The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1888-03-23

pupils Improvement and their happiness
The teachers conduct both In and out 81
school should BE such that Il inspires those
under his care to follow his example. lie
cannot be In any way successful when any
thing short Of perfect obedience Is allowed
A successful teacher should have the abil.
ity TO arouse In the mind Of his pupils a
love for study and desire for improve.
ment
Prof. q. a. Walker, OF the Albany pub.
lie school, then followed with the subject
of reviews and examinations and confined
himself more particularly To the iatter.He
said IN substance that the written examin-
atlons Il "a cancer eating the yltals out OF
the publlc schools. Writes examination
IL thief and the werst Of thieves. II not
only steals the pupils time bat drives him
away from school at IN early age | took
my children out Of public schools because
would net have them worried 10 death
BY the written examinations, said an emf.
neat dIvine. II would be easy for us 10
find ten questions In history for our most
emlnent historians, and they would fail
10 answer them. In other words the ex-
amlnations should be 10 find out what the
pupil does know instead OF what he does
not know, as IL generally the case. Most
teachers occupy too much time In clerical
work, that Is In keeping the tardy marks,
corporal punishment and the everlasting
written examinations. In Harvard Unit
versity the work Of six months Is summed
up In three hours written examination.
II Il well known fact that these pupilD
who have memories for boiled down facts
will be wonderfully successful In these ex-
aminatlens. What will take the place Of
these examinations, 10 the ali important
qaestlon. A record Of the daily work is
the most reliable Indication Of the ability
Of pupil. But how is this record TO be
Obsainedl What shall be said Of the daily
record In the class registeri Letthe pupils
know that their standing In examinations
will be In accordance with their daily work
and geod department. Mr.. Walker made
a very able and lengthy argument on this
subject, stating at close that he had only
presented enc side Of the question, ,aad ex.
peeted 10 hear from others.
Mr.. Hunt, OF Lebanon schooi, then said
! agree with Mr. Walker In nearly all he
said, but thInk he has pictured Il a little
too strongly about the examinations. !
eonduct written reviews, and my pupilsat
least seme Of the girls, say that they enjoy
that day better than any other day. These
are held once month. and We make no
special preparation for them. OF course |
believe In reviewing every day as for that
MATES, but oniy have written reviews once
a month, aud make II basis OF making
out report OF standing OF pupils, report
cards etc. cannot do away with all kinds
Of examinations and 30 prefer this.
Mr. Boyer. Of Brownsville, think II
promotes higher aspirations In children to
have written examinations, that Is they
wish to get up higher. than when we have
no examinations. do not have little boys
and girls write answers to questions, which
know they arc not likely 10 answer. ]
give them something easy, something they
can write, aad this encourages them. lido
not give the larger ones questions they
can't answer, or take them away back In
branches they have not studied, but care
fully examine them In what they have went
ever, they will try to get higher grade At
each successivs examination.
Other discussions followed. some faver-
Ing the dIsuse Of written examinations the
same as several states have dropped the
mental arithmetic.
Mr.. Jewett, of Harrisburg. came to the
front with short, pointed speech, highly
fayoring the written examinations and
mental arithmetic, and was followed by 4
few remarks from Prof. McElroy, who
stated In substance that there were not ten
schools In the twenty nine counties of
Oregon where metal rithmetic has been
taugh Of late years-that practically speak
Ing mental arithmetic has been discarded
from the public schools of Oregon.
Prof. Stanley then resumed the subject
Of examinations, and wound up by proving
to denomination the truth of the cid
adage that reading maketh fall maa,
speaking a ready man and writing an ex-
act maR.
A very elegant essay was then read by
Miss Jane Morris, of the Albany public
SCHOOLS, on the subject Of opening and
closing of schools. In substance as follows,
variety Is the spice of life." Exercises
should alternate and In no case should the
opening of school be the same as Il was
the merning before. Music Is an excel
lent thing to pat childrenin happy frame
of mind. Often 1t is good thing to teach
the younger pupils choice, short quotations,
etc. It is impossible for us,to do justice to
this essay In t..is short space.
The subject of penmanship was then
opened by Prof. D. W. McGee, who gave
some good blackboard illustrations, and
tried to dispense with Spencers four last
principles in teaching.
He was followed and partially supple
mented by Prof. Switzerland and others,
but on account Of its taking too much time
the subject was ordered to be carried ovel
another day.
President E. N. Condit, of the Albany
College, then gave an excellent address
on the subject of college bred men ir
American History" He said 50 many
good things and in such rapid succession
that 1t Is impossible to do justice here.
Prof. WI VanScoy then opened OF
small things of teachers work. A few
will be mentioned here. When teaching
pupils practical measurements,send some
80 - ,..aas,rasi,t. a. sn,aII tracts of land