The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1924-05-22
SCHOOL ACTIVITIES OF
THE EVANSVILLE UNIT
As Reported by Miss Bersch, Su-
perviSing Teacher.

uiSu 4Ot 4Ady . " oO, INCLUSIVE, mas
arrived with the rain and consequent
bad roads. In spite of unfavorable
weather conditions, the work goes
forward and holds attention of all
schools, particularly of those who
have worked faithfully during the
year in preparation for this testing
season. The attitude of teachers and
pupils is remarkable in nearly every
school. Insofar as it was possible to
do so, the supervisor notified schools
of the date and approximate hour of
testing and, where this was done, the
response in attendance was almost
perfect, even hundred-day pupils,
who had withdrawn, and pupils who
had removed from the community re-
turning for the test.
The Yoder school asked for a spec
ial evening session for its older pupils
who are no longer enrolled. The re-
quest was granted and the attendance
from $3.50 to 700 p. m. was one hun
bred per cent excepting one i'll pupil.
Pupils missing the tests in Grants
vile awaited themselves of the special
opportunity at the Yoder school and
were tested with the latter.
All pupils of the Manadier school,
in the absence of the teacher, came
together for the test in a most COM
mendable spirit.
Four advanced pupils of the Bittin-
ger school came through the rain on
half an hours notice to be tested. Sim
liar spirit was characteristic of many
other schools and proves that our
young people are genuinely interest
ed in their mental achievements.
The First Statewide Testing Program
The first statewide testing ever I'M
dertaken by Maryland on a standard
basis was done in October of last year.
A special edition of the Stanford
Achievement Tests, testing reading
and arithmetic, was used. Every
child in school at that time was tested
and his record carefully recorded by
the teacher in charge and his super
visor The repetition of these tests on
the same subjects at this time will de-
termine the PROCESS being made,
whether exceptionally good, satisfac-
tory or poor. Never before have our
teachers been able early in a school
year to analyze their pupils with any
degree of eXactness and plan intelli-
gently for improvement. Never be-
fore have our pupils known in what
grades their fitness would place them
if judged by requirements of other
places or states, nor have they even
been very sure of their progress dur
ing the year. Neither have patrons
and school officials heretofore been
able to say with any degree Of au-
thority-"We have fine SCHOOL," or,
"Our school is very poor. Our child
rem have gained nothing this year"
Small wonder, then, that pupils, pat
rons and teachers are keenly interes-
ted in having the tests repeated The
teacher can determine the progress
made by her pupils and judge of the
worth of her methods. Each child
knows whether he has done a full
years work and is entitled to promo
ton. Every patron can say with con-
fidence "My child has done well this
year. She should have made a GER
tain number of points for promotion,
but she made more. or, "My child will
have to repeat his grade. He did not
show enough improvement to justify
promotion" Trustees, too, will do
well to investigate class records, feel
ing that at least they have been given
reliable index to true conditions in
their schools. 1t is yet too early to
say that satisfactory improvement
has been made in the county as a
whole, but certain schools are promis-
ing splendid results. Everybody is
invited to investigate the returns as
soon as they are available and here
after in speaking of our schools
achievements to speak with accuracy.
Next Series of Teachers Meetings
The next series of group teachers
meetings will be devoted largely to
checking over these standard tests
and studying results. The meetings
are scheduled as follows May %,
Cove; May %, Grantsville; May &c,
Bittinger; May %, Johnson and June
2, Bloomington. All interested per-
sons will be most cordially welcomed.
Visitation of State Officials
Miss l. Jewell Simpson, state su-
pervisor of elementary schools, and
Miss Bessie Stern, state statistician,
expect to visit Garrett county May
21-24 inclusive. They will meet with
the teachers of the Friendsville center
on May %; come to Grantsville in the
evening to meet with the teachers of
the Grantsville center on May %; go
to Oakland for joint meeting of the
PIT. A. and Civic Club, where they
will make addresses, and be in Oak
lard on Saturday. Grantsville feels