—-— 35—

The same system exists in the eraminations at the Universities as well as at the College of Preceptors. Mr. Lange gives us the table of marks for the latter establishment.“ For a first class examination of a pupil(there are also examinations for teachers), the maximum of all possible marks is for the obligatory subjects 1000 or 1500 marks respectively, as the candidate is allowed to choose two mathematical subjects and two foreign languagès. There are also still to be added four optional subjects, each 200 marks(only 150 for Mensuration and 150 for Bookkeeping). Latin counts 300 marks; Greek, French, German, Spanish, Italian 200 marks each. The minimum for German is 25 marks, which is sufficient to en- sure passing in this subject. It is to be regretted that Mr. Lange does not inform us, how the examiners manage this kind of marking and counting. He is evidently very partial to this method of marking reports, but from the meager details he supplies, one cannot judge whether he is right or wrong. He says:„Diese Art der Censurverteilung ist unbedingt zu- verlässiger und gerechter sowohl für den Schüler wie für den Lehrer als die in Deutschland übliche, wo sich mancher Lehrer mit„starken“ und„leichten“ Fehlern(I think that an obviously natural and fair distinction) seine Censur zurechtlegen und gegen den Schüler ver- teidigen muss, wenn ihre Gerechtigkeit über sein Fassungsvermögen geht.“(!)? He gives no further explanation, and thus still owes us the proof of his bold assertion, especially of the second part of' it.

Mr. Reichardt severely blames this form of examination, in connection with which he carps at the good reports, which most pupils do not deserve, as well as at the distribution of so many prizes, which are not justly earned. As to the first point he says:„Diese Art und Weise des Examinierens entspricht durchaus nicht unserem Geschmack. Wir halten es für zu umständlich, einfache Fragen aus der biblischen Geschichte und den Realien auf grosse Examinationsbogen schreiben zu lassen, und wissen das mündlich schneller fertig zu bringen. Uberdies liefern uns derartige schriftliche Notizen keinen sichern Massstab zur Beurteilung des geistigen Standpunkts der einzelnen Schüler. Selbst der seichteste Kopf kann sich hier hervorthun, wenn er nur tüchtig gepaukt hat.“¹³ Mr. Raydt gives us, in the appendix of his book, a selection of examination-papers. Many of them may seem to be difficult, but the facility of answering them depends chiefly upon their being crammed before by the teachers. But reading the French examination-papers for the sixth form(„Prima“), I was astonished at the low claims made. You may there read the following questions“:„l. P'ai vu les écussons.— Why vu, not vus? State rule. Translate:— I have seen them. 3. Leurs ar- moiries.— Why leurs? State rule. When is leur invariable?(!)— 7. Prenne, pourvoirai. — State infinitive and give 1st pers. sing. Present Indicative, Preterite, Future and Pre- sent Subjunctive. 10. Ne me dites pas.— Translate:— Tell me; tell me it, do no tell me it.“. As to the giving of good reports at English schools Mr. Reichardt says:„Obgleich die Resultate wenig befriedigende sind, so finden es die Directoren dennoch ganz in der Ord- nung, den Zöglingen lange von Lob sprudelnde Censuren mit nach Hause zu geben, und den Eltern und Vormündern Sand in die Augen zu streuen.“? At the end of the term, I was asked by my second Head Master for the marks and places of my Latin and French class. I gave them, but did not know what became of them afterwards. My former pupil informed me lately that a report was sent to his trustees every half year.

As for prizes Mr. Reichardt says:„Es würde uns wohl schwer werden, einen englischen Knaben zu finden, der nicht mindestens drei bis vier Preise, bestehend in Schulbüchern u. s. w., erhalten hätte. Je mehr Preise eine Schule jährlich aussetzt, auf eine um so grössere Schülerzahl kann der Director rechnen; den Zöglingen keine Aussicht auf Preise machen zu wollen, hiesse der Schule den Todesstoss versetzen.„Der Junge muss wissen, wofür er ar-

2 See Im Ausland, April 1889. Page 29. ² Page 30.

a Page 31.

¹ Page 247— 248.

² Page 32.