Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-01-10
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With the grammar and history must express
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With the grammar and history must express
my satisfaction.
In the preparation of the physics the limit is
unbounded The questions are not taken from
any special textbook. A person might take
any standard textbook and make thorough
study oft; yet he or she would find that two
questions out of five at the examination are not
t" be found in the book selected. 1t may have
been one Of the best standard works. For in
stance question has been given about the un-
DERIVING principles Ofthe signal service. Again,
the philosophy of the Bell telephone was re-
qured to be explained. These questions, it's
true, are ordinary questions OF general informa-
ton. But is a teacher expected to labor half
the night over textbooks. teach the greater
portion of the day, and yet read up general in
formation?
THIS SAME UNCERTAINTY
holds with the geography. At one examination
this question appeared: How are trade winds
produced and what is their direction in the
northern hemisphere? What are monsoons,
where do they prevail. and why are they more
seryiceable to commerce than the trade winds:"
Such a question would cause an applicant to
study up physical geography. No question of
physical geography has been put, believe, since
that examination Places are sometimes asked
for that cannot be found on the maps. A few
years ago name of a town in Albania was men,
toned. searched all the books. l made use
of geographical dictionary. l concluded that
1t was some small village in a corner Of the
United States. Afterwards I discovered that
this town of Albania was mentioned in an essay
In Scribner's Magazine
My profession brings me in contact with stu
dents preparing for this examination. To all I
am obliged to express my inability to guide their
researches. This should not be the case, and it
is not the case i'll other examinations.
CONCERNING THE ORAL EXAMINATION
The Saturday following the written examina-
&c
the superintendent OF the white schools in
presence of the superintendent of the cOlOred
schools and one of the supervising principals
| am informed that this committee Of three was
reduced to two at the last examination. This
examination has always been a mystery to
many. Some OF the applicants are asked few
general questions on school discipline. Some
times they read few lines of prose or verse
Others are not required to answer one question.
This examination seldom lasts longer than five
minutes.
Two teachers came to me, during the same
year, for private lessons Both Of them had
taught about ten years in the schools, and as
far as could learn, bore equally good reputa-
tons as teachers. One OF them Informed me
that she had obtained 20 per cent at the oral
examination, and had received the third certifi-
cate. The other lady obtained 10 per cent at
the oral examination, and she could not get the
second certificate. To the best of my recollec-
ton their written examinations differed by the
fraction OF per cent. / was informed later
that the lady who received 10 per cent has had
for years one of the best schools in her district.
and can vouch that her scholarship was not
Inferior Other cases of the sama kind have
come within my observation. l have never
been able to obtain any definite information
about the mark of the oral examination.
By WAY OF SUGGESTION.
In conclusion, may ask three questions?
l. Would it not be better to have the written
examination only in the morning. and extend it
during two days?
2. Would it be unfair to ask that particu-
lar textbooks for physics and geography be
mentioned from which the questions on those
subjects will be taken.
3. Upon what is the mark of the oral exami-
nation based. and how is its decision regulated?
With all respect to the board of school trus-
tees. and those appointed to manage the
schools, | submit this communication for the
instruction OF the citizens OF Washington in q
subject to them of the most vital Importance.
If have erred in any statement, beg to be
corrected. Respectfully
A PRIVATE TEACHER