EXAM. SYLLABUS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 136, 11 June 1934, Page 9

EXAM. SYLLABUS.

UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE. TEACHERS' DISCUSSION. Reports dealing with the new English prescription for the university entrance examination and science instruction and setting out decisions reached at the New Zealand Secondary Schools' Association conference held recently in Wellington were presented at tlie annual meeting of the Auckland Secondary ' Schools' Assistant Masters' Association on Saturday evening. Mr. J. F. Russell, of tho Auckland Grammar School staff, who was elected president of the conference, said that three remits presented by his school were rejected. The remits were: (a) Thai an essay of adequate length be an essential part of tho examination; (b) the proposed syllabus in English is too vague, and the reference to English literature should be explained; (c) provided that a wide choice is given, the English paper should include questions on set books, the questions being rather on the matter than on the textual peculiarities. The works should include modern authors. The conference expressed the opinion that the essay was not absolutely necessary to training in self-expression, and that the power of self-expression could be adequately tested by methods other than essay work. Regarding the submission that the proposed syllabus - in English was too vague it was stated that one of tho objects was to make the syllabus wide to give teachers more freedom in developing their course of English, An assurance was given that candidates would not be asked to name the works from which-quotations or characters were given. Mr. Russell said there was an almost unanimous vote against any suggestion of prescribing set books for the entrance examination. It was considered that' the proposal would, encourage "cramming." Mr. G. Mcß."Salt, of the Auckland Grammar School, reported upon discussions which had followed the presentation of several remits forwarded by a meeting 'of men science teachers in Auckland. One of the most important remits carried was: —"That the Department be urced to increase the present science and manual grant, as its reduction to onehalf is seriously affecting the supply of material and apparatus in schools, and necessarily reducing the amount of practical instruction which can be given."