SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 190, 10 May 1934, Page 10

SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Non-State Institutions CONFERENCE DECISIONS A number of resolutions bearing on modern educational trends, with special reference to non-State secondary schools, were passed at the annual conference of the Association of Heads of Registered Secondary Schools, which concluded its session in Wellington yesterday. Among them were the following:— “That this association learns witn great pleasure that about 100,000 electors have endorsed the suggestions made by heads of the Auckland secondary schools with a view to raising the standard of censorship of cinematographic films in New Zealand, and renews its request for the Government to discharge its responsibility in this matter in such a way as shall satisfy tbe traditional standards of the community.” “That this association is not satisfied with the proposed restriction in the registration of medical students at the University of Otago.” “That with regard to tbe proposal for a later date for the beginning of the university entrance examination, the association reaflirms its attitude of 1932-33 agreeing with the later date of commencement, but proposes that, in view of the institution of the school certificate examination, the last paper be not later than December 18.” “That (a) this association is dissatisfied with the present prescription in English for university entrance and reaflirms its recommendations of 1933: (1) That tbe English prescription for entrance be entirely reorganised in order to admit the definite introductionof literature; (2) that there shall be two papers of at least two hours each, one for essay, precis and grammar, and one for literature, a wide choice, of questions being given on a number of set books to be prescribed from time to time, and based rather on the matter than on textual peculiarities; (b) that tlie continued refusal of the authorities to define the meaning of tbe reference in the present prescription to ‘a fairly wide acquaintance with good English literature’ is the ground for this reiteration of our previous suggestions.” “That in view of the unsatisfactory nature of tlie entrance history paper for 1933.- this conference is still of the opinion that the proscription in history for entrance is too wide, and should bo limited either by giving a choice of period or b.v providing a list of topics or of special aspects to be treated.”