-
dusa-like, springs into life, to cause the hearts
of children to futter and to engender distrust
and indignation in the minds of parents, who
are sure that some injustice is being contem-
plated somewh here, or there would not be SO
much said about it in print.
Although the Board did pass a resolution
that the class-standing of each pupil should
be taken into consideration with their annual
examinations-not specifying, however, the
proportion to be all0wed-they wisely re-
scinded that measure when it was made APP
parent that injustice would be done to many
classes that were as well prepared for promo
ton as those that would make higher aver
age standing.
lis true the teachers had "reasons" for
presenting this request, which they do. not at
tempt to palliate or deny; some of which
were made known to the Board over the sig
nature of fifty-seven names, and they are
reasons palpable and just to any unpreju-
diced mind.
They appealed TO the Board to rescind the
resolution iuasnuch as it was an impossible
ity for teachers to arrive at uniform stand
ard of marking in their respective grades, and
that no Just comparison could be made as to
the scholarship Of the same grades. as the
questions used for the monthly examinations
were often totally unlike
Teachers have heretofore been made pain
fully aware how much depends upon the
standing of their pupils, and upon the num-
Der they promote at the yearly examination (;
therefore is it surprising that, if the monthly
standing is considered, the markings would
be more lenient than they ought to be, when
we take into consideration that the majority
of them depend solely upon their position
as teachers for the necessities of life? And
is it not a convincing reason why those who
feel the insecurity of their positions should
seek to stand on equal footing with those
whom they know are no more competent to
teach than theyy
1t has long been the opinion of many, as
was shown at a recent meeting of the gram
mar teachers, called by the Superintendent
by vote of eighteen against hve-that to de-
merit on any lessen for errors in orthog-
raphy, punctuation or capitalization resulted
beneficially to the scholars and as they failed
to find any prohibition of the same in the
school regulations many have pursued that
system of marking, while others averred that
they could not afford to ieopardze their po-
sitions in the school by course that would
oftentimes very materially lower the stand
ard of scholarship.
The questions upon which the promotion
of pupil. depends, although few in number,
are carefully prepared, so as to embrace all
the important principles required to be taught
during the year; and teachers receiving
pupils who have successfully and hone tly
answered the same are generally able to pro-
mote them In their turn, without undue
ANXIETY" on the part of either. excepting,
of course. in cases of irregularity of attend
ance or inattention to the instruction of the
teacher, who, of necessity, occupies large
proportion OF the time allotted to school
hours in explaining and demonstrating prin-
ciples, thus leading the pupil through diff
culties which would be insurmountable with
out assistance and in doing so teachers have
perhaps erroneouslY-cons that they
were instructing pupils in something they
| didn't know"
Why will the public ohstinately ignore the
fact that our annual examinations strike
terror to those only no, from a motive
OF vanity, have crowded themselves into
grades beyond slreir capacity, and are sensi
tive of their shortcomings? For any one
visiting the schools on such occasions will SET
that it does not differ in any respect from ths
monthly examinations, except in the attend
ance of two teachers instead of one, who 81
as mute as figure-heads in show.
ONE OF THE FIFTY-sEyEN.