The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-05-03
A Step Forward.

Cleveland, o., has taken wise step.
1t has abolished in the public school
examinations for promotion. Every
observing, thinking person knows that
an examination is no real test of pu-
pills ability. The only test that is true
is the record of the Students work each
day. The mental strain that even
small children are compelled TO endure
in most schools twice year is nerve
destroying, cruel, unnecessary torture.
The writer remembers school in Con-
necticut which for years had followed
the old practice of semi-annual exam
nations preceding promotion. Fortu-
nately, the principal, who had been
most strenuous in demanding that this
heathenish practice should be followed,
was followed by a teacher who was
made a teacher by God and by training
He announced three months preceding
the usual time for examination that
there would be no examinations at the
close of the term, that the pupils from
the several grades would be promoted
on the judgment of the teacher, that
those who were not able to keep up
with the class when promoted would
be dropped back, and that the teacher
would be expected to fiji these to pass
into the higher grade and remain there
at the close of the next term. This plan
was followed. OF course due announce
ment was made to the children. Those
old enough we're made to understand
that their examination was going on
each day, and it was the record of the
terms work that would promote them,
not the chance results of a good MEM
DRY and examining. TIE promotions
took place, each teacher acting on her
own honor during the entire term.
The result of this system was that
neither teachers nor pupils were ner-
vously exhausted. There was no omis-
sion of lessons because of examinations
the work went quietly on in each de-
partment or classroom, and on the APP
pointed day the changes were made,
The afternoon preceding the change
each teacher told her pupils to come
into her room as usual the next morn
ing, and then ii was announced who
would be compelled to remain another
term in the room because of poor work.
1t was a great surprise to the older ones,
who did not believe that the new plan
would be followed. There were tears
and protests, but they carried no weight.
The effect of this natural system was
shown in that school in two years
time. The grade throughout the en-
tire school was faised; new spirit OF
work as well as of harmony developed
between teachers and teachers, as well
as between teacher and pupil. What
was done in graded school in a New
England village can be done in city
school. OF course the character of the
teacher is the only guarantee of true
work, for under this system her work
is tested by the next above her, and not
by marks which really have no value
because the conditions under which
they were made were not normal. Il
she is a true teacher, she does her
work thoroughly. In this case three
boys who had been irregular in attend
ance, as well as unpunctual and indif.
ferent in the school-room, and so were
not promoted, were reused up to such
an extent through modification as wei
as ambition that before half the tern
was completed, with the aid of the
teacher, they were doing the same worl
as those who had been promoted, anC
at the next promotion, skipped the
next grade, once more marching shout
der to shoulder with their former com
panions. christian Union.