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About The Coos Bay times. (Marshfield, Or.) 1906-1957 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 22, 1908)
y?v m THE DAILY COOS BAY TIMES, MARSHFIELD. OREGON, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1908. PUBLIC S -A Statement from Parents of the Pupils in the Seventh Grade and One from Prof Golden The School Board's Decision GHOOL PROMGTONS 1 tEdltor Times: An unfortunato misunderstanding having; boon created in tho minda of some of the parents as to the recent promotions In the school, I deem it -advisable to make the following ex planation in the columns of your paper: Tho promotions that were recently made are not the regular annual pro motions, based on final examinations. They are simply extra promotions, made to equalize the various grades, and to permit the few In the several grades who have manifestly worked ahead of their grades, to be promoted to the next. These promotions are not governed by the rule under which the final examinations are conducted. That rule is as follows: RULE 3, EXAMINATIONS. Be sides monthly written tests there shall be final examinations at tho close of the school year to determine tho promotion of pupils whose work has left doubt as to their fitness for "honorary promotion." These finals shall be given on a schedule fur nished by the principal and shall commence the second Wednesday be fore the close of the school year. Note particularly, this rule specific ally refers to the examinations "at the close of the school- year." The rule under which these extra ordinary promotions were made is as follows: RULE 5, EXTRA PROMOTIONS Promotions may be made at other times by the principal In cases of marked advance beyond the grade." It Is naturally impossible to keep a class of forty or fifty boys and girls exactly together for a period of nine months, and it would be manifestly unjust to tho exceptionally bright and industrious pupils who have worked ahead of their clats to hold them back for the entire year. The pur pose of this Inst rule Is to meet these cases. It was under this rule that the recent promotions were made. The same practice has been in vogue for some time, and has worked satisfac torily. Tho conditions wero ex plained to all tho teachers beforhand, and were exnetly complied with in all but one room, and only in this room lias complaint arisen. In this room there were thirty-three to thirty-six pupils rated by th teacher for promo- tlon. Most of these pupils had been out of tho former grado only about four mouths, and anyono can easily see what would be tho demoralizing effect of promoting this largo num ber of pupils to a higher grade, at u time when this higher grado had completed over a half of tho year's work. If tlioro wero no other rea sons than the injury resulting to the promoted pupils themselves, as a re sult of attempting to talto up tho ad vanced year's work already half com pleted, and also the demoralization of those already In the higher grado caused by tho accession of almost enough now pupils to start a now grade, tho physical impossibility of crowding tho number of pupils that -would thus have boon combined Into one under tho care of a single teach er, Is justifiable reason for using tho discretion conferred on tho prin cipal by tho rules, in making these extra-ordinary promotions. Tho principal is anxious, fully as much so as nro parents, to build up tho higher grade. Particularly is this tho case now, when extra efforts aro being mndo to get a good full, four year high school organized. Ho however, realizes, ns should every one, that a successful school can re sult only from thoroughness on tho part of its pupils. If Individual injustice has beon done any of tho pupils as a result of the recent promotions this will bo corrected as soon as it has been dis covered. Uesp. F. A. GOLDEN, Prin. Curd From' School lloaul. To tho Editor: Alter carefully considering all tho facts in tho caso as sot forth by Prof. Golden and tho teacher of tho Sevoiith Grado, tho directors decided that action taken in limiting tho number of promotions to tho Eighth Grade was in tho intorests of both the pupils and tho school; and whllo it would appear that an injustice had ueon done soino of tho pupils, wo be llovo that tho rovilt will show that such is not tho case. Wo earnestly urge all friends of our school to rofrain from hasty criticism of tho action of the princi pal in this matter, and to rest assured Editor Times: The accompanying article is not intended to open a long drawn out controversy, nor written for the purpose of "getting into print." What It covers appears to Interested parties as rightly pub lic property, and ns such they be lieve Its dlsseminlnutiou will do no harm. The parents of twenty children at tending tho seventh gride of tho Marshneld public school Believe they have a grievance against the super intendent, Prof. Golden,, and like wise against the board ot education for its decision in the matter of hold-up promotions in that grade. Recently, examinations were held in the various grades of the grammar school. Prof. Goldvn, according to tho evidence of teacher and pupils in the seventh grade, came into the room and announced tho require ments each pupil would have to meet in order to pass into the eighth grade. These were an average of SO per cent and no minimum below 70 per cent. Thirty-six pupils met these requirements. When tho ex aminations were over and tho re sults became known, tho superin tendent informed the pupils that none would bo promoted who had not attained an average of 90 per cent or more. i Questions were immediately put to tho superintendent and the ex cuse was given that there was not room for so many students in the next room. But such argument was assailable, for rooms and grades could be changed to accommodate a larger eighth grade. Consequently, a mo'ro tangiblo reason was demand ed. Hints were then thrown out of "cribbing" having been practiced during the examinations. Those who believed they had just cause of complaint said as much to the board of education and a meet ing was set for Thursday afternoon and they wero Invited to bo present and state their grievances. They went to that meeting and were re quested to wait with patience in an outer room, whllo tho meeting pro gressed in an inner room. These parents remained for an hour and a half and wero then informed that tho affair was settled; that tho pu pils in the seventh grado whoso av erages wero below 90 per cent and above SO per cent would not bo pro moted. They were not given a hear ing. This decision was reached after Prof. Golden declared that tho ex amination papers wero marked too high. Plainly, and beyond any reason able doubt, there has been discrim ination against tho seventh grade. Tho list of promotions published In Thursday evening's Times shows SO per cent to have been sufficient in every other grade. There is no de fensible reason for such discrimin ation, unless, as Prof. Golden claims, tho papers havo been marked too high, and then only where, on re vision, they may bo found to have fallen below requirements. There is no dispute as to the questions of the soventh grado examinations being appllcnblo to tho occasion, for they wero approved by tho superintend ent. Thoso who passed tho require ments laid down by tho superintend ent at tho outset aro as much enti tled to promotion as any others in the school averaging abovo SO per cent, providing their papers will show an average of 80 per cent and no minimum below 70 per cent. Those pupils who havo been hold up boliovo that their examination papers should bo submitted to an Impartial comniltteo of threo and the truth learned as to whether tho markings aro too high, and It is their right that such action bo taken. It Is an easy matter to say, as If tho Incident wero closed: "Tho papers wero marked too high," but It doesn't convlnco those most vitally Interest ed that such is a fact. Let uo seo how much a teacher would bo obliged to boost tho mark lugs of Buino pupils who wero plucked. Several had r.verages be tween 89 per cent and UO per cent, that iho directors and principal have only tho bo6t intorests of tho school ut hwt i.iid will uso their utmost endeavors to see that no injustice be dono anyone. Respectfully, J, T. McCormac, W. B. Curtis, Directors School District No. 9. j SB Some Snaps m 2 lots on Broadway and a corner $1150.00 I 1 5 lots on Burnett Street 1 25x 1 40 $2 1 00.00 1 $ 5 acres on deep water near C. A. Smith Mill C 10 acres tracts $70 to 90 per acres, bottom and 1 $ bench land in these tracts. 2 I For Particulars See CRYSTAL THEATRE a clear steal, we must believe, of at 1 least nine credits on each study, 'others were as low as 83 per cent, land It was necessary to give even these four credits to each study. Tho result of this agitation is that the seventh grade is without a teach er, whether justly or unjustly, the public will learn. It remains a fact, however, that of late' there has been earnest and studious endeavor on the part of seventh grade pupils. They wero interested in their studies; They were making more than satis factory progress and were anxious to pass the examinations and be duly promoted. There aro those In the seventh grade who have spent a year in it, and likely, under existing cir cumstances, see themselves growing gray-haired in tho same grade. Tho matter of "crl'uing" was passed over with a wor i, but it de serves more. Those of us who havo, passed through the public schools, ' tho academies or tho collces know i there was never an examination held where it was not practiced to some ' extent. Somebody gets information i from somebody else. Tho teachers , may be horrified. If so, then they do not see nil which goes on about . them during examinations. No, this ' is not a defense of tho practice; i only a cold truth. It cannot bo sue- I cessfully .denied. It has always been with us and always will be. There I are many pupils with a strict sense ! of honor who scorn assistance and ' would prefer failure in examinations. And there aro those who would- not impart tho Information sought. And then, there aro others. It doesn't follow that teachers seo these things and condono them. They are ac complished too expeditiously for the busy eyo of tho teacher to detect. And it is only just to say that every precaution Is taken to prevent them. But they happen, notwithstanding. Now tho question arises: Shall twenty-three pupils suffer for the misdeeds of a few? Tho main con tention, and tho point of justice In this matter Is this: tho pupils who havo averages above SO per cent have a right to know if tho papers aro marked too high; if thoy are found to support tho averages of SO per cent and over, then there is uo example or criterion In the pres ent series of examinations to justify stifling their ambitions to move on. Some, perhaps, will say this ar ticle would bo received with more consideration If it came from a dis interested source. Perhaps so. But a threo years' experience in Oregon has taught us that disinterested peo plo find great satisfaction in pas sivenoss, and thoso who havo com plaints must fight their own battles and bo content with a smile for their pains. But thero Is coming a tlmo In Ore gon when old thlugs will bo sub merged, and It Is not far distant. Rospectfully submitted, O. W. BRIGGS. Having tried several brands of flour I find lUULLIANT far SUPER IOR to all others. Every sack sold with a guarantee. Q. E, COOK, .W. ..!,-. Corner Grocery. l New Moving Pictures, New Illustrated Song Performance Daily (Except Sunday) 7:30 and 8:45 p. in. Saturday Mat inee 3:30 p. m. Admission 10 cents, POST CARD'S This is an age of specialization. I Everyone is trying to excel in some particular line. Our line j is Souvenir Post Cards. It is the most complete line on Coos Bay. 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