Evening star., 1900-05-09
Methods of Senate Committee in
School Examination.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES BEARS DR.. LANE
Statement Read Summarizing Re-
suits Of investigation.
MATTERS BEFORE BOARD

except Mr. Speare. Mr.. Wheipley presided
and Mr. Falck acted as secretary.
At the suggestion Of Mr.. Wilson, near the
close of the proceedings, Prof. Lane direc-
tor of the High Schools. was invited to ad-
dress the board on the subject of the recent
examination of frst-year pupils of the
High Schools by committee acting for the
subcommittee of the District committee of
the Senate. Mr.. Lane summarized the re-
suits of his investigation of that subject in
the following prepared stateme 1T, which
proved to be the question of chief interest
before the board:
1. Upon the return of the examination
books principals were requested, with the
aid of teachers of English and mathemat-
ics to examine them carefully, in order to
obtain an intimate knowledge of "the les
son Of the examination
2 1t was found that the separate ques-
tions We're marked with fairness by the ex-
aminers, and that the credits obtained were
set down clearly opposite each.
3. In reporting the total results in history
Supplemental report, No. I'll. U. 8. Senate)
seeming injustice has been done the large
number of pupils. who, following directions
printed on the question sheet: DO not try
to answer all the questions, but write a
connected story in each case" answered
but three of the five questions, setting aside
the other two, not from ignorance, but by
the explicit direction of the Senate COM
mittee reinforced in many instances by the
instructions of teachers in charge of the
examinations.
AS result of this omission by the stu
dents and of the practice of the examiners
to award twenty credits to, each properly
answered question and to deduct twenty
credits for each omitted question many of
the best students in each school have re-
ceived from 80 to S. when those marks
should have been two-thirtfs higher; that
n &c
should have been reported as 90 per cent.
To substantfate his statements as to the
unfair marking In history Or. Lane SUBJ
mitted several repres entative examination
by the Senate examining committee. He
did this, he explained to show that his as
sertions were based on evidence and We're
not merely matters of opinion He cited
several individual cases where pupils had
made as high as II, IS and 10 three
questions, where 20 credits were possible,
and had been marked about 54 when under
the conditions of the examination they
should have been marked about 80. This
was because the pupils had been explicitly
informed that they need not answer all
five of the questions unless they chose, and
then We're marked the basis of all five
instead of on the basis of those they under
took to answer. This had a very serious
effect on the general average, and reduced
1t about 20 per cent.
Reports Submitted.
Reports showing these facts were submit
ted from the principals of the Central High
School. the Business High School and the
Eastern High School. Each Of these Off
GERS said, in substance, that while the cred
its were fairly marked on basis of 90 to
each of the five, questions, they were on an
average 20 per cent too low on the queS-
tions actually answered by the pupils ac-
cording to the discretion given them in the
printed instructions.
1t was also stated that on the revised
basis Of credits the examining papers
showed that out of $50 pupils examined 22O
had credits above SO per cent, and that the
entire number averaged over 10 per cent.
DR.. Lane also submitted report of an
examination of twenty-three books written
by pupils in the graded schools, not pre-
pared for the high schools, marked accord
ing to the method used by the examiners
for the Senate committee, as nearly as that
could be ascertained by careful eXamina-
ton of 100 books marked by them. 1t
showed as follows: Arithmetic. 5S7; his
tory. 55.4; spelling, average number of
words misspelled per pupil, 3.0S History
and arithmetic combined, 81 per cent.
Mr.. Wilson said he regarded DIR. Lane s
report as important, and on his motion it
was made a matter of record and Dr. Lane
was instructed to continue his investiga-
tions and report the result at the next
meeting of the board.
Routine Matters.
Brown, teacher in the ninth division, was
extended
William H. Sckel was appointed janitor
of the Toner school, and John Lucas tenn
porary janitor of the Thomson school,
On the recommendation of the committee
on kindergarten schools, Miss Mary X. Cof-
nm was appointed an assistant kindergarten
teacher at 50 per month.
Mr.. Wilson, from the committee on build
1ngs, reported that the two buildings at
IWinlng city offered the board by Mr.. c.
E. Nelson Of 7o1 I street southeast were
not suitable for school purposes. The re-
port was adopted.
Mr. Richardson, from the committee on
industrial education, reported the failure of
the eHort TO secure teachers of cooking for
the colored schools at the recent competi-
1--WE examination. He said none of the can
dldates examined reached the standard set
Tor appointment namely, 10 per cent. On
MS motion 1t was arranged that another ex-
ANIMATION for such appointments should be
held next Monday, with the understanding
thar 1t should not be open to any of the
former candidates who fell below the so
per cent mark. Those candidates who made
higher rating than 80 per cent will he
informed of that fact
An application from Miss Hattie E, Bor-
den Tor appointment as teacher was placed
on Ale
designations were received and accepted
as follows: Aida NJ. Doyle, teacher, fifth
grade. sixth division; E. Louise Stetson,
teacher of music; A L. Ambrose, teacher.
MIRO grade, sixth division; lucy Y. Arricks,
teacner, n sixth grade, first division; Mary
y; ware, teacher of cooking; Annie L.
Murray. normal class of 1900
Graduation Authorized.
On motion of Mr.. Wilson of the commit
tee on High and Normal schools authority
was given for the graduation of the follow
ing named pupils: Alice Houghton and
FAINT Stack of the Western High School,
Wallace J. Young, s. b. Harrison, Robert
Central High School.
Mr. Hazen submitted a course of study
proposed by Mr.. Riordan, the principal,
building The subject WAS laid on the table
for future consideration
Sale of school, Building.
The Senate resolution providing for the
sale OF the Force School property on Mas
sachusetts avenue and the selection of an
other site for the school was presented to
the consideration of the board by the Dis
1@t