Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1923-02-13
Low MARKING
ISFORGOTTEN
School Board Finds Error
of Judgment" Prompted
Revolt
STRADLEY SEES
SERIOUS MATTER


that the recent revolt OF pupils at
the High School because OF low
markings was caused by ian error
OF judgment" on the part OF George
w. Merkle, head OF the Commercial
Department, the Board OF Educa-
ton yesterday afternoon closed the
incident Shermer II. Stradley vot-
ed against the action however hold
ing that Mr.. Merkie should be asked
70 resign as head OF the department
Mr.. Stradley said Il was evident 10
him that someone had been In error
in the matter and II was up TO the
school board 70 see who was the
guilty party. He declared It was not
enough to promote the students in
volved: that II they justified the
low marks Mr.. Merkie should be
upheld. Mr.. Stradiey added that
the situation would have been a seri-
Gus one 10 the students 81 they had
been held back six months in their
studies
Mr.. Souder suggested that II might
be true that everyone was wrong
except Mr.. Merkie." adding that
nothing had been brought out to
prove one side or the other. 10 which
Mr.. stradiey retorted, that "Mr.
Merkle says So
Again Mr.. Stradley said that
''there was a guilty party and 1t was
up TO the board 10 find out who It
rs The interests of the students,
the High School and the public de-
mand this, he said.
In connection with the lack of dis
cipllne al the High School, on which
Mr.. Ward also made a brief report
10 the effect that there have been
Some Irregularities" which the Of
flcers and teachers were in a fair
way 10 overcome. Mr.. Stradley drew
attention TO the disappearance OF
hammers on the FIRE alarm boxes.
used for breaking the glass windows.
He said that while this was in
some respects a trifie. in the event
OF a fire 1t misht become serious.
He said that he felt the students
should be cautioned against the de- |
struction Of these boxes
That portion of DR.. Wards report |
dealing with the students revolt" /
read as follows;
According % your direction for /
an investigation Of the cause of an /
incident which occurred in the high /
school recently. in which a group Of 1
students in the commercial depart |
ment made a demonstration of their |
dissatisfaction at receiving low rat
ings at the end of the first term of |
school resulting from certain tests
prepared by Mr.. George Merkle. head |
of the Commercial Department and
given under his direction, have
made careful inquiry and find the
facts to be as follows:
There are seven teachers in the
commercial department under Mr..
Merkie's direction.
I'm one group OF 1876 students in
commercial arithmetic 60 would have
been exempt from final examination !
according to the class markings OF
the teacher. Instead Of accepting
the teachers markings for the entire
term as Is customary, Mr. Merkle
directed that special test prepared by |,
himself be given. covering the work
of the fourth marking period, and
that the results OF these tests be sub
stituted for the regular markings Of
that period in obtaining the averages
for the term. Mr.. Merkle graded the
papers after they had been graded
by the teacher, and the different
basis on which he reckoned percent
ages resulted in such a reduction
from the marks given by the teacher .
that none OF the pupils were exempt.
II was when this information reach
ed the pupils that they besleged MI
Merkle in the hall and in his Office
in an effort to secure an explanation
of the low grades.
''In view OF the difference OF opin-
ION between Mr.. Merkle and the
teacher as TO the basis for marking
tests, the customary method OF pro-
motion was followed.
After a careful study OF the facts 1
as summarized, 1 have reached the
conclusion that in postponing until |
the end of the term the introduce |
ton OF such an irregular procedure /
Mr. Merkle. in an honest effort 10 |
insure high standard OF attainment /
in class-worh, committed an error in |
judgment in his method OF handling !
the closing OF the terms work. This /
error was in a measure compensated /
when the principal allowed the bene-
fit Of the doubt TO operate toward |
the promotion OF the pupils.
"Regrettable as the incident is. any
attempt to justify the error and its
resulting disorder. would be unfruit-
full ! believe, therefore. that the
best interests Of the high school
will be served in accepting the ad
5ustment which has already been
made of this case. Careful provi-
sion will be made for a safeguard
against a recurrence OF similar
situations"
During the discussion on the re-
port George Rommel said he was OPP
posed TO the pupils taking the law
into their own hands. Mr.. Stradley ,
added that he also was opposed TO
mob rule" but he wanted to be just
and fair TO the students. Mr.. Mer-
kle he added, vii not be 4 benefit
TO the school system now
The report was then accepted.
The report OF DR. Ward also stat
ed Miss Irene HOFFMAN had been ap-
pointed TO fill a vacancy existing at
No. school. She is to begin Feb
ruary 20 at a salary Of $40 per
month.
The platoon organization at No.
"a school which went into effect Feb
ruary 6, was meeting with excellent
promises of success. The pupils are
now all on full time and are enthu-
siastic IN their attitude toward the
new plan. The principal and teach
ers are pleased with the beginning