Word: scaled
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Dates: during 1880-1889
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...radical defect of our present marking system is that it ignores the basis of Harvard's educational system, - individuality in work and self-development. Our mathematical scale, based on an average of per cents, is really no basis for class-rank, under the elective system; for such an estimate of individual proficiency assumes, first, the absolute equality of studies different in kind, and then, as a natural consequence, the infallibility of per cents as a common measure of knowledge of these different studies. Both these assumptions are so plainly absurd and inconsistent with our theory of education, and the unjust...
...application of this principle and its results. We may remark at once, that the present written examination system has been an indispensable accompaniment and tool of the percentage-marking now in vogue. The scale is too fine, in any case, but is less easily applied to other means of testing, such as recitations, than to an examination paper; some scale, of course, is necessary, but it must be coarse enough to be applied justly to every kind of test. With these mutual limits, then, let us define to some extent our test; then our marking system will be practically developed...
...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...
...statement is perfectly obvious, even to the novice in educational matters; namely, any small boy that one meets on the streets shows that he is undergoing a process of "mental and moral stunting," traceable, of course, to his application to English in the primary schools. Going further up the scale, can any one observe the enervated and demoralized state of the average foreigner, after a short struggle with our tongue, without feeling what a terrible thing this language is? No remarks need be made about "ye student and his theme," for they always speak loudly for themselves, yea even profanely...
...show that the burden of crew expense is already sufficiently heavy. Then the question of training demands attention. It certainly seems that. with the short time at hand for preparation, the proposed races would be of but little more account than a scratch race on a large scale. With these and other objections to be advanced against the adoption of the new plan it is unfortunate that the measure was not more thoroughly discussed before final action was taken...