The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1914-06-04
MCLAUGHLIN EXPLAINS
GRADUATION RULES

Hood River, Ore, June 2, 1914.
Editor Glacier: In view of certain
happenings connected with our recent
nigh school commencement, il is
thought best TO state, for the infOrma.
lion OF the public, the requirements for
graduation with such additional ex-
plantations as may seem necessary.
In the last five classes that have
graduated from our high school. 1.-THE
writer has no definite knowledge Of
conditions before that, there have
been from one to four members in each
class that have not completed the re-
quired work at the time Of graduation,
and Hood River is not the only high
school that has this condition. In
every instance the student had carried
d sufficient number of studies to secure
the necessary credits, but had failed
to pass or complete them: but in no in
stance had the student failed in more
than two subjects. This condition was
hrst met by the school boards allow
ing those deficient in their work to APP
pear on the graduating platform and
giving them blank diplomas, upon the
promise to complete the work after
wards. Three years ago an attempt
was made by the faculty and school
board to break this custom, but the
matter was finally compromised kby
permitting all of the class to appear
on the graduating platform and the d..
ploinas were not given publicly. And
Tor the next two years the custom was
followed, that of giving the blank d. |
ploma. Until this year, the state
course of studysfor Oregon high schools
has required 10 credits for graduation. |
four credits to be earned in each year
in high school.
In 1910 committee was appointed |
by the National Educational Associa- |
ton to investigate high school courses
IN the United States and report upon
the same. In 1911 this committee rec
commended that Is credits be required |
for graduation, on the basis that ma
JOrlty of students are are likely to fail
IN a subject during the four years
course, If the school is strict in It's re-
quirements; that it would permit
schools to be stricter in their require
ments and still be just and afford the
student the leeWay of failing IN one
subject and still graduate at the end
OF tuur years. The state course for
Oregon high schools was changed last
year to meet these recon nendatioHs,
and in conformity to 1t our faculty
made the ruling that no student would
be permitted to participate in the com
mencement exercises who had not com- !
pleted at least Is credits. This was
announced at the beginning of the
school year in an assembly of all of the
students, 1t was mentioned to the senior :
class several times during the year and d
formally announced again to them
lew days before commencement. Evil !,
IDENTIFY this was clearly understood as !
1t has not been questioned.
No credit is given for participation !.
IN activities that may be connected |
with the school but do not form part I
Di the regular school work, with the
exception that two performances in the !,
high school literary are required of u
each Junior and senior. During the
year no student has been urged to par d
tlcipate in any of these outside activi- -
Ties to the neglect of his studies nor q
mas any assurance been given at any s'
time to any student that credit would II
DC allowed for participation in such ac- v
.lVlties No blank diplomas were given ~ ~
his year; every student that went on ~ ~
he platform had at least is credits q .
by the various members of the Il
faculty.. Moreover, the faculty was
willing to certify to credits even up to
he time of the graduating exercises,
lad evidence Of the completion of the "
work been presented. While a public 10
appearance on the graduating platform Ii
5 a most laudable thing, the school nj
eels that it ought not to be empha- "
lied to the detriment of earning the " "
0mpleted credits. -
III, should be stated also for the infor. d(
nation of the people and in Justice to
ur school and all concerned, that the
curse in the study of physics outlines
) experiments to be performed in the 60
,bratory by the individual student 81 81