SCHOOL EXAMINATIONS.

Evening Star, Issue 8529, 30 May 1891, Page 2

SCHOOL EXAMINATIONS.

TO THI IDITOB. Sib,—Seeing that the school examinations are now upon us, I deiire to offerasuggu tion to our inspectors which would, if ac cepted, be much appreciated by a number of teachers and parents—viz, that all questions given the pupils for elucidation—especially in the lower standards—be pnt through the teachers in ohargi of the various classes. Quite a number of pupils in a school I have in my mud's eye failed last year through sheer nervousness, caused principally by being confronted with an almost entire stranger; whilst I have heard of others being plucked in a manner not satisfactory to parents—the strong provincialisms of the inspector. I feel sure that both evils might be remedied were my suggestion adopted—the latter one most certainly. Besides, teachers are naturally far more interested in the matter of passing than the inspectors, and therefore should be allowed any and every possible opportunity to obtain a fair average of panes as a reward for their twelve months' weary scholastic work. If the inspectors were to experiment in the manner indicated with the first school examined by them they could test the valua of the suggestion, and if they found it unworkable it would be simplicity itself to revert to the Old System. Dunedin, May 29. [The invariable practice of the inspectors is to allow the olass teacher to question the pupils on all "pass " subjects.—Ed. ES]