The Portland daily press., 1884-03-28
TEST ExAmsNA rEONs.
Heari-g Before the school Committee.

L
last evening, at which the resolution intro
| duced by Col. G. B. Merrill at the last meet
ing was discussed. There were present, be-
sides the committee. Drs Dana, Gordon, PEN
dletou, Foster, Judge Webb, and Messrs.
Morrill,, Dorticos, Thayer, Lord and Dole OF
the teachers.
The resolution introduced by Col. Merrill
| was read. 1t is as follows:
| Whereas, Experience has demonstrated that
| the system OF test examinations" Rhich has
existed for several years in our public schools.
| is OF doubtful utility, and In the opinion of
many teachers and parents productive of posi-
| tive injury, to both teachers and pupils, par
| ticulsrly to the female sex, by increasing
the care and labor Of teachers by the demands
| upon their time out OF school hours, aud by
the excitement and strain upon the physical
and mental organization of tue pupils; there
| fore,
| ReSolved, That "test examinations" IS here
tofJre conducted In our schools be discontinued
from and after July l, 1884.
| Col. Merrill showed b. personal examine
tion that out small portion of class in the
| High School studied out of school hours. Mos,
of the High School scholars study about sD
hour in addition to school hours, and very
few an honr and a half The time in school is
n uOuiS por uAys III al 6XauluatlOn OF ali
the pupils, 3l5 in number, of the High School,
| Col. Merrill finds bu one pupil, aud that one
| in the fourth class, and from Massachusett
who claims TO have been injured by over study
| or over work in school. He also showed that
| there ony five tests in the high
| Scaool, where formerly there were twelve. He
/ also read long string of test questions on as
| tronomy, physics and Euglish literature that
had been asked pupils 10 the High school.
Ths Mayor then called on Mr.. Dana. The
Il o..rA n.
| the points of view of sick children subjected to
him for treatment, and of a parent, and from
| both of these standpoints he had given the
natter much thought He spoke of the case OF
| young girl in the grammar school, full OF
| zeal, whose nervous system bee ,me so affected
| from nervous apprehension in regard to the
| test examination for promotion that her
| mother bad been compelled to take her out OF
| school. DR.. Dana thought that it was not ST.
much over-studyiDg as this same nervous ap-
/ prehension which axes bold of girls at the age
| when they are subject to the most schooling; 3
peculiarly nervous age. They fear the examin-
/ ations long in advance Of them; say 81 am
afraid shan't get promoted. He believed
| that II child could enter a school at the time
/ parent desired, behaved well and attained
| sufficient rank-such as would not retard the
| class-there should be no question of it's
| promotion until 1t graduated at the High
school. He thought that great many more
would thus graduate than do now. OF course
/ ehOoO eooe OAamludblOus WIFI buo noHNOuohooS
they create, are not the sole cause of SO few
i graduating. Some might say if you don't
have marking, with the attendant ranking,
| then you deprive the scholar of stimulus. But
in his academical days there was as much
| stimulus as in the High School of to-day; Yet
| no questions of rank we're raised then on
which a scholars promotion hinged. Another
| objection raised, with the abolition of tests, is
| that the standard will be lowered and High
| School diploma will not represent SO much.
| Even If that ia the Qdvautaoeq tho Othar
sldSwill outweigh this fact He believed
| the citizens are taxed to allow
their children to get the best education they
| can in the time afforded. These schools are
not meant for brilliant boys and girls alone,
Said the doctor: II want the pressure takeG
off the girls, especially those of the age of girls
in the grammar schools" He believed the
| snperintendent and supervisor should share
the responsibility of making promotions with
| the teachers The teachers should present q
list of scholars for promotion and then all that
were not blackballed by the committee should
| 10 advanced.
| Judge Webb referred to the fact that he had
been connected with the public schools in the
1 past for many years-and he used to person.
| ally visit them and make detailed reports to
| the rest OF the committee in regard to their
| condition. He had put in more than so days a
| year Zone of the committee had stated it would
require 81 days solid work for committeeman
| TO give close personal examinations Of the
| schOols) for those many years. He thougbt
1
| children before twelve years of age should nor
| be subjected to great strain, for il so, they
| would surely break down at the age DIR. Dana
| referred to. He believed undue emulation as
bad nervous apprehension, and this was uot
| caused 30 much by over.work as by exciting
emulation. Test examinations and rank
should be put stop to, aud marks should be
kicked ont. Exultatiou is as bad as depression.
He thought DR.. Dana didn't go far enough. No
sensible, competent teacher ever failed to
| know the ability of pupil long under his or
| her care. The teachers are hard working ana
| not overpaid, but il they do not know the ahiI
Ties OF their pupils without system of test
/ examinations, then the city cannot afford to
| permit its children to suffer out of tender.
heartedness for teachers. rhey-the teachers
can consult with the committee, show them
| what the children can do, and then the COM
| mittee should face the music and tell the mar
ents ifsst The child is not equal to the work. The
| speaker said he was in favor of Carving the
| resolutions even farther, and he did not he
lieve in graded schools. He believed children
should mix with older children in
derstand lessons of q higher class when thew
| reached them.
DR.. Pendleton spoke in favor Of the resolu-
tion.
DIR. Gordon said nine-tenths of the teachers.
| II they dared, and didn't fear losing their
| places, would tell the COMMITTEES thew didn't
believe IN test examinations. He said it was pt
| overstudy so much as WORRY that was killing
| children. IL was killing teachers. too. who
took nome, out OF school hours, piles of exam
ination papers to mark, that used up hours
| that should be devoted to recreation ard rest
| me brilliant boys were not hurt by exampa-
tIons. 1t was those who hadn't the brains.
notln an offensive sense, but were OF moder-
| ats capacity.
Mr.. Morrill, of the High school thouoht there
| was much TO be said on both Sides He Thought
| examinations wouldn't hurt s'shirksrs" or
delinquent pupils. He didn't think many
| were ln1nred physically, but he admitted he
| Thought too many work for marks. He ihoneht
examination parers too long. Four hour pa
| pers should be cut down TO one hour. He
| admitted to DIR. Gordon that examinations
| gave him no better KNOWLEDGE of a pupils
ability than before, aud that he could tell his
competent pupils at once without them. Ex-
amiuing schC oil papers did not worry him. for
he made up his mind not to be worried.
MIR Lord of the Butler and Mr.. Dole OF the
| cumberland schools thought their teachers
| were in favor Of examinations.
Mr.. Ihayer OF the High school believed in
written exa ninations got up by the teacher to
ascertain what his pupil knew and make him
| dehnlte and clear in his answers, and this Drs
| Dana and Gordon also believed in, but not in
| crucial tests got up by committee. He
Thought the Brown medals curse to the
| schools.
| The Superintendent of Schools stated that
most OF the examinations have been placed in
| the hands OF the teachers themselves and that
they arrange these examinations themselves
| Mons. Dorticos stated that in the French
schools there were no test examinations except
when passing from school to school, and then
| pupils were apt to cram. He believed in
| abolishing examinations.
Mr.. Dole stated that any judcious teacher
| can ease up in the case OF any delicate child in
| school.
| Mr.. Briggs of the committee thought that
| part of the evils attributed by the profession
to examinations may be laid to the charge of
| lily ventilated rooms, and that people should
understand this and be ready to meet the ex-
| promote the health of their children. He
appealed to the profession to place the effect of
bad air upon children in as clear light before
the public as they have the matter of test
examinations.
Mr.. Reed and Mr.. Townshend.
Washington Cor. Biddeford Journall