The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-06-03
EXAMINATIONS FOR COMMON
SCHOOL DIPLOMAS.

| uiplOIuSS LOT COmpl6tlOn OF Inc CODT5
Of Instruction. The following are th,
names of the successful pupils given il
the order of standing attained:
David J. Fitzgerald, Cato.
Alice Carey, Meme.
Katie A. Hayes, Meme.
Otto Guidinger, Liberty.
| Frank Vrany, Kossuth.
Timothy McKeough, Kossuth.
Charles Stangel, Mishicott.
The pupils attending the examinations
were from IL different towns and from
Is school districts The standing secur-
ed by all the pupils was quite creditable
though not fully up to the required stand
ard. 1t was hoped that in number of
other districts in the county, the Course
of Instruction had taken such firm root
that they would be represented at these
examinations. The teacher can do much
toward encouraging his pupils to make
an effort to secure these diplomas. They
have value in that they attest only alb
solute facts and are q full guaranty for
what they vouch. An applicant for a
school who can show certificate fortified
by common school diploma, presents a
recommendation we'll worth considering
as it is proof that the certificate is the
result Of honest. continuous labor and
not special, hasty preparation.
They have value in other directions:
They evidence degree of capacity suited
to the filling of any ordinary position.
They do not promise as much as the
high school diploma but are always
worth their face value. They represent
certain amount of knowledge, certain
degree of mental activity and not GER
tain number of years spent in school.
They vouch for knowledge which is
practical, and on branches of study which
are fundamental in character.
1t is highly desirable that all the better
class Of country schools in the county
send pupils to these examinations pre-
pared to make an earnest effort for these
diplomas. 1t is noticed that every school
which, thus far, has had pupil who
secured diploma sends greater num-
Der of applicants the next year. The
influence extends to adjoining districts.
Not only this, but the pupils who attend
and fail, return to school with better ideas
of study and more determined purpose.
The following year not only do many of
them earn diplomas, but the instances
are not rare in which they earn good
certificates.
The Course of Instruction has not been
prepared for the purpose of issuing
diplomas. The diplomas are issued only
as an attestation that the common school
subjects have been studied in the COM
mon sense manner in which the course
directs. These branches are to be stud
led in such a manner as to strengthen
the pupils mind, and the knowledge
obtained to have relation to its use in the
affairs of life. This, in brief, is the pur-
pose of the Course, and it is to determine
whether teachers have done work, or
rather, have seen that pupils did their
work so as to secure these ends, that
these examinations are held by the super
intendent. The theory of the Course is:
that the ability to read is of no value
unless the person gets the thought of
what he reads; knowledge of the tech
nicalities of grammar is of no use unless
it enables the person to speak and write
more correctly; the ability to write is
useless accomplishment unless the person
can put thought in words and transfer
them to paper; arithmetic is of no use
unless the person can apply its principles
and use it in business affairs. And so
on through all the studies, the best men,
tai discipline being secured when the
subjects are taught with reference to
their practical value which makes it
essential that what is learned must be
understood. This will Danish the evil
of learning words without reference to
the thought of which they are the medium
of conveyance,-an evil far too prevalent
in our schools, and from which teachers
themselves are by no means free. Some
answers given at examinations will show
the pernicious character of this evil-for
such it is unmixed with an iota of good.
For instance the statement "citizens who
have attained the age of 81 years" is
given as memorized Theoretically, "cit-
liens who have attended the age of 81
years" 1t is evident the words were the
representative of no thought to the
teacher. Again, "the latest territory
acquired by the Q. S.. is made to appear
in the answer in the form "the latest
territory ACQUIRED by the U. s. thus
proving that with that teacher the process
of acquisition is through the medium of
sound. At times in answering a ques-
ton in constitution when the clause is
quoted in which it is believed the infor-
nation is somewhere bound up, so com.
plete is the dependence on words entirely
Invested of the soul of thought, that all
the subject matter of the constitution
embraced between the particular clause
and the last word of tho last amendment
would be given if time permitted. While
the schools teach words and fancy they
are teaching branches of study, we will
have teachers who will teach as they have
been taught. 1t is to remedy these
things and to make the education which
the common schools give, practical, valu-
able, disciplinary, that a Course of In
struction is prepared. The child is to
be taught to master difficulties which