The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1890-05-08
Spring Examinations.

Fifty-nine persons applied for GER
tifcates this spring, twenty-eight of
which failed to pass. Whose fault
is it (? Many say it's the examiners.
But if the teachers saw that their
pupils did more thorough work, saw
that they understood all the points
passed over and then reviewed fire.
quently, failures would not be SO nu-
merouS
In many cases there is desire to
rush over subject, to get into the
highest book used III the school,,
whether they are fitted or otherwise.
I know it is hard work for teacher
to have pupils go as slowly as they
ought to go in order to understand
the subject if there is constant
pressure from behind to rush for
ward.
Several letters have been received
during the past year indicating that
the writer's would like to continue
this rushing business. In order to
get teachers enough to fill the
schools six months certificates were
granted this spring to all those who
averaged over 90 per cent. but the
average will be IS per cent. in the
fall fer a Third Grade. To show to
the public how some feel upon this
matter, | will quote from some of
the letters received. One says:
"But don't you forget it will be
even with you yet, for I know right
well the board at the Corners school
was satisfied only for you. & * |
am a Democrat still" Another
says in her second letter: "Sir: Twill
have no more fooling about that GER
tifcate. Why did you not have pa
pers tested when you went about it.
You know better, they will stand the
test. Now, if you want to keep out
of trouble, send it with proper marks
by Tuesdays mail, or | will send an
officer Wednesday to compel you to
test papers. | desired investigation
given you choice-State Supt. or
Mr., - Tof Kenosha AS you
chose the latter, now finish on short
notice where you began. You had
time to test papers since [ required
it, if you did not shrink from doing
your duty. If you trouble me | will
make the matter known throughout
the county, also State Supt. is
not the only one you have wronged;
if you do not wish this matter to be
known, make up your mind to settle
with me-" There was considerable
more to the same letter, but enough
has been quoted. Her next letter
demanded that her daughters papers
to be sent to Madison immediately.
The papers have been sent and
returned with the following markings.
The first grades are those given the
applicant upon her papers here, the
second are State Supt J. B Thayer's
markings:
Orthoepy, 6o-6o; Orthography,
71-74; Reading, 45-43; Penman-
ship, $3.50; Mental Arithmetic, As
AZ; Written Arithmetic, 56-53; Con
situations, 42-(U. S., Al: State, 23).
U. S. History, 54-46; Grammar, So
81; Geography. 56-53; Theory and
Art, 1885; Physiology and Hygiene,
6I-58.
l hope that my friend is satisfied
with the State superintendent
grades. | have tried to mark all
fairly, and if any mistakes have been
made, I am always willing.to correct
them. I think the best way for APP
plicants to pursue is to come direct
ly to the office and if they are quite
sure that they ought to be marked
higher, | will look over the papers
with them. This has been done sew
eral times and I believe all have
gone away satisfied, but should any
others desire State Supt. Thayer to
mark their papers. | will forward
them and publish the result.
VIM. MIDDLECAMP.