St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-01
WORKS THIS WAY.
How the Annual "Pass" Problem
Agitates the Schools.

A few days ago the school rooms of
our city presented scenes of great ex-
element. 1t was then that the great
record books of the term were taken
down, busted and examined. The
teachers dim taper might have been
seen Pickering low at midnight, as, she
bent her weary head to the task OF
counting, estimating, correcting and
averaging the various standings 1of
some forty or fifty pupils consigned to
her care. n
The 'sV. P's" and "V. G.'s" must be
translated into figures, added to fhe
standing" in the examination. aver.
aged, then retranSlated into ~. I. 81
and ~ G.'s" Then after all
is ready the imposing ceremony OF "glv-
ing out the cards." with words Of praise
or wholesome admonition and warning.
The hearts of the children reach the
highest stage of excitement at this
point, and they are ready TO shout 8fori
they see promoted or mot promoted"
OH the long-coveted cards.
Contemplate for moment the ecStacy
of that child whose card re ads pro
noted" as he proudly waves it and eX-
claims about his "lovely teacher" de
lightful school," his love of study, and
calls on his parent to sign.
IT'S then that the FOND mother thinks
the public school system nearest perfec-
ton and feels that teachers are noble
race and the profession peerless.
True. her boy may not have gained
much mental power; he may not as yet
have begun to really think, but he has
passed" and she is delighted to know
that he is getting ON
But oh, the clouds and darkness OF
sorrow and reproach that meet the
child whose card bears the hated words
mot promoted" The mother knows
the teacher is partial. unjust or incom-
petent. She questions the child closely,
harShly; threatens to punish severely If
it ever occurs again. and makes hlm
feel that he has sinned unpardOnably,
and is am Outcast. She gathers from
him, in his frantic efforts to defend him
self, that he is las good as the other
boys" and resolves that she will not
submit to such humiliation. He must
try" the next work. TO be sure, she
does not know what class he Is in. and
never before thought to find out about
his progress, but she knows he ought to
pass" He has always passed before.
He shall bring his books home and
work nights" 1t matters not how
hopeless a task it will be for
him to attempt the advanced
work unprepared as he is;she must
make the effort, so she writes note re-
questing the teacher to give him a
trial' in the next class. Now the shad-
ows gather and deepen. The poor
child may have done his best before;
however. he is utterly unable to accom-
plish the new and more complicated
problems before him, and, seeing his
inability, becomes weary and discour-
aged. Every night finds him disguised
with school and glad to leave the build
ing; but hours of drill and labor await
him on reaching home. lie grows to
hate school. especially study and books.
He becomes restless, annoying, trouble
some. His environment becomes more
and more dstasteful. and he plays
truant, is suspended, and finally leaves
school without one hope or longing for
better education. higher, more Guilt
waited life.
Let us hope that, if he does succeed
in reaching honorable, intelligent man
hood, he will endeavOr to eliminate the
word "pass" from his chldren's vocab-
ulary, and teach them that it is better
to do work well, though slowly, and
that quality of work is the only stand
ard of ability. AN OBSERVER.