12
UNIVERSITY COURIER.
petitive examination,' because his occupation familiarizes him with text-books. But neither Mr. Woodward, Mr. Russell, nor Mr. Poehler, though admirably qualified for the administration of almost any office of trust, could stand the remotest chance of appointment, if they had to secure it through 'competitive examination.' The most inefficient boy in Prof. Canfield's classes would secure 100, while Woodward, Russell, and Poehler would rank down in the 30s. This is the objection to the humbug of competitive examination." The Chief says: "Competitive examinations are one of the strong points of the civil service reformers, and one of its biggest frauds. These examinations are based upon certain questions obtained from book-learning, and the victors are usually boys with big heads and small legs, who have been forced forward like a hot-house plant, prematurely cramming their heads at the expense of their bodies. They answer the questions and gain the places; but when it comes to practical rough-and-tumble work they are no more fit for it than a cabbage-stalk is for a base-ball club. The brunt comes upon the self-reliant fellows, whose brains may not be crammed, but who have muscle and sound judgment."
Some of the Preps. are sorely disappointed because Van Lenop didn't appear on the rostrum in his Turkish costume.
A strong effort is being made to organize a class in vocal music. Our Chancellor is doing everything he can to urge the matter along.
Charley Scott, of '81, has purchased the Humboldt Register, and will again have the title "editor-in-chief."
Once again those framed rules have been stuck on the corridor walls. We suppose this is for the benefit of the new superintendent.
Miss Annie Murphy is president of '83, Miss Lida Romig of '84, and Miss Nellie Griswold of'85. Eighty-six has, alas, a boy.
Mr. Burney has returned to the Law Department, after an absence of a year.
H. F. Smith has been trying the patience of Job during the past week.
Prof. Miller has arranged for the opening of the library every morning at 8 o'clock, closing at 8:45 for chapel services. This is a beneficent move for the students. Many have been attending the University for years without obtaining the advantages of the library, because they have carried four studies. An increased attendance at chapel has also resulted from the new plan.
Prof. Watts acts as instructor in chemistry during Prof. Patrick's absence.
The manner in which Mr. Bowersock is managing the new opera house is highly pleasing to our theater-going students. Reserved seats in the best portion of the house are to be procured without additional charge, while the price charged for the first gallery has been exceedingly moderate. The house is procuring from our students the good patronage it deserves.
Last Friday the class of '85 met and elected the following corps of officers: President, Miss Nellie Griswold; Vice President, James L. Mead; Secretary, Lina Gano; Treasurer, T.F. Houston; Historian, W. Y. Morgan; Poet, J.D. McLaren. Unlike the other classes,'85 elects her officers for a full year.
Angelo C. Scott, of '77, has been nominated by the
Republicans of Allen county for Clerk of the Circuit Court. As the nomination is equivalent to election, Angelo has a good position secured for the next two years.
L. H. Leach has been on the sick list the week past.
Prof. Marvin is taking advantage of the fine weather by giving his class field practice.
Edith Webber was made happy last Friday by the return of her father from California. Mr. Webber has written some highly interesting letters to the city papers during his absence in the far West.
The Oread meeting last Friday was the largest attended of the year, several members being present who had hardly entered the hall during the six months past. But then it had been rumored that the election of contestants would take place.
Prof. Smith has been making observations on the comet.
We would never have thought it of Dean, had he not confessed. Early in the morning after the Ohio election he read the result in the daily paper. Going up Mount Oread he met a Prep. to whom he solemnly ventured the opinion that the Buckeye State would go Democratic even offering to bet on it. The Prep. put up a dollar, Dean covered it, and shortly after took the money from the stake-holder, to the astonishment of the Prep., who did not know the election had come off. We believe Dean is a member of the Y.M.C.A.
NORMAL.
THE PRIZE SYSTEM IN OUR SCHOOLS.
This much vexed question has several sides from which to view it. In different localities and in different schools does the system vary. It extends from the petty prize won by the victor in a spelling match to the scholarship in our eastern colleges. The range of the subject is broad and its nature complex, and while we do not feel like condemning the system in totum, yet its ordinary out-croppings is more productive of harm than good.
Take the system in our common schools where the prizes are offered from worthy motives, where the giver, even though mistaken, believes that he is helping on the cause of education. Does the prize offered stimulate effort in the right direction? The announcement is made before the school that certain rewards will be given to those who stand highest at the close of the term. Fully one-half of the school immediately say, "I can't get it and there is no use to try." The other half perhaps start out in the race, but in a few weeks two or three of the brightest, those who need no stimulus, have so far out-stripped the rest as to virtually decide the contest. This has a tendency to discourage those who are willing to work but who, because of a lack of natural ability or from lack of previous advantages, cannot keep up. And can it be beneficial to have their mental inferiority continually paraded before the school, before themselves, and before their friends? While those who do continue the contest, as the race becomes closer and closer, care less and less to acquire truth, but strive only to learn those particular forms and answers which they will be called upon to give. Instead of investigating a subject and finding out all its relations they confine themselves solely to their own particular text-book,
CARRY IT ALL