Word: generaled
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Dates: during 1880-1889
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...merely unjust, but it is a farce, pretending to represent what it really ignores. Now the character of individual work at Harvard varies with every man, and is resolvable only into the nature of the several courses he pursues. We must, therefore, lay down as a general rule for every examination, that it shall represent, in its method and character, the nature of the subject on which it is held. Then the examination will be a true test, and its results will constitute the proper basis for the university's certificates. No matter what combination of courses a student pursues...
...indeed, in many cases, already used, as a matter of necessity, by many instructors, thus proving the soundness of our principle in the very face of the present marking system. For no teachers more than these appreciate the utter inadequacy and injustice of the percentage scale, with its general average. Here, all feel the necessity of a coarse scale, say, with 5 or 10 as the maximum mark...
...also very true, that certain parts of many studies can be best tested by written examinations. Let us then accept written examinations without hesitation in these cases; but let the general coarse scale be applied here too; for it is still necessary, and we cannot fairly distinguish, in marks, between different parts of the same subject, or between different subjects. But, - and this is a most important consideration, - as Harvard grows and takes on a more university character, written examinations tend steadily to disappear. For this means of testing is only suited to the technical, elementary, or detailed parts...
Therefore we need some general substitute, not only for written examinations, but for the special tests, already suggested, which may soon be diminished in many courses, owing to a corresponding change in the nature of these studies. Moreover, these substitutes must be in each case fitted to the particular character of the subject. This seems a hard problem, and perhaps would be, had it not, like many other urgent questions, begun to solve itself. Everyone has noticed the growing importance of thesis-writing in college; it is now acknowledged to be necessary to the pursuit of such studies as Philosophy...
...false, superficial honor. The objection will here be made, that scholarships cannot be assigned with accuracy. And to this I reply, first, that in considering a university's system of education, the assignments of scholarships is an entirely incidental matter, and should therefore be subordinated to the general policy. If the system proposed serves the purposes of the university, that is sufficient to maintain it, and to overthrow other objections. And, as a matter of fact, the few highest scholars will get their deserts anyway; and the doubt only rests with the remaining applicants for scholarships. Here, indeed, decision will...