The Russellville Democrat., 1893-08-31
{ pl AN TO ABOLISH PUBLIC
 SCHOOL EXAMINATIONS.


 The public school educators of Cleveland, 0 have decided upon the most important change that has been made in public school methods for years. This is nothing less than the abolition { the system of promo ton by examinations and the substitution of the monthly ranking system. Of course it will be impossible to render competent and conclusive judgment upon the merits of a change so radical for soma time-two CT three years, possibly; but it my be eaid that the proposition is the result of the mos careful thought of some of the best educators of the country.
 At the head of the movement is Andrew s. Draper, formerly state superintendent of instruction in New York, and at present superintendent of schools in Cleveland. Ills conviction that the working of the exami nation system does not afford fair test, either of the requirements or the intelli- gence of the pupil, is based on long ob- servaticn and careful study of the matter, and it is shared by multitude who have made tea hing in the public schools pro feaeion, ii the best sense. It requires, in deed, but slight observation, relatively speaking. to prove that the best pupils | judged by the general excellence of their work during the year make sr indifferent showing at the ordeal known as the final examination, while zapiis who have not done half as well, cram at the close, are sharp and un- scrupuleus in taking cues, peeping into books, taking sidelong glances at the work of others, etc, stand the examination 6Esiy and forge ahead triumphantly.
 The new plan substitutes for tLe old system of marking based on the daily work of the pupil. To carry it ont the teacher must each day record his or her best judgment upon this work, and upon the summary of thes Q | judgments the pupils standing is fixed. To check or correct any tendency to par tiality on the part of the teacher, it is pro vided that any pupil can demand an ex. animation, if not satisfied with the rating given, while the ce tainty that any push l ing forward of unfit pupils will be de- | tected in the next grade will operate as a check upon carelessness on the part of the l teacher. The new plan will therefore serve as test of the honesty and capa- bility of teachers, as well as of the attain ments of pupils. It may be conceded that conscience and capacity are requisite to the successful working of any plan of pop
 ular education, but it does not appear that l the new system will make heavier drain upon these essential qualities than the | old
 | The method though recently promul- | gated, is not entirely new in Cleveland, if having been on trial in that city for some months past. The teachers, at the be- | ginning of the last term, were instructed to provide a monthly sheet in which the standing of each pupil was indicated at the 1 top of the column by the initial letters of the words admirable, excellent, good, fair and poor. This daily detail of the teach. err 6 judgment was at the close summarized
 and proper average reached, which deter. mined the standing of the pupil. l The record was, for the most part, ac cepted as just at the close of the term and the semi annual strain of examina
 tions was avoided. Diligence and | faithfulness receive By this
 plan the highest possible reward, a result that is by no means universal with the old
 method It is certainly desirable that the
 experiment shall succeed, if only to save a
 large class of pupils who are oppressed by
 nervous dread of examinations for week.
 before the appointed time from this need
 less and harmful worry and from the strain
 and fatigue of the final ordeal. It is well
 known that this class of pupils in our pub. | lie schools ars worked up to the limit of
 safety in the regular routine, and any plan | that promises relief from an added strain
 at the close of terms or year's work
 cannot fail to be appreciated when once
 fully understood. Portland Oregonian.