TEMPERING THE WIND

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 19, 24 January 1938, Page 8

TEMPERING THE WIND

! Academic examinations have come to play such a part in the careers of young people in New Zealand that the publication of results, to those who have faced the ordeal, and also to their relatives and friends, is something °f a national event, Most pf all is this true of the University Entrance Examination (belter known a.s Matriculation,' or,' for short, "Matrio"), the local passes in which were notified on Saturday. To the successful candidates we extend our congratulations, to the unsuccessful our condolences, together with an expression of hope for "better luck he*t time." Luck, after all, does figure) in examinations, and last year wa,a peculiarly unlucky fpr the pupils of secondary schools because the incidence Qf the infantile paralysis epidemic in the early months curi 'tailed, in; m»ny cases, the period I when schools were open and preiparatjons for the examination could 'proceed., Fortunately, in a spirit of appreciation of the difficulties so caused, the University authorities decided that some relief shquld be given to the candidates concerned. iln a statement prefacing the announcement of the names of the successful candidates the authorities declare that the committee dealing with the question "feels that these methods [of relief where deemed fit] have removed as far'as possible any hardship arising from the exceptional conditions of the schoolyear." I On the whole the relaxation of con!di(ions in certain cases and the additional marks awarded seem to have given satisfaction. "Ma.trie" is the major hurdle in the secondary school career of pupils of both sexes. It is regarded not only as the crown of academic success in the secondary school, but as' the essential passport to the Public Service and the professions, and the possibility of a higher education at the university colleges. In this respect we feel — and we have often expressed the feeling frankly—that this single examination has had an importance attached to it both hy pedagogue and public far beyond its rather narrow scope and intrinsic merits. An examination which may be quite suitable, as a test for a candidate's attainments in preparation for entrance to a university may be quite unsuitable as a criterion of qualities and training useful in the business world. Something wider and different is needed, and it will be interesting to see if any provision in this direction has been made in the Minister's eagerly awaited Education Bill. This should be one of the cardinal reforms. At the same time we do not desire in any t . ; wa,y to disparage the devoted, efforts of the girls and boys, in, their thousands, who annually undergo the stern trial of "Matric." Win or lpse, there is something admirahle in. spirit in which they tackle the major problem of their school life.