Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-29
TO HOLD EXAMINATION
intention of DR.. Chancellor as to
Normal Schools.
WITHIN HIS PREROGATIVES
Desires to Know Something of Men
tally of Pupils.
TO BE BOTH ORAL AND WRITTEN
Results Will Have No Effect on Stand
ing Of the Present Gradual
ing Glasses.
TO BE BOTH ORAL AND WRITTEN

OliOWlHS Tie dctiOH Oh the DOdTQ VI eQu-
cation last Wednesday that no examination
shall be held Of the present graduating
classes of the local normal schools to count
in the ranking Of the pupils to have
anything to do with the question of their
graduation, it has become known that Su-
perintendent Chancellor will examine the
pupils in question on his own responsible
ity. Some members of the board, 1t is
stated understood last Wednesday that
they had taken action to prevent any sort
of an examination Of normal school pupils
by the superintendent, but DR.. Chancellor
has announced that it is within his pre-
negatives as head of the schools. under the
. law, to subject the pupils to such an ex-
animation as he proposes to give He de-
clares the results will have no effect what
ever on the graduation or ranking OF the
pupils. according to the wish Of the board.
but that he desires to know something re-
garding the mentality of the pupils before
he signs his name to their diplomas.
The examination is to be held between
May I and 10. The exact date is to be an
nounced by the superintendent later.
News Conveyed by Principals.
News to the foregoing effect was impart-
ed yesterday afternoon to the pupils of the
normal schools by their principals. who said
that the examination will be both oral and
written. 1t is understood the subjects will
he has looked into the course of study fol-
lowed in the normal schools.
At this season of the year many of the
members of the graduating class are 0evot-
ing their time to practice-teaching in va
r4ous schools throughout the city. in order
that they may be better acquainted with
the actual work of the school room when
they go into the schools as teachers next
fall. The announcement by the superin-
tendent of the approaching examination has
caused a furry among all students, teach
and parents interested in the normal
school, and it is taken for granted that
much of the good of the practice work will
be lost while the energies of the students
are devoted to preparing for the examina-
ton. The lateneSs of the news and its I'M
expectedness, coming as it did after the &C
ton of the board last Wednesday, have
taken the teachers-n- the -making complete
ly by surprise.
1t is said that DR.. Chancellor feels he is
acting in every way entirely within the
law in ordering the examination. The care
full wording Of his recent recommendation,
it is claimed, was made with a purpose. his
idea being that If the board should fail to
approve the proposition there set forth he
would still have kept the way open for the
kind of an examination he has just an
nounced.
To Undergo Radical Change.
The Washington Normal Schools, in which
great pride is taken by nearly every one
connected with the schools, and which are
held to be responsible for the class of
teachers here, who have been SO highly
commended both by DR.. Chancellor and
educa tors throughout the country, are to
undergo radical change, it is rumored, II
DR.. Chancellor has his way.
So repeatedly has the rumor been cir
culated that it is the desire of the super
intendent to revolutionize the course and
supplant the present management putting
a male principal at the head of these
schools for girls. that the subject is con-
tinually in the mouths of school teachers
and prospective teachers and cannot, 1t Is
said, be ignored.
Many high school girls who are fitted to
enter the normal school class of next year
are known to be in a state Of uncertainty
as to whether or not to enter and run
chances of success and appointment
teachers under regime which seems to
them to present many pitfalls.
As to Text Books.
The statement printed in The Star of
Wednesday last that superintendent Chan
cellor and the text books committee of the
board of education at odds over certain
books, and that there are also committees
of teachers selected for the purpose of ad-
vising in the matter, whom the superintend
ent seeks to have report favorably upon
the proposed book was not correct. 1t is
understood that DR.. Chancellor has offered
no suggestions to text books to either
the teachers committees or the text book
committee of the board of education, hav-
ing relegated the matters of nomination and
selection. respectively, to the teachers and
the members of the board. The member
of the teachers advisory council, engaged
in the task of choosing books for use in the
local schools next year, have not, 1t Is
stated, received any intimation from the
superintendent as to his preferences.