El Nuevo mexicano., 1917-02-15

Wagner has issued the following i'm
portant circular letter to teachers: !
Eighth Grade Promotion Examinations
This year we wish to make the
most possible out Of our Eighth Grade
Commencement exercises throughout
the state. Last year the state made
a fine record with about eight hun
bred graduates from the Grammar
school department. This year we want
to do even better. We would like to
have at least a thousand graduates
from the common school branches in
to the high schools Of this state. To
superintendent would circularize the
teachers.of the county urging them to
sec to 1t that all the boys and the
girls who will complete the so-called
common school branches this year
take the examinations to be held this
spring, have the papers sent to the
department here at Santa Fe where
they will be graded free of charge.
The records will be properly kept and
returns promptly made to the super
intendent and to the teachers in
charge Of these eighth graders and
a handsome diploma will be sent to
each graduate by this department.
Do anything that your best Judgment
indicates. will stir up a wholesome
school spirit in these eighth grade
commencement exercises and make
the occasion an opportunity for gath
ering together the people of the COM
munity for the graduation exercises.
We have arranged to hold the exam
nations so as to accommodate the
rural, village and the city schools of
the state and will give these exami-
nations on March 1928, April 1920,
and May 1918. We think ourselves
that it is a fairer test il the gradua-
ton grades are determined by aver
aging the examination grades and the
daily standing of these boys and
girls. However; it will be necessary
for the teachers to furnish to the
superintendent these average daily
standings and the superintendent to
forward these grades to the depart
ment at Santa Fe along with the ex-
animation papers. This department
will then grade the papers and the
final standing will be determined by
averaging the daily grades and the
examination grades. In the event
that the daily Standings are not fur
nished, however, the grades on the
examination paper will determine
whether or not they receive the state
diploma from the department Of edu-
cation.
Requests have come in from over
the state for information as to what
selections will be used as the basis
for the examination in reading. We
have decided to base the questions in
the reading for eighth grade examina-
tions on the following selections taken
from the adopted text in this sub
ject: Searson &c Martins Studies in
Reading, Eighth Grade: Evangeline,
page 265; o Captain! My Captain!
page 178; Life and Character OF Wash.
ington, page 1871; Annabel Lee, page
Is; The Return of Regulus, page s..
Some of the common school branch
es are finished in the seventh grade
and under the ruling Of this depart
ment in former years. the seventh
grade pupils were permitted to take
examination in these two subjects and
the grades have been held in this de-
partment until the other subjects were
completed by the examination. The
same opportunity will be given the
seventh graders this year and IL they
care TO pass the examination on the
common school branches which the
course Of study prescribes to be COM
pleted in the seventh year they may
take the examination in these branch
es. Send the papers to this depart
ment along with the eighth grade pa
pers and the grades will be held until
next year for them.
This department will grade one set
Of examination papers free for each
eighth grade applicant in the state,
but II more than one examination is
taken, the regular charge of fifty
cents will be made for the subsequent
examinations. The same standard
will be maintained this year as In for.
mer. years. Printed instructions will
be furnished with the examination
questions and examinations will be
conducted practically under the same
TuieS anu feBuldtionS dh tnose pre-
scribed for teachers examinations.
This office should be advised at
least two weeks before the examina.
ton Of the number of questions that
you will need to supply your schools.
Kindly send notice TO the teachers in
your employ at once so that they will
be fully advised Of this important sub
ject and 80 that they will take an in
terest in working up the largest grad
uation class from the common schools
Of New Mexico that WI have ever had.
Teachers examinations
The teachers examinations will be
held this year SO as to accommodate
Just as fully az possible the teachers
Of New Mexico. We have decided to
hold the first examination the first