Scholarship Examiners' Report.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 214, 11 September 1886, Page 8

Scholarship Examiners' Report.

The following report was read at the meeting of the Board of Education yesterday afternoon. With regard to the various papers, the examiners appendod the following remarks: —

Senior Scholarships.

Grammar : This paper did not show such an accurate knowledge of the eubject as the examiners could wish. Not infrequently, words were used with an insufficient apprehonsion of their bearing or meaning. English Literature : Here, in many cases, there had been evidently considerable care and attention bestowed in acquiring a mastery of the subject. Com position : This was generally good. Latin : Tha papers on this subject were, on the whole, well done, the deficiency being in the questions on composition. History : This was not well done, as in many cases tho connection between cause and effect was utterly ignon d by the candidates. Arithmetic : This was only fairly done. In no paper was there excellence, and some were very poorly done. Algebra :In most ca?os the questions were fairly well worked ; the definitions showed a little want of accuracy. The equatorial problems were generally either wrong or unattetnpted. Euclid : This paper was well done, although some of the candidates had evidently relied on the first two books to pull them through. Greek : One candidate attempted this subject, and his marks are a sufficient indication of the amount of success which he achieved. French: This was not at all well done, only one candidate showing anything like merit on the papers. Chemistry and Physics : In these subjects the knowledge was often incorrect, and much too vorbal. It shows too often memory work rather than clear understanding of tho thing, and wns sometimes con fiisod, as, for example, in some cases the barometer and thermometer were confused. The force pumg was throughout taken as the common pump.

Junior Scholarships.

English Grammer: This paper showed a fair amount of merit, although some of the work was poorly dono. Composition was well dono, showing an intelligent appreciation of tho arrangement of subject matter Literature : The selected pieces had been worked up with considerable care, and for the most part the portions required to be given in the paper were quoted with accuracy. In several cases evident care had been bestowed on the lines of Wordsworth, Koats and Shelley, and tho explanations of detached lines and expressions were generally fairly good. Arithmetic: Some papers in thia subject showed groat excellence by reason of the mothod and style in which the problems wore worked out; but on the other hand tho general result was poor, owing to some utter failures, but more especially to the youth of the candidates. Geography : The treatment of this subject does not call for much comment. The map of tho North Island of !New Zealand was generally fairly well dono. History :It was pleasing to see in this paper that evidently care had been bestowed on other than tho mere drum and trumpet portion of history. Primary Laws of Health : The papers here call for no special remarks. A few of the definitions were somewhat humorous. Agricultural Chemistry : Many of the answers were in tho words of the text-book, owing probably to the small amount of work prescribed. Tho reading and writing of the candidates was, with few exceptions, good.

We venture to draw the attention of the Board to the short space of time allowed the examiners for the completion of their work. In the senior scholarships, where the number of candidates is comparatively small, this is not of the same importanc3 ; but in the case of the junior, where there are many papers to be examined and a comparatively uniform etandard obtaining throughout the papers, it is much to be desired that the examineis should have ample time. Our examination of the papers has shown us that the programme of subjects for the junior scholarships is too difficult for children below the age of thirteen, but that it might well be met by raising the limit of age to fourteen years, when the candidates would be the best scholars of the schools, whereas such is not the case at present.-(Signed) H. Macaulay Posnett, LL D., E. El. Gulliver, M.A., Alexander McAkthur, M.A., Lli.B , Examiners.