Year: 1861

For a few years past the practice has
been gaining ground of closing the term OF
school with public evening exhibition
1t is urged in favor of this custom, that it
gives patrons a0d the community a good
opportunity to Judge Of the progress made
by the pupils, and that it familiarizes pu-
pills with appearing before an audience,
thus enabling them to OVERCOME their awk-
wardness and timidity, and giving them
self control and confidence


These are certainly benefits worthy of
consideration, and if public exhibitions con
tribute to their acquisition as fully as is
claimed and no counterbaIancing injuries
result from them, surely they should be
countenanced and encouraged But it
may fairly be doubted whether these bene-
fits are secured, and whether injuries do
not result from them. No exhibition, con-
sisting of declamations, dialogues and show
generally, gives any just evidence of the
proficiency Of scholars in the branches
taught in the school. \ boy may perform
his part in a dialogue creditably and yet
not have learned anything during the whole
term Of school, not even to be obcdient to
his teacher Another boy may be unable
to take part with credit in any public per-
formance, and still may have made rapid
progress N all his studies continually
The best way to show what scholars have
learned, is to examine them in branches
they have learned and it certainly seems
most fitting mode of bringing a school to
its close, to have public examination, not
for the purpose of hoolwinking patrons by
special preparation, not for the sake of gain
ing brilliant reputation for teacher, but
to enable the patrons Of a school to see just
what has been accomplished If scholars
know that such an examination is to be held,
they will naturally be desirous to make due
preparation for it; under the guidance of
judicious teacher, they will strive to mas
ter every principle studied, and qualify
themselves for a creditable exhibition of
their attainments. This course would much
promote the excellent practice of thorough
reviewing, and stimulate teachers to do their
duty faithfully, and in such way as to Sc
cure the appreciation of intelligent observ-
ers. 1t would deepen the teachers sense
Of his responsibility, to some extent, to his
patrons.


An exhibition of the proficiency of pu-
pills in composition and defamation, is per-
fectly proper and wholly commendable,
and may very fitly follow the examination,
adding to it interest and profit.


This public examination would be far
moro satisfactory to a very intelligent per-
son than a mere exhibition. And it would
be hardly less promotiye of selfcontrol and
case Of manner on the part of pupils 1t
would be wholly in the direction deemed
most excellent, toward more complete
mastery Of the branches of useful learning,
and readiness Of expression.


Two grave objections may be urged
against school exhibitions as they are u.s.
ually conducted First, to make an exhi-
bition satisfactory requires no little time
and attention which scholars might devote
to more useful purposes. As general
fact, when pupils become sufficiently inter
ested in an exhibition to ensure its success,
their minds must be more or less withdrawn
from regular studies, and thus the princi-
pal object of the school is partially if not
wholly defeated. Second an exhibition
is supposed to be for the entertainment of
the audience; it is thought this entertain