The bee., 1883-07-21
CRAMMING IN SUMNER TINE

Miss Nalfp is teaching a class o.
Sth grade pupils who failed in exami
nation last year, with view to another
examination, as ANNOUNCED by Mis-:
Patterson, that they may go into tht
high school in the fall.
This new departure in the summer
season, when all schools are closed ant
pupils supposed to be recuperating foI
another year, is unjust to the children
and may endanger their health.
The fee for instruction may benefit
the teacher, the only commendable fea
ture in it, as large majority of the
pupils of the 9Th grade, nor their pa
rents, know anything about this quiet
opportunity to advance certain select
ed pupils, even at the expense OF
health.
1t is fair to presume that If the
superintendent of colored schools had
been consulted about such a discrimi-
mating measure, his known integrity
and sense of justice would revolt at
the wrong and injustice of the case.
1t is much like a lingering fragment
from the ragged edge of Johnsonian
PatterSonian-ism.
First, if an examination i'll vaca-
ton, after severe study during the
same had been decided upon, all pu-
pills of the unfortunate grade should
have been notified that they might
have equal chance If teacher as
signed some one recently found, or who
coulu teach the grade from actual
practice or knowledge.
1t looks very much like the long
time fashion of selection and rejection
of concert action, and ruthless push
ing to one side, ruling in Normal and
High school proceedings to the eXclu-
sion OF the superintendent, and with
out his leave or knowledge. The
great injustice to public and parents
is that the health of pupils is endan-
gered, and no matter how anxious and
self sacrificing parents may BE-, they
must stand hopelessly by after years
of expense and anxiety and see their
children cut of entirely from educa-
ton because the heads OF those depart
ments see fit to select or reject the
children of friends and fav-
oriteS at will. Let us cry against
it. Let no pupil go forward after such
unnatural cramming in hot weather.
Let no child be permitted to enter who
has not had an examination in presence
Of hnr ~, pnl1A,t-y / of not GInLy
or other excuse be allowed. It's fash
ionable to peremptorily shut off this or
the other for special reasons. In this
way the truth or falsity of the teach
er'S methofS or reasons cannot be
reached. All failure falls on the pupil.
Officers are dozed into the belief that
perfection is the standard of acquire
ments and methods where these auto
crafts of the high salaries are cOncerned;
and the fault is altogether with the i,c-
quirements or brain of the pupil-a
grievous mistake. The superintendent
is quietly ignored as to opinion or
otherwise, and men and women who
have to fall back upon special teachers
to teach studies they have never con-
descended to learn, but which teachers
in other and lower grade schools must
teach, pocket shamelessly large sums,
select their favorites, both for tutors
and tutoresses, and their pupils for the
coming year. 1t is very like the
schools being their especial property,
and no longer public schools. Let this
crowning injustice as to health of
the pupils concerned, wrong to pupils
kept in ignorance of the chance given
scholars of the same grade, and this
last remnant of the Patterson John
son die-RdSty he frowned down.