ENTRANCE TEST

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24828, 26 February 1944, Page 8

ENTRANCE TEST

GRAMMAR SCHOOL GIRLS METHOD OF APPLICATION Criticism of the type of examination which was recently used at the Auckland Girls' Grammar School to decide which girls should be admitted to the school is expressed in a letter to the Herald from Mr. 51. V. Ross, lender of the deputation of parents which waited o» the Grammar School Board to protest against the exclusion of their daughters. While appreciating the position in which the headmistress, Miss E. M. Johnston, was placed over the question of accommodation, Mr. Koss says that the parents did not entirely agree with the nature of the test. This resulted in a number of girls who had excellent primary and intermediate school records being shut out, while others who had never been more than average were admitted.

"It- seems that the reason for this unfortunate position," Air. Ross adds, "is to he found in the reply that 1 received from the Director of the New Zealand Council for Educational Research, Air. A. E. Campbell, who, under date February 14, wrote as follows: 'The council strongly emphasises the possibility of error in results obtained from a group test of the character used and implies that, even for purposes of classification, these results should be used in conjunction with school records. 5 "The test used was the Otis group intelligence test," says Mr. Ross. "We have yet to learn that the school reports were used in conjunction with the tests when deciding those who would be admitted. We feel that if this had been done the results would have been more satisfactory to scholars and parents and that the Otis group intelligence test would still have the confidence of parents."

.Mr. Ross quotes from booklets prepared bv the Council for Educational Research in which it is stated that the tests are used 'as an "aid" in the classification of pupils. "As one of the parents concerned, with a girl with an excellent school record, I was glad to know that the council was very definite in indicating to teachers and principals the purpose of the Otis group intelligence tests and in prescribing the man-, ner in "which they should be used," he adds.

WATERFRONT DELAYS LOSS TO SMALL PORTS VIGOROUS ACTION URGED (0.C.) WHANGAREI, Friday "I do not think that am v loss sustained by the board matters much. What does matter is that some boy overseas should lose his Hfe as a result," said Mr. K. M. Stevens at vesterday's meeting of the Whangarei "Harbour Board, when a report from the secretary on the recent hold-up on the Auckland waterfront was being considered. The secretary stated that, owing to the hold-up on the Auckland waterfront, there was practically no shipping to the Whangarei Harbour for seven days, which resulted in a considerable loss of revenue to the board and in wages to the men on the town wharf. The chairman, Mr. E. L. Whinip, said lie did not know who was responsible for the dispute, but_ the small harbour boards were the chief sufferers. The Auckland board was wealthy, and the watersiders were earning big money and could bear the burden, but it did hurt the local employees. The board had lost between £2OO and £3OO. He thought these matters should be handled with more determination and resolution. The time was well past when the Minister of Labour should keep his hat well down over lus eyes. Rather he should face the storm with boldness and determination. Some of the Ministers had declared that this action was sabotaging a large part of our war effort. All the machinery existed for dealing with this state of affairs, but the Labour members did not seem to have any control. He did not think the board should pass over the matter without comment. It was much too important. BLACK MARLIN CAUGHT (0.C.) WHANGAItEI, Friday Hooked on n hapuka line off the Hen and Chickens Islands, at the entrance to the Whangarei Harbour, .last night, a 3221b. striped mnrlin was brought on hoard a fishing launch after a fight of one and a-half hours. The catch was made by Messrs. W. Mattevson, W, Smith and J. Burt, who brought it to Whangarei, where it created great interest.