EXCEPTIONALLY ILLITERATE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 193, 16 August 1922, Page 8

EXCEPTIONALLY ILLITERATE.

CANDIDATES FOR NURSING. DOESX'T APPLY TO AUCKLAND. In a letter received by the Auckland Hospital Hoard last uiglit the UirectorOeneral of Health (Dr. T. H. A. Valintine) commented on the lack of general education shown by nurses at the State examination in .lime last. "One could not help being struck by the exceptionally illiterate and ungrammatical style of' mofct of the candidates," said Dr. VaUiitine, who added that some improvement was necessary if the very high standard of nursing in Xew Zealand was to be maintained- and suggested the necessity for applicants for training having a certilicate of sixth standard .piaHfieation. During the period of probation there should be a ''weeding out" of applicants who were not likely to reflect •credit on the training school, or to benefit by the instruction given, on account either of their illiteracy or personal I characteristics. The chairman (Mr. Wallace 1 claimed that the Auckland Hoard had always adhered to the sixth standard qualification, and if there was any laxity it was on the standard of the examination set by the Education Department. He moved that 11 reply be sent to that effect. It had been suggested that a secondary course should be insisted on, but lhat would debar the children of poor I from entering the profession. Dr. Magtiire said the sixth standard qua till rut ion whs guile sufficient, and he was well sali.jlied with the type of young women entering the institution. The Auckland Hospital had always a very large percentage of nurses who gained over ".> per cent, of marks at "the State examination. Tbe motion was carried. A presentation of gold medals was made to Misses Frances M. R;)llo and Sydney Lusk. who tied for first place in ih(! annual examination for third year nurses, and Xurse It. Times, who gained second place, was presented with a book. "The Hoard has always been particularly proud of the nurses at Auckland Hospital. ,, said the chairman to the , recipients.