MATRICULATION HISTORY

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23818, 11 December 1942, Page 6

MATRICULATION HISTORY

Sir, —According to M. Hall, this year’s history paper was fair and reasonable if read impartially. The syllabus states that all British history from 1879 up till 1942, together with foreign affairs, as far as they affect Great Britain, must be known, but, as M. Hall writes, one of the questions asked for an explanation of modern Japan’s economic problems and in what way they have affected her foreign policy. In the questionnaire, the student was asked for the exports of New Zealand in 1840 and in 1940. As one can easily see, these questions are beyond the scope of the syllabus. M. Hall goes on to say that a knowledge of Eastern problems is vital for a just and everlasting peace. Perhaps so, but what has this to do with a schoolboy?— Yours, etc., NOT A SWOT.

December 10, 1942.

X wUI Lul 1 vdpv/HUUlll& Ul> IHL ICIoI two days on the above subject have ignored an important factor in their statements. No thinking person will disagree with their contention that the secondary school is the place where students should be taught subjects relating to current affairs, and present world affairs and problems. At the same time it should be remembered that the University Calendar lays down that the matriculation history paper will cover the period of English history from 1789 to the present day. Naturally students were prepared for questions relating to any part of this period. The paper was seriously overweighted in favour of modern political trends and at least two questions were more political than nistorical. I have the assurance from several students that they had received no specific instruction on these questions in their respective schools. The paper did not constitute a reasonable test of knowledge of the syllabus of study laid down, and for this reason I consider it was most unfair for the majority of the students.—Yours, etc., FAIR GO. December 10. 1942.