This examination is the keystone of the whole system. Without it the
course of study is a failure. Its importance must be emphasized before
the whole school. How to emphasize it is a problem that each school must
solve. A description of the plan adopted in the school where the system
originated may throw some light on that question. Some Sunday in June is
selected as the day for the examination, and of that day the school is
forewarned. Examination questions, twenty in number, and covering the
work of the year, are furnished each scholar. These questions are so
printed as to leave blank spaces under each question for the answer to
be written by the scholar. The whole session of the school is given up
to the examination. The papers are gathered and careful work is put
thereon in marking the same. Each answer is marked on a scale of 5, and,
if the answers are correct, the paper is marked 100. The marks thus make
a system of percentage easily understood by all. The minimum percentage
to pass the examination is 75. Those who get 75 and upward are known as
honor students.
The Sunday following the examination a full report of the work of the
school is read. An honor roll of students who pass the examination is
placed upon the blackboard or printed in fine form and placed upon the
walls of the room. These honor names are arranged alphabetically and
without the percentage of standing, so that it is an equal honor to all
students.
The Commencement Day of the graduates of the Normal Class occurs shortly
after the examination. These exercises are given on some suitable
evening of the week, and are made the event of the school year. After
the exercises comes the banquet. For this occasion the Sunday school
room is made by the graduates a veritable bower of floral beauty. The
Normal graduates and the honor students are received as the honored
guests at these festivities.
Such a description may make plain how to emphasize the examination. At
least two months before the examination the superintendent should make
short, pointed appeals to the scholars and try to fill them with the
spirit of study. These examination honors, open to every one, should be
made plain to all. Adults work with an object in view. It is the same
with the children.
The written examination, its report read to the school, the roll of
honor, the promotions, the Commencement and its banquet, are appeals
not made in vain to the modern child. What must be the legitimate result
of such an appeal to the children? They work for the examination as they
do for the examination in the public schools. These last weeks are busy
ones. They meet evenings at the homes of the teachers, and on Sunday
they gather at the church in special session for class study.
Under such inspiration whole classes have handed in perfect papers. And
yet some may and will fail. For them a second examination is given.
Then on the day of promotion the whole school moves forward and occupies
the rank won. A course of study can thus revolutionize a school and
create an atmosphere of genuine study.