The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-10-25

The graduates are distributed among
the different towns as follows: Newton
| ID, Liberty II, Maple Grove 9, Kossuth S,
| Gibson s, Manitowoc Rapids s, Center
vile E, Schleswig ), MIshicott 4, Cato 4,
| Eaton 4, Cooperstown 3, Rockland B,
Two Greeks 2, Franklin 2, and Meme l..
Two towns are not represented In the list.
The steady increase IN the number of
| pupils that attend these examinations IN
! dlcates greater efficiency among the
| teachers and also desire on the part of
| parents to extend the school period of
| their children. The number of success
| full applicants IS three times what 1t was
| three years ago. And the average age of
| those attending is about fourteen and
One-half years. 1t seems as if the plac-
ing of the minimum age at thirteen has
had the salutary effect of keeping pupils
longer at school. | should like to place
| the age limit of those writing for diplo-
mas no lower than fourteen but that may
be lnadvlsable for the present. 1t would
seem, however, that within a short time
the attendance at these examinations
ought to be at least five hundred. From
the inquiries made among the holders of
diplomas [ learn that the diplomas are
valued very highly. This is as it should
be, and no doubt the influence of the
young men and women who hold the
parchment which indicates that they
have completed the course of instruc-
ton in district school, has a tendency
to prolong the school age and increase
the respect for the cross roads school.
Ours is the only county in which the
examination is fully systematized. This
was made possible by the county board in
allowing the superintendent to appoint
board of examiners, who were to receive
fitting remuneration for their work. Pres.
Albee of the Oshkosh Normal School,
who has watched with interest the course
of instruction examinations, writes that
that hereafter pupils holding country
school diplomas from this county will be
admitted to the senior preparatory year
IN the normal, without examination,
The questions for these examinations
are prepared by the superintendent with
great care. They are 10y no means ideal
but there is studied attempt made to
indicate the practical IN elementary edu-
cation. The glmcracks in Arithmetic.
Grammar, etc. have been eliminated SO
that more attention can be given to the
essentials OF common school education.
After each examination CRITICISMS on the
questions are invited and 1 must &C.
knowledge having received valuable hints
from both teachers and pupils.
1t Is the opinion of the examining
board. which is shared by me, that the
schools should devote more time to
careful training IN the art of oral and
written expression. The answer-papers
frequently give evidence of a lack of pow
er TO write clearly and fully on familiar
subjects. The branches upon which fur
Their culture depends must be so taught
that pupils shall possess readiness and
facility IN their use. Language is preeml-
nently the branch that has most to do
with self-culture. Teach a little less
Geography and Arithmetic and more
English. A boy who can read intelligent
ly and express his thoughts clearly is in
falrer way to continue his education
than one who is full of knowledge" but
who is lost when no longer under tie