The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-11-29

Dear Aunt Nancy. beloved Cousins
IF the Juvenile Circle and all VINO
may chance to read this page:
The uuesti on for our discussion tnis
week is of no small interest. IL mas
often engaged the serious attention OF
school boards and conventions having
to deal with the education OF tue
youth, and as yet no unanimous YER
dict hns bees, reached.
H. will, therefore, be OF UNIVERSE
satisfaction to know that this pefpiex-
ing question will now be settien onGe
and for all by The virginian Juvenile
t,ircle-'and a. little child shall lead
than"
Should the Affirmative win, the
whole system Of education VIII pur-
sue the "even tenor OF Its way ana
Tho faithful student who 10 not AFRAID
Of the frequent test VIII remain
serene; but should the negative carry
on the iau,els and this important
vheel in the school machinery be
removed, then the thousands and mil
lions OF lazy, ''test-abhorring' pupils
would be on top and Incidence would
reign where industry should rule.
Resolved. THAT examinations are
a fair test of a students ability.
1t Is to be hoped that there will
be no splitting, or. drawing fine
Ql8tlnCJtCDS, III tffe 0CifihtAph VA WI pc
used in this question, but that all
vii adopt the customary meaning OF
the terms employed and base their ar
guments accordingly
By reference to one OF Funk & Wae-
nalI's Standard Dictionaries We fnd
that examination" 10 defined as "the
act or process OF testing by questions
or exercises as to qualifications. fitness
etc.--as a pupil"
Tar dna q
thing In nutshell; the very definition
Of the word examination" accord
ing to corps OF celebrated authors
and educators, IL test of puptfs
Tor students} fitness Cor ability.
Were there nothing more than the
mere definition of terms to guide the
reader in his decision. we would he
more than justified in claiming yer
diet In favor Of the Affirmative. But
aside from the Judgment OF those able
editors and their associates who
Framed this definition we have the
almost universal practice of testing
ones ability ~ such examinations as
are referred 10 in our resolution.
L. is we'll known fact that Some
10 the most ardent advocates Of the
negative side. In conventions above
referred to elll retrun 10 their schools
aud colleges and nut double duty
upoa their faithful pupils in extra
tyS rain o't0ex "ph coussst ency. thou
art !, Jewel" But the said professors
knew we'll that only by the esamina-
aen or '.,est" method as Il In appro-
fsffateiv called, can they determine
he extent of knowledge (Which Is
power OF ahility) OF the student and
.l'ils he able to fill In and overcome
asy deficiency in the members % their
ages.
thtnk can hear some opponen.
saving that the tendency OF modern
sin7@s is 10 do away with the exami-
nation altogether and to let q student
day record count: and doubtless. an
instance or two will be cited to prove
The assertion, but. dear reader. don't
BE alarmed IT such isolated examples.
for they are as few and far apart az
he proverbiaI set OF hens teeth: AN I
may not these very cases be only the
efada and fancies OF foolish fanatics
keeping abreast OF the trend OF hui
ira. eaiity---to hear and do some new
hing?
But to change the scene a bit: let
Us leave the pedsgogue and view the
subject rom another angie.
We all must admit that our govern
naert Is the greatest beneath the sun.
No system ia set on foot before a
thorough ANALYSIS IL made by the most
able specialists and experts In such a
matter. Take the civil service OF
our country. How are appointments
made under this excellent system
By politicians alone? Far from It.
Each applicant must take formal
examination ana be- rated according
10 the standing thus made, and no
man OF recognized sanity will doubt
he wisdom of such method ;.
Let us go into still another field.
Let us leave the area of work In
which the worker Is. first and fore
most. interested In his own success
snd ability to hold his Job and earn
\ living. and come 10 where human
life itself Is at stake
Our government. both national and
State, throws aeound its citizenship
every safe guard possible for the pro-
lection at life and health. making II a
criminal offense to practice medicine
Cor the healing art) without license.
And 10 whom and under what con-
dition is the license granted. Only
to him who has passed sat'sfac-
tory examination on the subjects
taught in the medical textbooks.
Pardon me dear readers, for using
so much of the time This being my
first appearance before you In such
role. l may have unwittingiy over
stepped the bounds of property, but
the subject has been SO fascinating
and so much OF Affirmative matter has
presented itself that l have found Il
dimcuit TO determine Just where to
stop.
One other suggestion. however, be-
fore leave the subject with you.