New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-04
SCHOOL EXAMINATIONS.
A TEACHER SUBMITS THAT GRADING THE
PUPILS DOES NOT SHOW THE MERIT


TEACHER SUBMITS THAT GRADING THE
PUPILS DOES NOT SHOW THE MERIT
OF THE TEACHERS.
To he dttor o(The Trf5uns
Sir; II Is almost beyond belief that in the metrop-
oils Of this continent with all its Intelligence, with
all the means, far as money and the disposition
10 make liberal use OF money means for securing
the best educational advantages that are to be
had, the public schools are conducted with view
to FIXING the grade and the salary OF teachers. That
is what 1t comes 10. Teachers know that they are
TO be Graded according 10 the results OF examinations
not OF themselves but OF their pupils 1t the nat
ural consequence Of this method that teachers will
conduct their schools with reference TO this cxamina-
ton. They would be than human II they did
not Such system could have been instituted in
the first place only by utter lncapacIty. 1t could
be maintained ia intelligent community only be-
cause those who are capable OF seeing the folly and
wrongness OF II have many other interests that
attention and action are diverted from the methods
OF the public schools. The objections 20 this system
are many. The more prominent OF them these
l. This system involves and teaches wrong
notion of the purpose and aim of the public schools
and the functions OF the teacher The schools ar,
for the education Of the young This vicious system
tends to make Of them vast machinery for deter
mining the qualifications Of teachers. IL tends 20
replace the school with an nquisition. 1t Is con
ceded that 1t is quite necessary TO know the quail
hcatlons and ability OF the teacher But the public
school Is too great instrument to be employed 70
that end. 1t has larger than that. The Gov
OF the United states exists to transact the
necessary business Of Nation. What would be
thought of any theory Of it which should make II, be-
fore all else, mighty institution for
conducting Civil Service examinations and determln-
ing the qualifications OF public servants What
hOusekeeper would run a house with view, above
all else. discovering the comparative merits Of ser
want gIrls In each Of these cases the machinery is
too great 10 be employed for such ends as we have
suggested. There must be simpler and easier way.
teacher Ike any else, naturally wishes to sue
ceed Success, in the schools OF New-York, depends
upon tho results Of examinations in her school. In
evitably, therefore. that school IS conducted with
view 10 that examination, rather than to me culture
.. Even for the purpose of determining the quail.
fcatons OF teachers this method Is inadeQuate Doe
one arrive at conclusion In regard 10 the ability
Of aT Csas BY l0SSs Does ss rat ons
select his ply stefan only after investigation OF the
physical health Of all his patientsl Would a parish
refuse to call Clergyman, unless could tabuate the
lawyers conduct OF single knoty case, physicians
I'm crisis of dangerous disease, clergy
parshoner or some practical difficulty IN hls work.
would be far more TO the purpose Some idea may,
we concede, be gained of a teachers quality by an
examination OF her school, provided the object Of eer
teaching has not boon to drill her classes mainly ioi
examination, but this IS very imperfect test she
must be work In order 10 estimate properly
its quality. To stated examinations Of teachers, as
an aid to an estimate Of their proficiency there could
be less objection than 10 examination OF their
pupils for this purpose Still II thorough examna-
ton made, before the teacher Is permitted 10
snter upon her work. this would hardly seem needinl
other cities were made bore Instead Of putting gradu
ates of the Normal College into schools as matter
OF course land lnHuencer), # would diminish the
number Of unfit teachers. Thorough examinations at
the beginning, actual inspection Of the work OF the
In
they can be ascertaned in the actual culture OF the
child are the only means Of finding out tho quality OF
the teacher And The latter Is most difficult.
such examinations as Il Is the main business OF
New-York teachers, II they are true TO tho system
under which they labor 10 prepare their pupils for do
not By any means determine II d. NJ h.
New.York Jan IS, 1889