EDUCATIONAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14000, 5 September 1907, Page 3

EDUCATIONAL

'A DECEMBER SYNCHRONOUS EXAMINATION OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS. OPINIONS OF EDUCATION BOARDS AND INSPECTORS. , As sinco tho introduction of tho . now syllabus . tho Otago Daily Times „ has advocated tho institution of_ a 6ystem of December examinations of j/rimary schools, wo ,'haye, made inquiries from'; boards and institutes outsido of-Otago in order to ascertain, what is being done elsewhere to lessen, the [disadvantages connected with the present .system. * Tho secretaries of the Auckland, Hawko'o' : Baj, Wanßanui, Wellington, Marlborough, and Westlnnd Education Boards have sent replies to a. series of questions wc stibmittod to tliem. T'lio inspectors under tho Southland Board have replied 'on hehalf of that body. Tho socre- ' tary of tho North Canterbury Board informs ns that our questions liavo been handod to the inspectors' to report upon. 110 adds, however, that tho city and suburban schools aro, examined in tho middto of the year, Mid'that, 80 f 3 - I '. nothing has'boon done to carry out the wishes of tho Education Department in having'tho examinations held at Christ-mas. Wo hovo tabulated tho replica as far as possible, summarising them in some instances; but in no.case where the statement was in any. way qualified. Verbatim ( ropjics aro within quotation marks. In, a (Future".- issuo \ra shall -publish tho replies ' rcct-ivod; by us to inquiries - addressed to secretaries of educational institutes.

Tho 'following are tho elatomcnts. wo |iavo received from the boards:— -1. What stops is your board taking to have examinations conducted in tho principal .schools at Christmas? Vestland.—Mono for tho ptcecnt year." . Auckland—None. WeuiNGTOK.—" In accordance with tho resolutions passed at tho recent conference - of inspectors arrangements aTO being mado forithe school year! iii. all schools, to begin in .January and end in December, This tnoara that tho reclassification (and promotion) of /i-ho children will bo mado at the beginning of every year. For certificates of proficiency tho largo schools will be ex- - rnnincd . near Chriefcniae, and the examinations will bo hold at various centres (when neocfisary); as near Christmas as possible. With regard to, the schools in the backblocks, 'tho reclassification, may bo made in January,, bnt tho examination for certi-' ficatce dfi x -proficiency will.bo held over till a vioit of-an inspector, which will be in the autumn, six weeks lor a month after tho beginning of tho'school year. Tho department's examination in December is also available for children; all over tho district. - It is our scholarship examination also. : ' ' .' „ , :Mablbokough.—Tlie .following circular vans issued last mpntli by t iuspeotor (Mr D.A.'Sttuehan) as a. preliminary notice. It will W seen that, all difficulties are overcome iii c. clear, business-like way: I propose to raako the annual visit to . your | echopl as usual,'and at that visit to sample" tho l work ■of all classes, Stanford VI included.- VAftorwurds at..the dates jmd ccntros i mentioned bolow" I. intend' toe hold' a special., examination of Standard TO- It-is not pto- -■ piiscd to raoko any allowance for travcllin? expcnscs'to .the special Standard VI cianiina- , :?-° 4 ' ' ' o'scupy only -6htf-..flttyvrrlr thinks? it 'impoEsiWo'ito ' bring his Standard .Vlpupils to 'the centre: suggested he is requested to ccmnjuiikate with me forthwith, and itho quostipn. of examining his: Standard Vl> at iiis own school will be" considered. Tlio examination at" tho annual', visit is intended: to; be)';lik6 the inspection visit, .a lucre incident in the year's work. Tho work, of tho aohool; will go on after the annual visit'as if that visit had not bc'on paid, and tho -promotions wilt not be mado in any class, until, the school reopens, at the beginning of the year. 1 111 schools whore Standard, YI is not brought to a centre to bo examined the examination will bo held exactly as hitherto. At the special examination Standard YI will bo examined only in spelling and .dictation, writing, composition, arithmetic,' geography, uiMt drawing. The other subject's will bo dealt .with at tho school— at .the time of tho annual visit. Centres— (1) 21-11-07, HaVelock (centre for I Chnvastown, Havelock "suburban, Okaramio, '( Brooklyn Bay, and Linkwatei); (2) 25-11-07,' Renwlck (contra for Omiiko,' Kaituna, Ona- , malutu,' and Okaramio).; (3) 27-11-07, Picton (centre for Waitolii); : (1) 2SI-11-07, Scddon (coiitro for Richmond Brook, Tetlcy Brook, Sea ,Vio\v, Grnssmcro, Blind River, Ughrooke, find'; Ward);. • (5).; 2-12-07, ■M.irlbormiglitown (ctiU.ro' for ■ Spring., Creek -Upper, Tuamatina, Marshlands, Rohm Hood Bay, Waikokaho, and' .Hayonscliffp); . (0)1 4:12-07, , Blenheim, (centio- for Springlands, Grovetown, Pairhall, itivcrlands, Convent and'other private schools in Blenheim). . . llawke'V Bay.—On August IS we publishofl tlio .circular''., issued by the Ilawkij's Bay Board, and we now reproduce two of tht\.paragraphs:— . ;

No later than October 24 every te'achcr in charge ot a school is required to send to the chiof inspector a list staling tho number of Standard YI pupils he : (she). will have {or examination in December, and in the case of isolated schools lro (she) must name tho person (chairman, or other) who is willing to act as supervisor ' for the. synchronous examination for competency, antl proficioncy certificates, which will take place on Monday, December 2, in centres that will be duly fixed.

On Iho day named evory teacher in charge of a school l.under tho board is ijsked to make his annual examination and classification of pupils for promotion, and within three days to post to the'.Chief Inspector of Schools, care "The Secretary,- Education Board, Napier - ," duplicate lists fully filled in and showing all promotions' made under the regulations. The. schedules should include tho results for all classes and standards, including tho Sixth. In tho latter standard, however, thero should bo three lists, one with the names of pupils and tho marks gained in tho annual school examination, and two others with the names only of the pupils, which -will be filled in with the marks gained at. the inspectors' cxaminatiyn for competency and proficiency certificates. _ Any special remark with respect to the work of a pupil should be carefully entered on the teacher's schedules, .particularly so in tho ease, of pupils who sit for tho board's synchronous examination in December.

1 .Wakgandi.—Mr T. B. Strong, one of the school inspectors, replies, on behaJf of the board, in. general terms,: tho whole of which wo quoto under, thio heading i-r In the Waiigatmi Education District during tho last two years head teachers could, if they .wished, hold their final examination at tlic end of the year, and, of course, luako their promotions at tho same time. This year all head 1 teachers are bjing asked to do this, tliuß. makmg movements from class to class synchronous throughout tho district. .. Next year, therefore, children moving from ono part of ■ tho district to another will find themselves at about tho samo stage in their work. as the pupils in tho school to 'which they are transferred. Next year this will probably bj . the oase throughout Nojv Zealand. .' Tho system ; of promoting at the end of tho year of necessity involves •. examining Standard VI at the end 1 of tho year. This is the only standard",nil wliioh it is necessary for the inspector fo conduct ah individual examination; but it is very evident this cannot bs done at all ■ schools. In our district, last year, Standard. VI. pupils at scliools situated within five-miles of a district high school were asked to attend on a specified date at a central school. Tins plan.has been found to work vory well for the candidates, who wore succe-slul in parsing, Vrero able almost immediately to proceed'to the district high schools. ,or to. the secondary schools. . Under this arrangement the roll in ' Mich schools is . filled at tho beginning of the first term; and tho'work is not hindered by 1 jnipils claiming admission- at different times during'tho year: Again, the chancV of leakage'between tho primary and secondary, schools, and between' the primary I niicl technical sekols. is veiy much lessened. As- has already been mentioned, it will ba impossible for the inspectors personally to conduct all the. Standard Yl' examinations in tho • district. Competent 'supervisors will • have, to' bs appointed, ■ tho ■ examination I papers being those sent\ out by the department, and Hhoso; -est '.% .'the inspectors. The .latter:,will thenifelves;correct the work 1 and, award the .certificates. ;The subject of, reading, for which usually 160 marks out of tho .total 800,,arp given,presents, some .diffi-. -the ;exUmimdrk-V ! I "6l'tlie. ,, 'pj)linon that it ivould'iiot' lie' fair.^for. inspectors' to ftwaTd marks in .rwdiiig' Vt tbe . tinie of their visjt, which might be made some moiitha bs-'oro tho end of tho year,. and; JSO. marks could hardly bj'given for a! written paper dealing with the subject. It_ a paper were deemed sufficient; the work mij>ht 'almost as ■ well-bo placed under tho - heading " composition," the scope l in this stlbje-ot being then somewhat widened. liiclientfttly it may bo, mentioned that icadiilg. is not ono of the 'subjects required for the Education ])epartiuent's : free place examination,. which is accounted equivalent to tho Standard VI proficiency certificate exami- . nation'.

,'With regard to -the nispjctor's "annual visit " (examinaiioii. visit), to those schools in which the children were promoted at ths end of the year wo have found it 'cosy io ■ test _ tho progress of the pupils and tho quality of the instruction by simply basing j alt tests on tho worlcclor.o by the classes I up to tho time of tho visit.' This- work is I shown in tho teachers' "schemes of work" books. Of course, it will 1» a littlo time before inspectors and teachers feci quite.at ease under this new' arrangement, Teachers will probably find at well to plan theij work so that at, say, three v.-ccks'. notice they can satisfactorily revise all tho work, they have done during the period preceding the' annual visit. 'Inspectors, toi>, will ,'doubtless test less and teach more,-, and will oertaiuly not oramine evciy pupil in all subjects as was tho oustoni in the .past. Inspectors will still find themselves able to check undue leniency on the part o£. the teacher in promoting'lheir pupils, for, at tho annual visit, naturally somo ot the work done by the .children in the previous standard will bo tested.. It must bo acknowledged,* however, that Wiero is a tendency, on tlio. part o( some teachers to exorcisc, - their power, unwisely, and to "l>roroote children merely to pleasel parents. Still it .as not at all'likely that many teachers will show such unwisdom, for tho regulations give tho inspector's power to modify the teacher's classification of, his scholars and to lower the efficiency mark of tlio school. • . .

In the light of recent experience I yonturo to express tho opinon that tho. changes indicated abovo will .result in greater freedom for tlio teacher and increased efficiency, in . the eduction received by tho : soholars,' Tho inspector will no longer bs a mere testing machine, but will have a better opportunityto sco what lie can do in the rolo of "guide, counsellor, • and friond;' Examination day, then, will not bo dreaded; in its new garb it will not, indeed, be-recognised as "examination" day. To tho children it will be' a day full, of interest. Instead of labouring ivt a tcst.oaid thoy mil find themselves lead along new paths of knowledge, while, old' ones will bo made plainer. To. tho. teacher, if ho bo a worthy man,-tho visit will bring inspiration and- encouragement. Criticism he will-look for, but it will be of .the constructive kind. In friendly discussion many a. difficulty vail ho'smoothed away,-and many a knotty problem solved.

Southland.—■" For the lost 15 vcarslt has been the practice of the inspectors to examine tho most -"of tho principal eohools ciuTing ilio month preceding the Christmas holidays." . 2. Are - examinations in tho largo, schools being hold'near Christmas? Westland.—Yes. Auckland.—No. ' ■ . Wellington.—See answer to first question. 1 Marltioeougii.-Sm answer to first question. Hawke's Bay.—Yes.. Wangaxui —Largo tchoofe will be examined during: tho four > weeks prccoding Christmas, as last, year. . Southland.—Yes. 5. What method of procedure j« being adopted to secure, as far as possible, examination of schools at the 6amo time? Wkstland.—" None." Auckland.—None. " The examination of, tho schools at the same time is obviously impraetioablo if tho examinations aro to bo held by inspectors." Wellington.—Seo answer to first question. Marlborough,—See answer to first question. y Hawke's B.AY.-Sco answer to first question. WaNgaxot.—Centres established, . and teachers recommended to mako their classification of pupils at ond of year. Southland.—No steps havo yet been taken to sccurc the examination ot all schools at tho same time. 4. How loner docs an inspector tako to • examine a school of SOO? Do two work together in, tho largo schools? If so, i how long do the two take? ' Wkstland.—" No schools -more than [ 320." .< ' | Auckland.—" Two inspectors work together in examining the larger schools. Tho timo occupied- by them in examining o. school of 500 pupils is from two and a-' half days to threo days." (Wellington.—"Tho inspectors stato that tie length of time is krgely, determined

by tbo condition and circumstances of the school.". ' MAiti.iiOßOCf.n.—" Wo have net a- school of 500 in Marlborough, but the. inspector has had -. experience in examining such schools. Ho says tho timo depends partly on the timo at the inspector's disposal, and partly on bis-conception ot tho work. One •may examine such a school in a weok. and two may equally take a week.- One inspcctor may examine merely to discover the atato of progress of tho children, another may utiliso tho examination to throw -out numerous hints to tho teacher as to good methods and aims. The latter, naturally, lakes longer." . Hawke's Bat—Under the now conditions, four days; )>ut tho visits arc fairly frequent, and teaching is done to illustrate methods of instruction. Two inspectors work together, but over-inspection, _ like over-examination, is undesirable.' It is in tho small schools that the inspector is most wanted, as tho teachers aro for tho most, part untrained. Wanganui.—Ono would take five days unless pressed for time. In our largo schools two would bo two days, , with possibly a third for one of them-' Southland.—'" The two inspectors work together in such 6chools| for two days, one remaining a third day to complete, the examination." ' 5. Will you state briefly what are the difficulties in the way of haying the examinations immediately before Christmas? Westlaito.—" Tho rehools aro too scattered. - Two of them aro 300 miles apart by road. The examinations held by tho university and Education Department in December tend to produce congestion." Auckland.—"lt scorns unnecessary to discuss tho question of the difficulties in tho way of having school examinations held immediately 'before Christmas." Wellington.—" Tho unwillingness on the part of teachers to tako tho responsibility of tho promotion of children is tho main difficulty." itAr.MonpoGH.--" It is difficult in 6oino districts to centralise tho pupils. If the inspectors do not oxamino for (ho leaving certificates there would bo difficulty in maintaining an • even, standard. Universal rules will hardly suit, for a liberty that might bo jjiven to a certificated tcadhor would not necessarily bo wiso with an uncertificated one." Hawke's Bat.—There are no difficulties whatever if tho examination takes placo in December, and promotions -aro. announced and, certificates issued before tho schools break up in December. Wanganul—We anticipate none. Southland. —" (a) Tho distance of some of tho schools from largo centres; (b) tho importance of oral examination in determining intelligence; (c) tho want in many cases of qualified supervisors," 1 6. Will you ako etato briefly tho | advantages obtained by holding tho examinations at that timo? WestlanD.—"The advantage in tho ca6o

of families removing from one district to .mother. Tho advantage in the caso of thoso pupils who proceed to secondary classes or schools." Auckland—"Answered under Question 5."— [Wo do not soo how.] Welmxgtom.—" All children of tho district are promoted at. the same timo, and as there is a largo floating population in tho dominion -children, when transferred from 6ehool to school, can bo more easily classified, and will lose little or any time

at school by this arrangement. Tho district high schools can receive children who havo obtained ccrtificatcs of profioipnc.y at tho -beginning' of every year, instead of fat odd Times during tho year." . MARLBonouGit.-" Tho .pupils ' m tho schools of tho colony would be at a roughly uniform stago of progress in the standard work. At the Inspectors' Conference tljia year one inspector said a large Behoof in Wellington had a third of its pupils 'birds of passage.'. Naturally such a school would 1» disorganised, seeing that, as at present, tho pupils would bo at all stages of progress. The experience of Wellington, howover, may l», and quite possibly is, exceptional. It may, however, bo pointed out that, tho examination year might as easily, end in Juno as at Christmas, and so prevent tho 'crowding' of standard examinations *on tho scholarship 'examinations. Tho examinations towards which secondary schools work are, as a rule, placed at tho end of the year. It would, therefore, 'bo better, if possible, !td arrange for ail pupils to enter at one time and at tho beginning of. a year. There are more pros and cons than appear-on 'the' surface,"but .'as -you enjoin brevity wo are brief.!' I'lhd.'r.schooJ wo'rJc. --is" unifiedV"- (2)-:pu)jils. oi'n- go from one school 'to another without re-classification ;• (3) the teacher's work is easier; (4) effective classification's (5) schools can -be tested on ' a common' basis; (61 pupils remain at school until tho end of-the year, and regu-lai-ity is'encouraged; 17) it will encourago admission- of new pupils at tho beginning of a 6chool year, and thus improve the working conditions in the infant schools, Waxcaxui,—The chief advantages are: (1) 'That tho. pupils procced directly to the secondary school if taking proficiency certificate; (2) that pupils passing from one part of the.district to another find thoir follows at a new school doing much the samo work as was done at the school which they liavo left; (3) tho tcachors greatly prefer that.the school worjc should end with the end.of the year; (4) pupils and teaohers have timo to make arrangements for the work of the newly-formed cjasses. '^Southland. —" (a) Pupils obtaining proficiency certificates could enter on their secondary course without loss of time; (b) school work ( being at practically tho samo stago in ail cchools at any given timo throughout the 1 " year, a pupil leaving one schcol. could take up his place in, another without iriconvcnienco to himself or his new olasfimatcs."