SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

Evening Star, Issue 20853, 24 July 1931, Page 1

SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I write to endorse the remarks of “ X.Y.Z.” on the marking system in vogue in secondary schools. The most credit should I certainly bd given for ordinary class work, which shows the knowledge possessed by each pupil and the amount of individual study put in. Class work should have preference, even over examinations, which do not show the ability of • the pupils, more especially if they are of a nervous, highly-strung nature. It would be hard to calculate the amount of harm done to the health of children as the result of the stress at examination time. Anyway, what is secondary education? I not long ago heard of an English master at one secondary school here giving marks to the • youths who could best rattle off a tongue-twister about a “ Peter Piper,” etc. There happened to bo a lad in the form who is unfortunate enough to have an impccli-' meat ‘in his speech. Ho did not get many marks. This same teacher has his class pay in pennies, and after a points handicap the winner takes the pool,” How is that for engendering the gambling spirit? Has the permission of the Minister of Internal Affairs been procured? If not, is it a case for police prosecution for holding an unauthorised sweepstake? At an examination in tho same school last year one master could not do the arithmetic he had set the form, neither could the boys, with t|ie result that h 6 had to do some brainy “ faking ” to bolster up the average—a most demoralising example for youths. Then there is the evergreen question.of homework. Why is it that the teachers who get the best results give the least homework? Why should the children be penalised for the inability of some of the teachers, for it certainly is a penalty to be compelled to sit up until 10 or 11 at night, but really to teach themselves what they ought to be taught in school. Verily it is a long day from 9 a.m. until 11 p.m. Could not the pupils form a union . and affiliate with the Ai’bitration Court? They could easily get a court decision for an eight-hour clay surely. Again I ask, what is secondary education? Is it worth so very much?.. Could there not be some system of overseeing, so that we could really have a secondary education for our.children? During the visits of the inspectors would it be_ worth while if some of the boys and girls in each form wore calledi out and asked to explain and perhaps give a. demonstration of the different methods-of tho different teachers. Tho inspector could then, place his finger on all weak spots. Is it not time that the whole_ secondary system was thoroughly investigated?—l am, etc., A. 8.0. July 27.