Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 130, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 May 1913 — GRADUATES GRADED TO SHOW QUALITIES [ARTICLE]

GRADUATES GRADED TO SHOW QUALITIES

Scholarship and Other Items Enter Into Consideration In Certificate Given Each. A new custom was inaugurated in the Rehsselaer high school upon the graduation of the class of 1913. Attached to each diploma was a certificate stating the standing of the bearer in each of the following five items: Scholarship, Effort, General Efficiency, Physical Efficiency. Each item was reckoned on the basis of 100%. The two who ranked highest when the per cents were averaged were Florence Ryan and Alleen Allman. The two who ranked next were Minnie Kessinger and Pauline Sayler. These were followed closely by Nelle Parker. The two who ranked next after Miss Parker were also girls. The next group included one boy. The boys of the class outnumbered the girls, but the girls out-ranked them. The lowest rank in the class was assigned to a boy. The next lowest was assigned to a girl. It Is the plan to continue this custom. The ordinary diploma is not sufficiently significant. It makes no differentiation among the graduates when as a matter of fact there is quite a difference. It is hoped that in the future students will aspire to a good record on their certificate Instead of having before themselves simply the ambition to pass and get a diploma. Because In life it is such an important matter, it is the intention J;o lay much stress on the item of physical efficiency. It Is hoped that this fact will serve as a stimulus to the young people to take a deeper Interest In their physical well-being. Instruction in such matters will be offered by the school and a certain amount of supervision Instituted, such as dental examination, chest measuring, weighing, etc. This is a part of the general movement towards making education more efficient in the affairs of everyday life.