SERIOUS CHARGES.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18566, 16 December 1925, Page 9

SERIOUS CHARGES.

TEACHERS & PROFICIENCY EXAMINATIONS. COMMITTEEMEN DISSATISFIED. Proficiency examinations and methods alleged to be adopted fey teachers irf some schools were discussed at last, night's meeting of the Canterbury School Committees' Association, at which Mr G. I*. Purnell presided. It had come to hia knowledge, s*»d Air J. A. Taylor (West Cfcristchureh) that prior to "the proficiency examination a master had told certain children that tlicy were not to attend the fx " animation becauso ho granted to jcei a good percentage of passes in h» s class. Personally, ho thought il w»* ono of the worst things that be bad hoard of.

Resides that. Mr T. E. Talbot (Richmond) said he knew that some teachers, coached up bright fifth standard students and, just before tho proficiency examination, tho children had bee* "put up" into standard six, while the duller ones in that class bad been '"put down" iuto standard fir® so that the sixth standard teachers would b* more likely to pet a higher pafcentaw of pupils and thus gain a higher grading. "Wo will have to keep a. smart eye on tho proficieucy examination if wh»* has been said is true." said Mr T. W. "West (Opawa). Ho want cm *« say a master should not put hi* pawing percentage beforo his doty in helping each child through th# examinations. "A Bad Thloc." Objection, the chairman said, shoafci not bo taken to teachers brinkias es bright standard fire children, Ht tb* teachers should also ckrroto time t» tho slow students in the uxtti iturfnrd. But ho thought it was a bad thiuo- to put children down a atandud. Mr A. Oekonden (Elmwood) that- they should trust tho masters and teachers. Mr J. Stuart (Richmond) said it was all right to trust the* teachers, but they should see that the ciuUrea were treated fairlv. The secretary (Mr Odell, TYhanmoi) said ho thougnt that unless the Association could get positive evidence of the practices allceed to U* adopted in some schools (as well as the mm of tho school) the Association could nofc very well approach the Education Board with the request that it eaquii* into tho matter. Eventually it was agreed thai the Education Board be written to eaqairitig:—(l) lias a headmaster power t» degrade a pupil in the aixth ateadaidP and (2) if tho headmaster's statu* wta affected bv the percentage of pw>ficiency passes.