GOOD IN PARTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22435, 3 June 1936, Page 15

GOOD IN PARTS

EDUCATION SYSTEM - I. VIEWS OF THE MINIBTER TYRANNY OF EXAMINATIONS [BY TELEGBAPH —SPECIAL BEPOBTEB] WELLINGTON, Tuesday The policy of insisting on to rigid an examination system was condemned by the Minister of Education, Hon. P. Fraser, when replying in the House of Representatives to-day to points raised during the debate on the report of the Director of Education, Mr. N. T. Lambourne. Mr. Fraser said it was true of the education system that there had been too much of the tyranny of examinations. "We must make some effort about this problem of the examination system, and about the grading of teachers," said the Minister. "They seem the two fundamental matters which need our consideration. The primary school is shaped so that a child should pass the proficiency examination. The secondary school system is based on the necessity for pupils passing matriculation and subsequently gaining entrance to the university by examination. Removing the Barriers "I admit that at the moment we cannot judge the school leaving certificate because it is not old enough. The'question is whether the time has not arrived for removing all the examinations that act as a barrier to any child in its desire for education. I am not putting this forward as a decision, but as a conception of the position that has been arrived at by the director, the assistants to the director, and myself, after serious discussion. Has the time not arrived for us to say that any child who shows the desire to go on past the primary education stage should have the opportunity to go on? Should we not apply the same principle when it comes to entrance to the University? "These are problems with which the department is grappling now, not in a self-righteous spirit, but in a humble way, looking to the other countries of the world for advice and the benefit of experience and to those who have knowledge in this country and who are able to help us." Size of School Glasses "Our education system in parts is as good as can be found anywhere, and in parts is about as bad as can be found anywhere," said the Minister. "In regard to the size of classes it is quite correct to say that the large number of our grade nought and grade one schools brings down the average size of classes, and averages do not get us anywhere. A professor of education has said that one could make too much of the size of classes, but I differ from him there."