The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-30

and found that the more elaborate the
course Of study the more complex were
the results. Let the teacher fill in the
course of study to At the needs of her
class and the capabilities Of the In
dtvidual pupil. Give the teacher free
hand and let her assume the response
bility, The teacher in the class above
wants power rather than what the
pupil knows. The teacher sometimes
fails because he is not in harmony with
the pupils present thoughts. He did
| not advocate the abolition of fire.
quent examinations and reviews. They
are valuable aids. But he was opposed
to making them the test of promotions.
Mr.. Long Of Alameda thought it
would be evident that there was not as
large difference Of opinion as would
appear. The difference, he thought,
was more on certain points than on
the whole. He agreed with Superin-
tendent Crawford that written examina-
tons were necessary and productive
OF much good. There are other ele-
ments than the merely intellectual ones
that we must build his education on.
The problem for consideration is: how
shall we plan for the largest good?
keeping the course Of study>and a def
mite system. but still keeping in mind
the nature of the child and his mental
progress. In promoting the child we
must take into consideration not only
the fact that he has attained certain
facts on which to build, but also the
power to acquire subsequent facts. It
seemed to him that if the child had
power, 1t could be promoted safely. It
1 would be better to rely on the authority
OF the teacher, throwing all the respon-
slbility upon her. He knew that objec-
lions were made to this, and possible
prejudice was alleged, but he thought
the principal, when a child failed of pro-
motion, should ascertain the reasons. He
1eit that each one had placed a mar
row value on the Importance of this dis
cussion. If the question had been on
advancement Of the child instead of
promotion it would have been more
nearly what was intended.
superintendent Crawford said he had
never been afraid of a man of straw
ana men of straw have been set up this
AFTERNOON and pounded to a finish. He
hao not changed his opinion in favor of
examinations. The record of the
pupil Is in the teachers bands. II
tney We're not examined often and the
work of examination crowded into the
past TWO weeks, it is the teachers
Iault. Pupils who are fit for examina-
ton are never afraid of it and teach
| ers whose classes are ready are not OBJ
posed to it. Written examinations are
only a test Of what the pupil knows
Mr.. AcLane said he did not think
! MT
very far apart, as he did not claim
mat examination should be the final
test for promotion.
Mr.. Heatonz said the complete mas
terry OF a thought includes the power
TO express that thought, either in oral
or written language. 1t had been
urged that the teacher should have the
responsibility. He held that the SUI
perlntendent or Principal should have
snare OF the responsibility and back
UP his teachers. He believed that
some test should Be made and kept of
the pupils ability. If only for the pro-
lection of the teachers.
Superintendent McClymonds was op-
posed to written examinations on uues-
tons prepared and sent in by the SUI
perintendent or some one else for the
pupils to answer, unless they were pre-
pared for the purpose Of finding out
whether the teacher IL carrying out
the line Of work under his Instructions.
A written examination for promotion
should be made by the teacher. The
point 70 determine Is not whether the
pupils are ready to promote but
whether 1t is better to promote them
with some deficiencies to make up than
to keep them In .the lower grade for
six months.
COMMITTEE REPORTS.
The report Of the committee appoint
ed upon the eurrieula of high schools
and normal schools in relation to the
university made it's report. which was
received and accepted
The report was to the effect that as
the normal school is partly professional
and tends toward requiring graduation
from high school as a condition of
ADMISSION and many technical schools
present technical features of a voca-
tional nature, while the ordinary high
school Is mainly devoted to the prepa-
ration for intelligent citizenship, the
questions relating to 1t should be sep
arated; that the function of the high
school is peculiar to itself and that the
university should give credit for all
work in the high school that make
for intelligent citizenship. In other
particulars the committee reported
progress and asked for power to FIJI
all vacancies In its membership.
The report was adopted.
II. M. Bland, for the Department Of
School administration. reported a
unanimous Endorsement of President
Burk's plan for a commission to re-
wise the State school law; a unanimous
ENDORSEMENT of Superintendent Fur
longs plan for certification of teachers.
full discussion Of the important sub
1ects OF School Supervision" and "Pro-
motions, Grading and Examinations"
and the appointment OF two sub-com-
mittees with c. w. Childs and Josenh
OConnor as Chairmen, to make formal
reports on these subjects at the next
meeting; provision for appointment
OF a committee on school law. to con-
sist of eleven members of the assoei-
alton, and provision to place all data
collected in the department at the dis
posal of the commission provided for
by President Burk's address.
The report was adopted.
The committee appointed to renort
TO the association on the proposition