The Penn's Grove record., 1882-06-24
A School Committee cornered.

Al an eXAnluatlOH ora pubic sCHoDi
on Staten Island, the teacher
justly proud OF his scholars, a address,
ing the audience, said Ladies and
gentlemen, to prove that the boys are
not crammed for the occasion, / will
direct one of them to open the arith-
metic at random and read out the first
problem. Then / she'll invite 9 gen.
tleman of the audience to work out the
sun on the board, and to commit in
territorial errors which, you will OBJ
serve, the boys will Instantly detect.
John Smith open the book and read
the first question!
The scholar obeyed and read out:
add MISUNDERSTANDING and nine.
eIevenths.n
The teacher turned to the audience
and said: "Now, Supervisor-, will
you step to the blackboard and work
it out?
The supervisor hesitated, then said,
Certainly and advanced a step,
but paused and asked the teacher, "ls
it fair to put the children to SO diff
cult a problem?
"Oh, never fear," replied, the
teacher, they will do it" s.Very well,"
said the supervisor, go on" The boy
began the question add fifteen-six-
teenths-p
mo, no I" said the supervisor, 81
will not be a party to o~vertaxing the
children,s brains. / lave conseien-
tious scruples against it. This forcing
system is running the rising genera
ton !! and gave back the chalk and left
the room.
We'll, Judge Castleton, will you
favor us? asked the teacher, rendering
the chalk. 81 would do so with pleas
ure," replied the Judge, ''but 1 have a
case coming on in my court in a min
ute or two" and he left.
Assessor Middletown, we n-st fall
back on you" said the teacher, smil-
ing. "Oh," said the assessor, II pass
I mean l decline in favor of Collector
X" well that will do" replied the
teacher, "Mr, Collector, will you favor
us? "I would, certainly--that is-of
course, :" replied the collector, 'tbut-
ahem I think it should be referred to
a commit-why, bless me! I'll never
catch it. Good bye /! Some other time !"
And he left.
81 know Justice Smithfield will not
refuse !" said the teacher, and the JUS
tice stepped promptly up to the black
board amidst a rouad of applause
from the audience. The scholar again
began to read the sum. add fifteen
sixteenths =
A dozen hands went up as the jus
tice. made the first figures.
"Well, what is it ?" asked the teach
er.
"He's got the denominator ON top of
the line!' cried the boys in chorus.
VERY good, boys, very good 1 see
you are attentive :" said the justice as
he rubbed out the figures, turned red,
and began again, but, was inter
rupted by the class calling out:
Now he's got the numerator and
denominator under the Incl"
AHA! you young rogues! You're
sharp, I see J" said the justice, loosely, |
and again commenced.
"That amt a fraction at all! It's one
thousand five hundred and sixteenV"
was the cry that hailed the Justices
new combination of figures,
REALLY, Mr.. Teacher" CALCULATED
the justice, II must compliment you
on the wonderful proficiency of your
scholars in algebra! 1 won't tire their.
patience any more"
"Oh, go on, go on, said the teacher,
and again the justice wrote some fig
ures in an of hand manner.
"Tbat amt a fraction It's six thou
sand one hundred and fifty-one yelled
the boys.
"Mr. Teacher" said the justice, at
would be ungenerous on my part, and
simply an UNIV orthy suspicion as to
your efficiency, TO put these extraor-
dir arily bright children to additional
tests l would mott could notch
excuse me! There's Brown! 1 have
important business with him Sheriff (!
1 want to see you," and he left.
Some days afterwards a boy was
brought before Justice Smithfeld for
throwing stones in the street. John"
said the Justice sternly ''were you the
boy that laughed In school on Monda y'
while / was working that problem ?"
eyes, sir!" was the reply. John got
thirty days.