New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-25
WEST POINT EXAMINATIONS.

TO IN" "a it0r ~ 7hc IrtbHnc
SIR: one of the points most emphasized by
the friends and advocates OF the kind of Instruction and
trimming siNon "t the United states Military Academy IL
that II sends To produce class of mon DISTINGUISHED h.,
hSh s'usc OF honor and mauucss, who would scor to
Go H' an or oshonorHblc action. The close the re
cent june examinations, Tie result of which Is tie -
f@nWcut OF positions In their respective class, s. or dis
issa rom tie Academy of the cadets, suggests the i'm
curry whether the mode OF conducting these Natin
tons iusthcs tlis claim.
Recent vents have drcct, the attention OF the coun-
Try somewhat critically the management of thi. in,ti-
tuition. IL seems to that the mode conducting the
cX"nn"tlons is olcn to serious objection criticism
and particularly IN view of the fact that recent de
csIou of the Attorney General of the Unca states has
confirmed the claim of the Academic Board that their
decision with reference to the standing Of cadet, in their
classes or their dismissal from the Academy is final
and cannot be modified revoked by the Sccrcior, Of
War nor even by The President These examinations
are looked forward to with soctic hy the cadets
not only because they To be so searching and
thorough, thereby calling for the careful prcparo
ton, bui because they conducted ON a plan which
to have tor its object break them down in their
examination and cause them 10 fail. think 1t may bc
said safely That the great and crprcscnt fear with
students at the Academy is that they be foud" at
either the January or june examinations believe that
it is this fear of failure which in many is not the
result of want OF preparation, but Of knowledge of the
mode IN which the examinations conducted as much
as the mental strain necessary studies
which has within the last year or two caused several
eases of insanity among the cadets
To most persons it would seein natural that a scmi
annual or annual examination should have for object
the ascortanmcnt of the progress aud proficiency in
study which each cadet has since the last KANT
nation; in order to get understanding of th,
facts in the OF each cadet it would seem propcr 10
estimate carefully the marks ne has received duriny that
time which MARKS are the result of his daily Rotations
and are made by the instructors with fairness and wis
dom, AS well as tojudge his case by the manner and
.sft,.s. Nrifh yvl,t,
swers the questions which at his examination
In order thai cadet shall do himself Justice it would
seem but fair that these problems and questions should
be submitted to him IN manner not calculated to en-
bnrrass discourage him the plan adopted seems
to be to pay little attention to the record "a has
made during the year. especially II he is below the mid
die or toward the foot OF the class, and by fierce, nm
pVrious and bullying manner throw him off his guard
and by species of bnlldoLng utterly demoIazc and
intimdiie nm ana then Judge him by the such
ION iEnniS the record ne has made when not
under the baneiu influence of the presence OF men who
seem to nun determined to make him fail and who an
peY are pleased When they can find reason to declare
It may incredible to persons not familiar with
the manner Whch these examinations are conducted
but know of eases in winch cadets who had made
good record in their studies discipline during the
previous six months, and who were th, June after an
down. the result in their ease being that tnoy were
found ana discharged from the Academy, al others
W""'' 'o"" WiH no, 80 cool put whose tenperaments
were more Siohd ana who were consequ, nty so
nom based: think II may truly be said that such
training ani education produce men distinguished for
hi hl"nod honor and honesty is strangely inconsistent
II may be tnli the advice given to last graduating
class by General sherman not to ook down citizens"
suggested knowledge of fact that tine mode
of cNannatlOn pursued by some members of the Aca-
dcnic Board seems to Indicate desire conine the
ben ts OF tAc institution to particular class persons
II may nave been nadVcrtont udmisSion that The
way Young men are irlned there tends to develop the
traits OF character have Indicated characteristic of
some of the professors.
While hrnly believe in the correctness of the criti
crIns nave made, would not do Justice to my own
feelings il failed TO add That believe there are mem,
brrH OF me Academic Board who have hearts N tender
an woman :, ahd who work and plan day and night Tor
the best GOOD ana success of the cadets
1t only tAc more lneonprchonsibe why the style OF
examination have indicated should be allowed -
H'"-I ""' ""h' 49, 1901. A.. G. W.