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328 THE SOCIETY OP AKTS EXAMINATIONS.
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Transcript
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
„_ N» Whiie The Opening's For Women's Ad...
¦ for weakened its own hj sake the furnishing is quite true of an ; but additional who will motive say that ? In a fact passion those is
who love knowledge for its own sake , require no stimulant ; , and it is not for _theseTbut for the far greater number who have some
but , as yet not an , adequate , sense of its intrinsic value and import- , . anee , that such examinations are intended . It should be borne in
mind also , that there are many branches of knowledge , as bookkeeping , agriculturechemistryetc . which have a direct reference
to useful arts , and the , acquirement , of , which , as a means of qualifying the student for profitable occupationis a legitimate and
, praiseworthy object . The certainty that care and pains will meet with recognition , that real and proved proficiency will receive a
certificate of undisputed authority , cannot fail in any of these cases to offer a powerful incitement . The balance of advantages m
favor of examinations has been confirmed by the highest authorities : at our colleges and universities their efficacy and necessity
has never been questioned ; the system has been adopted by the law and other societies to ensure proper qualifications in their
members ; and it is now recognised as a principle , that no government appointment , civil or military , shall be given "without such a
test . In every one of these instances , however , the practical benefit of examinations is greatly diminishedand in some cases wholl
destroyed , hy the restrictions placed upon , competition . In the civil y service , competition instead of being open , is still limited to
nominees under the old patronage system ; and in other cases , so little have the notions of free trade , which are sometimes supposed
to have completely triumphed in England , prevailed over habit , that it is rare indeed that any one can obtain a recognition of his
qualification simply because he is qualified . No knowledge of the law , for instance , would secure an admission as an attorney , unless
it had been acquired in a manner arbitrarily laid down by the examiners ; nor can a degree be obtained at most of our universities ,
without a previous residence and study , entailing considerable expense , at one of its recognised colleges . The design of the
Society of Arts was to furnish certificates , in nowise less authentic , N as an evidence of meritthough of course in a lower degreethan
these university diplomas , , but open to the cheap and easy compe , - tition of humbler classes . There are probably none desiring such
a distinction who cannot afford the trifling sum—generally only a few shillings a year—necessary to make them members of a local
institution ; any member of such an institution would be eligible , and in some cases even this preliminary is dispensed with . One of
the principles laid down by the society in the original sketch of its design was that , "in order that diplomas or certificates may
be accepted as really valuable testimonials of persevering study and superior attainmentthe examiners must be men of distinguished
, princi reputation ple h as been their strictl awards adhere must d to . not No be universit lightly given in E nland This
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328 The Society Op Akts Examinations.
328 THE SOCIETY OP AKTS _EXAMINATIONS .
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Citation
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English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), July 1, 1858, page 328, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01071858/page/40/
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