The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1896-05-14
Hooking SENTINEL
LEWIS GREEN, Pr,
Thursday, May f4th, 1896.
BRAIN HACKERS ABROAD.
r Proprietor


pleasant diversion of criticising some
of the unreasonable questions occa
sionally submitted at The teachers ex-
aminations, The press generally are
giving the matter attention also, and
undertaking, as has been cur purpose
to bring up the standard of qualif-
cation, and strengthen the Examin-
ers in the good esteem Of the public.
Criticism is pertinent to all public
officials, and when it effects all i'm
provement in the public service, the
press has accomplished q good pur-
pose. We think teachers, Examin-
ers and the intelligent public will all
agreee, that the recent Test Cues
tions submitted by our examiners are
free from smart Alexism and are
practical, sensible, and models de-
serving of imitation by the Boards of
other counties.
But referring to the fun the papers
are having with the examiners in
other parts, we are constrained to
submit few specimen bricks"
Not long since at an examination
held In Lancaster the question was
asked; we forget the exact figures
stated, but the question is substan-
tally this-'If you bought bushel
of corn at $50 much gallon) dry
measure, and sold it at $50 much a
pint liquid measure, how much did
did you make in the transaction"
The question was intended to test
the applicants knowledge Of the diff
ference between the two measures"
very pertinent question if sensibly
put.
As the story comes to US, among
the class on that day was wild-eyed
haw-eater from the hills below the
Reform Farm who was out for the
first time, and was ambitious TO ''teech
the districk skule." When lie hit
this question it is said 'fhis hair stood
on ends, "a pointer for our Examiners,
and without let or license he snatched |
his coon skin cap, bounded out of the
room and with wild speed took to
the hills, and when last seen, the le-
wanting youngster was wading the
waters of Blue creek trying to hide
his tracks from the blood hounds he
feared were on his trail.
Ittranspired that the young man was
one of the gang of moonshiners who
inhabit the the lower "deestricks" of
Fairfield, and the question put him,
he took to be direct charge that he
bought corn in the bushel, and when
made into whiskey, sold it by the
pint.
Down i'll Gallia county they are
having fun too. From the last issue
of the Gallipolis Journal we take the
following.
The question is asked, "How is the
the soil OF northern Ohio formeC?" to
which the funny newspaper man
makes answer:
'This has about as much bearing
on an applicants knowledge of geog
raphy as How was the soil of the
southwestern part of Nova Scotia
formed?" or, "Why don't the moon
rise in the northwestY' or, "Why
does not tree grow with its roots
upward?'
Continuing, the critic goes on TO
say, all of which is respectfully sub
lnltteu 10 our IedueTS.
alt is said that one of the examin-
ers in grading reading would ask ap-
rlic;::;s ;,ey mad read Adam
Beade, The Three Guardsmen, ,tc.,
and if they answered in the negative
their grade on reading was reduced.
One teacher | remember, was given
10 in reading when to my knowledge
that teacher had not read one book to
ten that others had, although the
"other teachers got 6 to s! on read
ing"
"Other questions on readingCDwere
"WouId you rather read love stories
or history?" "Why was Daniel put '
into lions den?" How, in the name
of common sense, could sane teach q
ers be expected to answer these
questions to suit the examiners views?
1t may be important to know about
Daniel but | hold that man who
never heard Of him or the lions either
may be good reader, even "good
enough to get TO-" 1t is this that 7
teachers object to ard not to rigid t
examinations.
sGlve US hard examinations, if you
want to, but mix in with it some COM
mon sense, and please let up Oh Dam
iel and let him rest in the grave
where he was LAID about 2500 years
ago and don't grade the reading of
Gallia county teachers down because
they don't know about why he was
,ast into the den OF lions.