Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-09-28
"oURs rs A ooMPosITE PAN"

How the Question is Here In Regard TO
the Philadelphia Movement for Aboi-
fishing School Examinations.
The movement is being pushed hard
in Philadelphia towards the total abol-
ishing of school examinations. The
Record of yesterday, speaking on the
subject says;
The question of entirely abolishing the
annual examinations of pupils in the pub
lie schools will come up for discussion at
next mouths meeting of the Board Of
Education. Joseph d. Murphy, represent
ing the Third section in the Board, will
introduce a resolution looking TO the
abolition Of the examinations, and leaving
the promotion Of pupils to higher
grades to the judgment of the teacher,
who will take into consideration the gem
eral average of the pupil during the term.
The resolution will probably be referred
to the committee on grammar, secondary
and primary schools TO confer with the
superintendent on the subject and report
at the next meeting OF the Board.
Mr. Murphy says he will introduce the
resolution at the suggestion of several
officers Of the Board, and he feels sure
that Superintendent Brooks and his assist
ants will favor it.
DR.. Brooks, when questioned as to his
attitude in the matter, was rather nom
committal. THE city Is NOT yet ready for
such q change" he said. land / do not
think it would be proper for Inc to diseuss
the matter. Last year the Board authorized
me to do away with the lnidwinter exami-
nations, and have been given permission
to do the same this year. The abolition of
all examinations, however, is q matter
that should he considered carefully, for
1t is long step. The tendency at present
in other large cities is, believe, toward
the entire abolition of examinations"
The school directors of Montgomery
county have taken the forward step by
eliminating examinations, deeming that
the teacher is best able to determine the
pupils qualifications for advancement.
WHAT SUPERINTENDENT HARLAN SAYS.
City Superintendent David w. Harlan
was seen in his office yesterday. He
was ready TO speak on the matter imme-
diately.
He said: "0urs is a composite plan.
II is not altogether promotion on ex-
| aminations. The record of the pupils
DAY work, combined, in the higher
| classes, with the results of an examina-
ton at the end of the term constitutes
the basis of the system existing here.
During the first five years of the
l pupA SSuOOl lllc NC 10 piOnOLou gu tne
record of his daily work alone. That is
to say there are no examinations during
that time and promotion therefore does
not depend on them.
During the next two years, the record
made monthly is combined with the re-
suits of an examination, one only, at
the end of the year.
"Then understand" the reporter
added, "that this question of school ex.
aminations has already been considered
by your"
"Oh, yes" was the superintendent
reply, 1--WE have taken hold of the mat.
ter. We really never had examinations
below the tenth primary grade. That is
to say below the fifth school year. We
have always considered that the teacher
in charge Of pupils, who hears their
Rotations day in and day out, knows
more OF their fitness for promotion than
anybody can find out by examinations
at the end of the term"
"What do you think, Mr.. Harlan, Of
the movement towards absolute abolish.
ment Of examinations"
"As pupils" the superintendent
replied, "come along to years when
they may be considered personally
responsible, it ought TO fan upon
them to show at an examination
that they have mastered the studies
taught in the classes. consider
an annual examination, in this connec,
ton, of decided advantage To the pupil
who is old enough for it, as 1t proves to
him that he does or does not know whai
he has gone over.
II am against the total abolition Of
examinations. There must be test Of
some kind. Of course, there has been
| concede, a great deal too much of the
long week or ten days school examina.
tons, of the feversh preparation for the
ordeal. 1t is there the mischief has
arisen"