Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-01-02

thoughtful and most successful expert
ence in the history Of education. The
system of another country could not
be introduced without notifications.
because conditions were essentially Diff
ferent. The most important modifica-
ton thought necessary was the provi-
sion for an official inspection of those
schools which coveted the new Drivi-
leges for it's pupils. These inspections.
or, as they are sometimes called, ex-
aminations, have everywhere been at
tended with many inconvenience. Pro-
fessors conducting such inspections are
obliged either to leave their classes or
to make unusual arrangements for
their instruction, and long journeys in
the winter are often inconvenient for
many reasons. And yet in the course
of the twenty-siX years that have
elapsed since the system was first in
troduced in a neighboring state, it has
practically spread to all parts of the
country. Notwithstanding the import
ant fact that a few of the largest in
situations have, up to the present time.
resisted the innovation, admission by
diploma has come to be generally
adopted as a system by the colleges
and universities of the country. It is
probable that familiarity with facts
will show that the system has been
least successful where the examining of
schools has been most loosely admins
tered, and most successful where exam
nations have been most thorough and
most frequent. Experience, moreover
seems to justify the belief that the ben
eficial effects of the system are felt
both by the colleges and by the pre-
paratory schools. If the schools are
benefited by the system of inspection
scholarship in the colleges and uni
versities is thereby improved: but as
only a small percentage Of high school
pupils go to college, and as any benefit
that comes from inspection must be eX-
perienced by ALL it follows that the
benefit must chiefly accrue to the pre-
paratOry school. 1t also follows that if
no benefit is felt by the preparatory
school the system can have little or
nothing to recommend it. In a discus
sion of this kind it can hardly be
thought unwise to inquire whether the
system is in itself inherently faulty or
whether it is unwisely administered by
the university. Does the university
have it's controlling hand upon the high
school? Is it true that the high schools
are at the mercy OF any one of the
large corps of teachers at the univer-
sity?
Before answering these questions it
may be we'll to observe that whatever
may be the esteem in which the system
is held by the superintendents and
principals in this state, it seems that
in other states, especially in the state
in which the system originated and has
had the largest experience, it receives
general, if not universal, approval. 1t
must be admitted that this system, like
any other, depends for it's beneficent
results very largely upon the spirit and
methods in which it is administered.
These facts quite justify u.s. not only
in giving an outline of the system. but
in dwelling for a moment on the meth
DDS on which the system is carried out.
Now in regard to some of the most
noteworthy facts In the first place it
may be we'll enough to say that no
school is ever examined except by in
vitation of the school authorities; and
secondly, if at any time any school is
dissatisfied with the system and prefers
that its pupils should come to the
university and be examined for admis-
sion, the school has only to indicate the
fact; or simply to neglect to ask for
an inspection. This would seem to
answer the question as to whether in
the system itself there is anything es-
sentially tyrannical or oppressive It
is system which, so far as any indi-
vidual school is concerned, can be ter
minated at any time by its own Volt
ton. It should therefore be clearly
understood that every school that is
subject to inspection by the university
has entered into that relation simply
because it has chosen to DO so and can
terminate it at any time If. there
fore, the system is in any way open to
criticism it can only be by the fact
Of unWise administration on the part
of the university.
The machinery by which the system
of examination is carried on is through
a committee of eight members, of
which Professor Stearns, formerly at
the head of the Whitewater Normal
school, and now professor of pedagogy
= university, is chairman. The
other members are Professors Birge,
Rosenstengel, Van Velzer, Hendrick-
son, Frankenburger, Bull, and Huh
bard. The number of members of the
faculty who have ever inspected any
of the schools is eighteen. Of these
two have inspected one school each. 1t
follows that the work of inspection is
done by persons appointed from sixteen
members of the faculty Of the college
of letters and science, these sixteen
being chosen either from their success
full experience as teachers in prepara-
tory schools, or from the fact that they
teach those subjects which are most
intimately related with the preparatory
work. 1t should perhaps be added that
it is impracticable that any one person,
or even a very few persons should in
spect all the schools. Nor perhaps
would such a method be desirable, even
if it were practicable. The records of
the university show at a glance just
where the pupils from given school
are weak and where they are strong,
and on the basis of this knowledge the
person selected is appointed to ascer-
tain whether the weakness of pupils