PROFICIENCY RESULTS

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21330, 24 November 1934, Page 3

PROFICIENCY RESULTS

: ♦ NO PUBLICATION IN FUTURE DECISION OF EDUCATION BOARD The results of proficiency examinations in the Canterbury Education Board's district will not be published in the newspapers this year, according to a resolution passed by the board at its meeting yesterday. Teachers will be advised of the decision. The recommendation was made by the senior inspector (Mr A. McNeil) through the appointments committee. In a memorandum the senior inspector stated that he was convinced that the effect on the schools was "not altogether good." Doubtless there was some satisfaction to the successful candidates in that all their friends were informed of their success. But to the personal disappointment of those children who failed was added the humiliation that their failure was, by implication of the omission of their names, also published to their friends. This was especially the case in schools where there were few candidates-. "Practically Compulsory" "The proficiency examination differs from all other public examinations in that it is practically compulsory for all children. Is it fair, at this stage in their education, thus publicly to classify all school children? While a final examination is still necessary at the conclusion of the compulsory period of education, it is easy to exaggerate the importance of the proficiency certificate, the preparation for which is not the sole aim of compulsory education. "The wide publication of the results of the examination at the end of every year has had the effect of exalting the proficiency examination beyond its true value, and it tends to create in the public mind a false standard. The aim of our schools is not restricted to the attainment of proficiency certificates; it is based on an ideal of education which contains many things the value of which cannot be measured by the yard stick of examination, or expressed in figures. Comparisons of the efficiency of schools based on trie number of proficiency passes are often made and are often very much astray. "While it is desired that all children who are capable of doing so under good instruction may obtain a proficiency certificate, it is hoped that the i aim of our primary education system 1 will never be bounded by the necessarily narrow limits of a written examination. "A Progressive Move" "It is proper here to acknowledge the goodwill of the newspaper press towards the national system of education and the friendly service it is ever ready to render by granting publicity to the affairs of our schools. If the board now decides to discontinue publication of proficiency results I am sure that the press will fully appreciate the motives that have prompted the action." i "It is a progressive move, and all for! the good of our children," said the chairman (Mr C. S. Thompson). Mr J. W. Preen: The practice of publishing the results has beqri in existence as long as I can remember. I consider that it is a great incentive'to the children to work for their proficiency certificate. Mr W. P. Spencer also opposed the proposal. Mr Thompson suggested that the board should consult other education boards with a view to uniformity of action. Mr Spencer moved as an amendment that the recommendation be referred back to the appointments committee for further consideration, and that in the meantime the opinions of other boards be obtained. The amendment was lost and the committee's recommendation was adopted. Mr Spencer gave notice to move at the next meeting of the board that the resolution be rescinded. BAD EFFECTS OF PUBLICATION EDUCATION BOARD'S MOVE COMMENDED The decision of the Canterbury Education Board that in future results of proficiency examinations at schools under the board's jurisdiction shall not be published, was warmly commended yesterday by headmasters of Christchurch schools. The decision was made on the recommendation of the senior inspector of schools (Mr A. McNeil), who, in a memorandum presented to a meeting of the board yesterday, stated that the publication of the results had a bad effect both on schools and on pupils. Mr McNeil said that the publication was humiliating to the children who did not pass, and exalted the proficiency examination above its true value tending to create in the public mind a false standard. "I am in hearty agreement with all the reasons put forward for the decision," said Mr L. F. de Berry, headmaster of the West Christchurch District High School. "I have thought for many years that the difference between the proficiency and competency certificates creates in the mind of the general public a wrong impression oi the respective values of the two certificates. When children finish their primary education, the important thing is that they should receive a transfer certificate indicating the type of education for which they are best qualified. "The major difficulty is that the people who see these results in print and compare them, are not in a position to make-just comparison," continued Mr de Berry, "and I am strongly in favour of any attempt to make the public pause before attributing such a high value to the proficiency examination. With the introduction of the intermediate system an honest attempt is being made to alter the emphasis placed on the proficiency certificate, and the system will be prevented from doing the splendid work expected of it if it is hampered by a false public estimate. I think the move is a very wise one." Cause of "Misfits" Mr W. C. Colee, headmaster of the Normal School, said that the examination for proficiency and competency certificates had originally been instituted to sort out the children suitable for academic or technical training. The actual result had been that teachers and children had always worked for the proficiency certificate, as this was considered the higher of the two. This had been responsible for many children being sent to the wrong type of secondary school, and had caused quite a number of "misfits." Some children sent to the high schools found after a few months that they could not cope with the work, whereas if they had been given handwork to do instead of books to study, they would have made good progress. The publication of the examination results had helped to create the false idea of the value of the certificates which was the cause of the trouble. "The publication of the results is apt to give rise to invidious distinctions between schools," said Mr Colee. "The calibre of the children at the schools changes from year to year, and often comparisons are made, based on the results, to the detriment of a pari ticular school, when the difference is 'really in the calibre of the children.

It is true also that when a child finds its name not published he is inclined to develop an inferiority complex." Mr W. A. Rumbold, headmaster of the Sydenham School, said that he did not believe in the publication of the results, which sometimes led to jealousy and the making of odious comparisons.