Grand Forks daily herald and the evening times., 1914-08-12
EXAMS Will Be
MADE VOLUNTARY
President Mfvey Issues a
Statement From State
Board of Education.

State examination should be made
voluntary among the high schools of
North Dakota, in the opinion of the
state board of education, according
to a sta f1ent sent out by F. l.. Nc
Ney, presg&tent Of the state university.
The examinations may be required.
however, of schools whose schol-
arship does not appear to be up to
standard.
President Mcvey's statement fol-
lows:
Some time ago a QUESTIONABLE was
sent out from the office of the high
school examiner making five inquir-
les. These questions were as follows:
1. Should the entire system Of state
examinations be abolished? Why?
2. Should the examination be con-
tinued. but be made voluntary for
schools?
3. Should any class of schools be
required to take them?
4. Should any time requirement in
class work be made for pupils who
take the examinations?
s. What criticism have you to Of
fef regarding the present examina-
tons in high school subjects?
You will be interested in the re-
suits of the QUESTIONABLE.
Returns were received from 1874
persons:
To the first question, as to the con-
tinuance of the examinations. there
were 1913 replies. of which 1O4 were
to the. effect that the examinations
should be continued.
To the second question there were
107 answers, IS stating that the ex-
aminations ought to be compulsory.
The third question. as to whether
any class of schools should be re-
quired to take the examinations, was
answered by 113. so of whom thought
that all schools should be required to
take them, 81 that the third class
schools should take them. and % that
they should not be required Of any.
The fourth question relates to the
time requirement for class work. Out
or 126 answering the query, Sc say
that there should be a time require
ment, 16 stated that they would like
to see a rule less rigid than at pres
ent, while the others thought there
should be no requirement at all.
To h fifth question. asking for
criticisms of the examination system,
the replies are varied and extended.
For instance, it is said that the exam
nations are written by specialists,
that they are too hard. that they are
too easy, hat they do % designate
the text books. Others state that the
examination papers are marked by
students at the university, that the
time Is too long, etc.
Perhaps on two of these points
comment should be made:
First, the questions are prepared
by superintendent and principals
throughout the state, and when not so
prepared, they are prepared by men,
bers Of the faculty of the Model High
school at the university.
Second, the papers are marked by
the best people that can be found,
most Of whom are superintendent
and principals Of high schools in the
state, and none of whom are students
at the university.
In dealing with this question of
the examinations. the state board OF
education concluded hat the exam
nations should be made voluntary.
but that they might be required by
the board of any school whose schol-
arship did not appeartto be up to the
standard, and in all schools that did
take the examinations the class work
requirement of e-fourths time
would still be made.
Yours very truly,
Frank L. McVey.
Examiner.
Refter a foerv nresent thar no;,tu