St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-01-14

Nays-lnspeetofs Haas and Kuhles-2.
From the Committee on High School
ST. PAUL. Mimi, Jan. T.
To the Honorable the President and
Members of the Board of Education.
GENTLEMEN: In presenting the fol-
lowing petition from Prof. c. b. Gilbert,
Principal of the High school, your COM
mittee have the honor to say that they
have carefully considered it and unani-
mously recommend its adoption.
Yours respectfully,
J.. H. MAXFIELD,
B. F. WRIGHT,
L.J. DoBNER,
Committee.
PETITION.
To the Chairman and Members of the
High School Committee,
GENTLEMEN: have the honor to
present the following facts and sug-
gestions to your consideration:
To examinations at stated times as
the test for the promotion OF pupils in
the public schools, objection is made by
many citizens on the following good
grounds:
First-They are at best but partial
and unsatisfactory test of the students
knowledge of the branches pursued and
of his ability to undertake with profit
those that follow in the course.
Second-They offer an inducement to
the student to neglect his daily work
and to atone for this neglect by pro-
cess of "cramming" just before eXaml-
nation.
Third-They lower his standard of
scholarship by making the passing of
the examination app al to him as the
chief, and in many cases, the only OBJ
ject OF study.
Fourth-'They cause serious injury to
health by subjecting the student to in
tense nervous strain and distressing
anxiety.
Fifth-They occupy from two to
three weeks. OF nearly per cert OF the
entire school year, which might with
much greater profit be devoted to the
SiXth-They tend to cause the teacher,
as well as the student. to regard exam
inatiOn as the principal thing in educa-
ton, so that she endeavors to fit her
pupils to pass this examination, instead
of teaching them broadly and according
to their evident individual needs.
Seventh-They encourage dishonesty
in both pupil and teacher. tempting the
former to resort to all possible and dis
honorable means that will assist in pass
ing the examinations, and the latter to
surreptitiously aid students while at eX
animation. and also to ''mark up' pa
pers so that large class may be pro-
NOTED and that diSagreeable students
may be removed.
For this aforementioned evil detection
is we'll nigh impossible, and the teacher
who thus dishonesty promotes a large
class loses nothing i'll reputation, but
rather gains in comparison with the
conscientious teacher who marks
honestly.
In view of these recognized facts, the
authorities of certain of the leading
schools of the country, nOta bly, those OF
Cincinnati, o.. and Washington. ID. c.,
have dispensed with final examinations
as tests for promotion, and have already
other plans in successful operation.
Desiring to keep abreast of the times,
to secure the best results for the school
under my care, and yet not to act irrev-
Ocably or with undue haste, L respect
fully request your honorable committee
to grant consent to the following plan:
That in June, 1889. promotions in
our High school be made, not as the re-
suit of a final examination, but in the
manner indicated below.
First-That at the end of each week
teachers prepare, according to their
best Judgment, written estimate on
blanks furnished for the purpose of the
work of the student during the week,
using to indicate this judgment the
signs now used in marking the stu
dents monthly report cards, and that
at the end of each month the average of
these weekly estimates constitute the
mark for the months report.
Second-That at frequent, irregular
intervals during the term, brief eXami-
nations or written reviews of varied
sorts be given the students in their re-
spective classes, and that a record of
the results OF these examinations be
kept by the teacher.
Third-Ihat at the end of the term an
average be made of the weekly estimate
of each student, to constitute the main
element in determining his qualification
to leave the branch pursued. and to I'M
dertake the one following; that this av-
erage be carefully examined by teacher
and principal together; that they be
compared with the results OF
the various examinations given during
the term, and that all circumstances, so
far as known, affecting the work of the
student be taken into consideration,
that the best judgment of teacher and
principal may be used in estimating the
character and value of the students
work.
FOurth-That IN the main the follow
ing be the standard of promotion, viz:
All students, the averages of whose
marks in any study are found to be
above 'fair," shall be promoted. All
students, the averages of whose marks
are found to be below fair" shall not
be promoted. All students. the averages
OF whose marks are found to be "fair,"
shall be carefully considered by prlnci-
pal and teacher, as indicated in rule 5,
especial Importance being given to the
records of the examinations, and shall
he promoted. degraded or examined ac-
cOrding to the Judgment OF principal
and teacher.
Fiftll-That in all such cases the de-
cision of the principal shall be final,
provided that
Sixth-In all cases of failure to be
promoted, parents of the children thus
falling may appeal to the principal, who
shall, if unable TO satisfy the parent of
the Justice of his decision, give the child
a fair examination upon the work of the
term, the result of which examination
shall determine the question Of promo
ton.
1t is believed that this system would
remove from the education of the chill
dren most, if not all, of the evils incl
dent to stated examinations for promo
ton; that the results would be, OH the
part of the pupil, better work from day
to day, because he would be
compelled to feel the Importance
of such work; greater saving in
time, strength and health; removal of
many of the incentives to disho nesty;
the destruction of the elementof chance:
broader scholarship, and more healthy