The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1895-11-21
The School Master Still Abroad
The Holy Terrors Still Atloat'
Tantalizers Still TantiliZing.

TantallZerS Still IantlllZlnS.
Last week We published the full
list of the Examiners Test Questions.
Some of the questions arc fair and
sensible but many are ridiculous.
We submit few, not in captious
spite, but to enter protest against
having it go unchallenged that such
sentences are evidence of the mental
calibre and professional attainment
of our Hooking county teachers,
We appeal to the good sense OF the
public if such questions as are asked,
ON the answer to which may depend
whether or not a certificate be grant
ed, are fair.
We submit few:
Professor Rickels asks; when
was the postal system organized and
by whom
The postal system is as old as
civilization. Every people in all ages
have had organized postal systems.
Today the postal systems of civilized
countries differ in organization. The
system in this country began with
the first settlement and has been
changing almost constantly since.
With each new Administration the
organization is changed. Old meth,
ods are abandoned and new schemes
tested. The question, we say. is not
fair one to an applicant for a certi'
ficate.
Again, Professor Ricketts, asks fol
information in very unprofesslonal
language. Question 10: "What con
necticn has the name of Hannah
Dustin with U. S. History" Han
pah's .sname'' like the nane of mil
lions, has the same possible connec
ton. has been mentioned. The
Rickety Examiner possibly intended
TO ask wha, Hannah did to make he'
famous, or what part did she take ir
public affairs.
The implication is that the poetic
afflatus of the Mckay Journal-Gaz
ette infused him and he thought oi
poor lone Hannah sitting ct the win
dow mending shoes for the old Con
,inentials in their ragged regiment
ale" But this is the clincher. "Wh)
does the hair stand on end?" If il
does, a proper question following is
why does it lay or lie down? Why
If it has standing functions, it als'
has the quality of standing side ways
as we'll as on end. Why does the hail
stand down and not up? Let us
while at it, discuss the question fully
Again we are asked "Why doe
the sktn become rough while riding
in the wind?' It does not. Th'
question is foolish. "Why does the
skin become yellow while looking a
the moon?" Prof. Riokets may hays
his hair standing like the quilts ofth'
fri,fnl porcupine, and his skin al
rough as the hide of an alligator aftel
riding ip the wind to present hi
wisdom to the composed teachers o
smooth hair and skin, but the ques
tion like the others we have noted Ii
m9re in the line of political quii
than a sensible test to an applicant.
Goodwin is full Of amusing puz
zles. We have space only to refe1
t. bat a few. Question 10 in Geo
graphy, "Cuba Sc" requires to bt
answered properly, intelligently,
knowledge which even our best In
fromed statesmen do not possess. The
ccxports" of Cuba have been a mat
ter ofdispute which even Blaine coule
not could not know to his satisfac
tion when making a government
treaty. yet the school teacher in Hook
ing is hauled up before proposition
which diplomats are fearful to en-
counter.
But the wisdom is shown, the
professional accuracy" of the learn
ed examiner--Questiou 8 in Geo
graphy, not navigation. "Explair
how vessel would pass from Duluth
40 The ocean" What explanation il
tn re about it? 1t might be sal
vessel, a row boat, a steamer. 1
would s'pass" certainly in the water
with more or less noise; ''pass" per
haps sideways. 1t would "pass" witt
degree ofspeea proportioned to the
velocity and direction of the wind; Jan
engine may have something to dc
With the fuN explanation of how the
vessel does pass. The chances ara
that the Examiner desired to test the
applicant on his knowledge of the
uavigahle water course from Duluth
to the ocean, hut he is to utterly
smart to ask the question in sensible
way.
He asks for the population Of Ohio
but len, es open, no doubt, for a black
mark on the answer, the basis upon
which the population is 20 be given.
Is It the federal. census, the annual
enumeration. or the election? Upon