The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-01
EXAMINATIONS.


Tune ia commencement month The school
examinations are about finished. Reports are
rood or bad. Success failure has been COM
pIeted now and the account of the session is
made up for teachers and pupils alike There
are sore hearts and glad ones. Some diplomas
will be taken without elation, representing
barely scraping through Others will represent
pride OF achievement and enthusiastic pre-
dictions for the future. The examinations made
the test: and they represented but the beginning
OF process which will continue with each boy
and girl all through their lives; and after death
"a little while for those who may make them
selves worth while talking about when they are
dead indefinitely for the very few who will live
tr history The characters. motives and meth
eds of julius Caesar and Sappho are under ex-
summation to this day. The most Of the young
ladies' and gentlemen who have passed examna-
lions for this session need not concern them
selves about postmortem results, go far as this
world Is concerned. II will be well for them
TO- take with them. from the very beginning OF
their active lives, that In passing through life
they will be passing one long examination. And
It will not be written oral. There will be
nc opportunities for erasures and corrections
will be diffcult For the examiners will be
many and OF many kinds, Some of them will
be harsher and more exacting than the most
Grabbed teacher who ever sat in Judgment or
heard recitation. Most will be merely critical
and observing. few will be loving and pa
tient, very kindly and charitable, not only willing
but eager to accept excuses make allowances
AZ
10 meet any showing Of penitence and amend.
ment with outpourings of joyful forgiveness
These few likely to become fewer. departing
with the years, and changing conditions. The
general examiners will be unprejudiced. They
win Just examine and Judge The examinations
VIII be conducted with eyes and ears and every
Day, almost every hour Nobody ia too obscure
On too prominent for observation. None are too
humble to win approval and good marks; none
high enough TO escape censure and criticism
Meme are too young to receive bad marks and none
old enough to get away from them. The daily
records to be made will be- written in human
memories and they will live long. long after the
carefully prepared examination papers for 1912
IL have been swept out and sent to the waste
paper heaps.
Neighbors. family. associates acquaintance,
the people along the streets those met in social
life, the congregation In church the audience at
any gathering will conduct the examinations
The girl who begins by being loud vain, over
dressed, under-dressed. dsagreeable in her man.
ners continually conspicuous, viii be under ex-
animation she goes by If she is idle. ex-
fgavagant, insincere bold. over-eager for notice
ana admiration. she VIII be making against her
self memoranda more disastrous than the ugliest
symbols the professor could put after her name
al. the school roll When the session is over
the rolls are put away and presently forgotten.
but the girl who writes down for herself among
those who know and see and hear her that she
Is foolish frivolous not to be trusted has
made marks she cannot rub out She reduces
her OWN grading. She is put back; and when
the time comes for her to be married-to which
every girl should look. for which every girl should
Gink and for which no girl should scheme
she will find herself with a second or third class
Instead Of first class
So with the boy. He will do his own grad.
.kg. He will rise or 60 back according to his
cenortment under the examination he will be
passing continually. The boy who loafs at street
!. corners and in poorooms will be noted while he
does not suspect The boy or young man tipping
aud brawlng about barrooms will lose grades
lase- is-nzrrsrs, rrucu1sKt assumption OF equal
~ with everybody, disregard OF the little de-
eencies and courtesies OF life. arrogance. pedan-
~. al are noted against him and set Aewn