New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-18
TIE EXAMINATION MILL

A most important series of educational pa
pers is published in the current number of The
Nineteenth Century, The first is a protest
against the evils wrought by the system of
competitive examinations in English schools
and universities. 1t has received the sigma
lures of hundreds of distinguished educators
and public men, and is accompanied by petit
ton for the organization of Royal Commits
sion for reconsiderng the subject of making
appointments by competitive examinations Tor
the Civil Service. 1t is weighty remonstrance
against dangerous mental pressure and mlsdl-
rection of energies now found alike in schools
of all grades and also in the universities. The
evils Of which complaint is made are % physi-
cal, the over-strain of working for great prizes
and Of passing a continuous series of eXamina-
tons exhausting the bodily powers in youth
and involving a terrible sacrifice of health and
vigor in manhOod and GU intellectual and
moral, the system promoting dead level Of
uniformity that prevents individual growth
and diversity of attainments on the part Of
pupils, and tending to impair intelligent SELF
direction on the part of teachers. With ex-
aminations and prizes consecrated by authority
as the chief end of education, love of learning
for its own sake is fatally undermined. The
rote faculties are strengthened to the neglect
of the rational faculties knowledge is super
fcially acquired to be speedily forgotten.
There is loss of spOntaneity and consequent
ncapacty for undertaking original work. All
these and many other objections to the exam
ination mill are applied with equal force to the
education of pupils of both sexes.
This protest is followed by brief papers con-
tributed by three eminent English educators.
One is from the pen Of Professor Max Muller,
who forty years ago was one of the most siren
uous advocates Of the necessity of examinations
for admission to the Civil Service. He does
not now admit that there should be a rever-
sion to appointments by patronage, but he be-
lieveS that the present method OF endless eX-
aminatons stands sef-condemned and should
be radically amended. His experience at Ok
ford has taught him that all real joy in study
has been destroyed by existing forcing methods.
Young men, he says, imagine that all their
work has bat one object-tO enable them to
pass the examination grind" Reading is
matter of compulsion. Every book even to
the number of pages, is minutely prescribed.
Students become machines, and the iron enters
into their souls. So far as the Civil Service
examinations are concerned, he is convinced
that the effects are not beneficial. He thinks
that these competitive tests should be reduced
to a minimum, and year Of probation sub
stituted for the final one.
Professor Freeman declares with even added
emphasis that the practical result Of the opera
ton of the examination mill is the
degradation Of university learning and
teaching into a trade. Education is
converted into a examining process that
crowds out and suppreSses all real ardor for
learning. Professor Frederic Harrison, as
might be expected from his radical love Of re-
form and intense hatred of shams, takes open
issue with the existing system. Examination,
he remarks, was designed to be the well-trained
servant OF education, but it has become bad
master, bullying, memorable tyrant. He
maintains that halfway measures will not be
adequate for obviating the evils ,f over. pres
sure and mechanical methods Of teaching
There should be one examination in place of
ten, and the class of professional examiners
should be abolished. teachers themselves being
trusted to test the results of their own labors
Pupils should be encouraged to study for the
sake Of knowledge and the public welfare; and
not entered, curried, groomed and taught their
PAGES for a series of competitive races.
All these considerations presented with tho
authority Of many OF the great masters of Eng
lish public thought should promote thorough
study and deliberate reflection in America. In
our schools and colleges the evils of over
pressure and examining have not perhaps led