11
And everyone riot overwhelmed by such an experience emerg
es with greater strength of character better skill and keener
foresight; To sum up: a crisis is necessary (a) as an inte
grating and co-ordinating force; (b) as a stimulant to intenser
and more careful activity; and for (c) better adaptation.
Now, examinations are little crises in a student’s mental
life. They are foreseen and serve as a stimulant. They are
tempered to the student’s capacity and are therefore unharm-
ful, but meet a psychical need of his mental growth.
.One more requisite which is .necessary to a student’s
completed psychical nature is confidence—confidence firstly
in self and secondly in others. Confidence here means a feel
in g o f self-power over qthers. Knowledge of one’s, self-power
is obtained only when self. as the motive force is, compared
with either a task to be done or some other self-power.
And by -similar comparison is acquired the idea of the se.lf-
power of others. Out of the knowledge of self-power comes
confidence. So that we may say, meeting difficulties makes
us know ourselves, and overcoming difficulties gives us self-
confidence. And examinations which are the first noticeable
difficulties .that students face, give usually the proper basis
for self confidence.. In this way examinations can give the
basis for confidence in others whom we do not know. Of
course examinations are not infallible tests, but they will
continue to be employed until some better means supplant
them in furnishing bases for. that confidence.
, .I\ow the more subjective aspect of examinations need be
known in order to know what kind of examinations will
truly profit a; student and ■ also to : know what are fair con
ditions under which; he may be examined.
.-.A part of the student’s feelings have been given to show
that examinations meet a psychical need. Now it may be
mentioned that examinations are a struggle for the survival
of self,. The, examinations presuppose; certain qualifications
to be possessed by;'the; student: These qualifications are
those to be examined. The students suppose themselves, to
possess thesej qualifications,, so that in this way the qualifica-
U niversity
of
O regon M onthly