The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1888-02-17
Mr.. EDITOR.

Mr.. EDITOR.
In a recent issue of your paper I
noticed a report of the teachers meet
ing held at Joint District No. 10, Paris
and Bristol, Jan. 81, 1888.
Part of the report was devoted to the
elaboration of a plan to enable the
County Superintendent to secure speci-
mems Of penmanship from the district
schools throughout the county.
AS far as have been able to ascertain,
this plan was adopted without dissent
ing voice, at which I must confess my
most unbounded establishment. Perhaps
it is true that minus quantity should
not grumble or find fault, but one neces-
sarily so, who neither had business in
Kenosha on that day." nor INDUCED in
dissipation elsewhere, might with reason
claim the right to be heard.
Iquote from the report the plan re-
ferred to: "The pupils are to be divided
into five classes, as follows. Those Of
the first four classes to write with pen
and ink the first clause, sec. 1, of the U.
S. Constitution. The fifth class may use
pencils and write "An early start and
steady pace take the slowest through the
race" First class, pupils fourteen years
old and over; second class, pupils twelve
and thirteen years old; third class, pupils
ten and eleven years old; fourth class,
pupils eight and nine years old; Eth
class, pupils under eight years old"
Although the scheme submitted is I'M
doubtedly Magnificent in design and
labored in DETAIL" yet its practical utility
to me is vast and insoluble mystery
Understand, entirely agree that the
idea of taking the specimens is to be
commended. No doubt it is for the
purpose of ascertaining proficiency in
that particular line; will furnish an in
centive to both teachers and scholars
for good work, etc. Other reasons might
also be mentioned, and no doubt were
by the educators" present, but can
not discover the necessity for such a
ponderous amount of educational red
tape in its practical accomplishment.
Age, in my opinion, can never be &C
cepted as basis of classification in any
district school. We are all familiar with
the plodding. but ignorant, overgrown
boy from Is to 1S-yes, even up to 81
years of age-who can barely scratch his
name in characters which resemble
Egyptian hieroglyphics, and is struggling
with the mysteries of primary reading,
in contrast with the glib little Miss Of
seven or eight, who writes legible
round hand, and reads fuently in the
third reader. 1t may be asserted that
this is ain extreme case. Granted. But
who has taught district school and has
not been confronted with this same eek
IRENE case p Notice our big boy goes
in " first class and our little Miss in the
+" fifth Glass; when the qualifications
are exactly reversed. Shades of Wash
ington and Franklin descend from
ethereal regions and observe an eight
year-old juvenile in Kenosha county
laboriously and with an expression of
harassed speculation endeavoring to
drive his sledge-hammer quill through
f" First clause, sec. one, of U. S. Consti-
tution!" Now our model little Miss is
nonplussed in earnest. Pray, remember
friends, that after anxious days and
nights ofprolonged discussion, the afore-
mentioned Constitution emerged as the
crystalized thought of an assemblage of
men whose transcendent ability was
universally recognized. Words are used
whose Specification and use are dark
enigma to the juvenile in question, yet
he is requested to write this clause and
forward it as a specimen of penman-
ship"
No scholar can ever ac,1te, even mod
erately well, words with which they are
totally unfamiliar, unless, perhaps, by
constant practice on the same thing,
they succeed in draamng, and this would
entirely defeat the idea involved.
The lines selected for the fifth class"
reflects credit on the individual from
whose brain they emanated.
Recognizing the fact that uniformity
in the " specimens" is desired, I beg
leave to offer one suggestion that the
same sage council meet again and try
again. TEACHER.