The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1915-07-29
EXAMINATIONS IN SECOND
NORMAL SCHOOL TEST


IS, in the 35 East Tennessee coun-
ties, and including the papers of ap-
plicanes attending the state normal
school and the Summer School of
the South, have been graded by the
faculty of the East Tennessee state
norma school assisted by grading
committee of about fifty competent
grader. This committee included
among others: Supt. E. S. Depew,
of Washington county; Supt. A. O.
Delozier, of Sewer county; Supt Joe
Jennings, of Campbell county; Supt.
E. B. Booth, of Roane county; Supt.
John 4. Henderson, of Loudon coun-
ty; Supt. John NJ Gerren. of Bledsoe
county, and ex-Supt. Lena McClister,
of Hamblen county.
The papers of 1928 applicants for
elementary certificates and lS9 appli'
cants for high school certificates, OF
total of .2.412 applicants, were ex'
amined and graded. This was l22
more applicants than took the exam
ination on May 31-June 1. OF the
1928 applicants for elementary Ii
cense $50 took only the reading cir
Gle examination, or part of the reg
ular examination, leaving 1908 with
complete sets of papers and who re-
ceive a general average grade. OF
this number 296, or slightly more
than lilo per cent, made grades en-
titling them to first-grade element
ary license, 52.S per cent wont sec
ond grade elementary license, and
35.9 per cent failed to make the
grade prescribed. OF the 1S9 who
took the high school examination, six
submitted papers on only a part OF
the subjects; 81 earned first grade
high school license; IA second
grade high school license and AZ
failed.
At the examination held May 81
and June !, 31.4 per cent made ar
average grade of rs or above. In
speaking of the results of the exam
nation President Gilbreath, of the
normal school, who was chairman Of
the grading committee, said:
"The results of the recent exami
nation have been very gratifying
The examination questions used in
the second examination, in point oi
difficulty, were examined the same as
those used as the first examination
but the papers submitted by appli
cants averaged very much higher
The grading was done by a very com
petent committee including in its
membership members of the faculty
of the normal school, several county
superintendents and about fifty Other
competent school principals anC
teachers.
"The grading of the committee was
as close and strict in every respect
as on the former examination, anC
the fact that GA per cent passed as
compared with 32 per cent at tn,
first examination can be taken al
showing a better knowledge of tht
/
subjects and higher average qualit.
of applicants than was true for the
first examination. AS accounting fol-
larger number passing the follow
ing facts should be considered:
81. AT the first examination many
young and inexperienced persons who
did not intend to teach tried for GER
| ttificates. These were excluded al
the second examination by the re
quirement of Superintendent Sher
rill that all who entered the exami'
nation should sign pledge of inten
tion to teach this year.
"2. Many experienced teachers
waited for the second examination ir
order that they might have the ben
eft of attendance at county insti
tutes, the Summer School of the
South, and the summer term at the
state normal school.
8. The failure of so many at the
first examination resulted in putting
to work those who were required tc
take the second examination. Thous
ands of teachers have spent the past
month or six weeks in diligent study
at county institutes, the Summer
School of the South, the State nor.
nal school. the summer term at the
University of Chattanooga and else
where. That this diligent study re
suited in higher grades is shown in
the results of the second examina-
ton.
1.-THE expense of grading the pa
pers has been very reasonable. Al
the first examination the cost aver
aged So cents for each applicant.
Each applicant submitted an aver
age of about ten papers, those in the
elementary course being examined
on eleven subjects and those in the
high school examination on from five
to ten. depending on the department
in which DISCRIMINATION was held.