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192 UNIVERSITY XOCAIi 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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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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In The Years 1857 And 1858, Examinations...
examination , it was urged , would give a definite aim to tlie schoolmasters and a great stimulus to the scholars : and would afford an
evidence to the public how far the exertions of both had been successful . ... It was resolved to devote the summer to
ascertaining , as far as could be done , the feelings and wishes of schoolmasters in various parts of England . Several members of
the-Delegacy undertook this task , and promised to prepare a draft of regulations for the consideration of the whole body of the
Delegacy by the beginning of Michaelmas Term . This was chiefly done by private correspondence . Thus the requirements of a great
variety of schools were obtained ; and the outline of a suitable plan of examination was framed to meet them . But , besides this , the
masters of several large schools in different parts of England were able to accept an invitation to meet members of the Delegacy in
Oxford ; and at this meeting , under the presidency of the Master of Balliolthe leading points of the whole scheme were carefully
, discussed . At the beginning of Michaelmas Term the draft Regulations thus prepared Were examined in detail by the whole
Delegacy . But even then the correspondence with the schoolmasters did not cease ; and up to the last moment every proposition
proceeding from such quarters was attentively considered . . . . The result of these discussions was a general acquiescence in certain
leading principles , of which the Regulations as finally issued were the expression . . . .
'' In the first place it was unanimously agreed that a certain amount of elementary knowledge in the ordinary subjects of
education ought to be made an indispensable condition of success . The schoolmasters were as anxious as the Delegacy to insist on this
point . For though in some cases schoolmasters may be tempted to push their pupils on too fastand to make a show of special
, knowledge without any solid information underneath it , yet the fault is not alwaysperhaps not oftentheirs . They are urged by
parents and by scholars , ; and while , unsupported are unable to resist the pressure . The natural desire to see plain tokens of their
children ' s progress leads the parents into this mistake : and the restlessness of childhood always makes boys more eager to advance
quickly than to learn thoroughly . A knowledge therefore of the elements of English Grammar and Orthography , of Arithmetic , of
Geography , and of the outlines of English History , was required of all : and it was intended that absolute failure in any one of these
subjects should disqualify a candidate . But more than this , it wasintended to assign a positive value to them in determining the
merits of the successful candidates , as well as to make them the necessary passport to all success . This scheme appeared to have
whil the advantage it the of stud keeping of these the number English of subjects papers the within greater due wei limits ght
by encourag e gave ing all candidat y es without exception to prepare them
well . "
192 University Xocaii Examinations.
192 UNIVERSITY XOCAIi EXAMINATIONS .
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Citation
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English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), Nov. 1, 1862, page 192, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01111862/page/48/
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