EDUCATIONAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14002, 7 September 1907, Page 4

EDUCATIONAL.

A DECEMBER EXAMINATION OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS. • OPINION!? OF DISTRICT INSTITUTES AS EXPRESSED BY SECRETARIES. Supplementing tho information obtained by us respecting the opinions held by Education Boards and by officials of these bodies writing on their behalf on the subject of tho desirability of the institution of a' December '■synchronous examination of primary schools, wo publish to-day summaries of the opinions forwarded to us on the samo subject by tho secretaries of Educational Institutes throughout _ tho colony. In some casos meetings of institutes wore called to consider them. Two, so far, havo sent no reply. The iecreta.r.y bf the Otago Educational Institute forwarded hi.; opinion as a'teacher, and therefore unofficially, and this we published a week or two ago. As far as t.hc Otago teachers aro concerned, however, opinion is apparently almost unanimous in favour of December /examinations; ami few, if any,' anticipate tliat any difficulties would arise in making tho change. The following aro tho tabulated replies: 1. What steps is your institute taking to have examinations conducted in the principal schools at 'Christmas? Auckland.—At; present the Auckland Institute is not taking any steps to have examinations conmicted in the principal schools at Christmas.' Tho matter was brought beforo the annual meeting in Christchurch in January last, when the department submitted for the consideration of the institute its proposals for amending the regulation's .'to bring, about this reform. It i 6 understood that, tho matter will bo dealt with this session. Two years ago the institute approached the Education Board on the question, but tho Chief Inspector of Schools was then against the proposal, as he considered it was impracticable with his 'staff of iiispM'ors. Tho matter then dropped for the time. MARLBOROUGH.T-INoiic. Southland.—[All questions are. answered •in ono gonoral letter.] I-' delayed my reply until yow IctterMtad been considered by the executive -committee of the Soutlile.nd , E/lucaiional institute, so that instead of being ari expression of opinion from" ono person only, this reply may bo taken as tho opinion of somo hine representative Southland teachers, both country and town schools. / "Tho same grievance as exists in Otago docs not exist in Southland; the larger town schools havo'always, been examined in December. and any difficulties that exist are consequently felt in the country schools, of which.'tho, annual examinations begin -.about, the middlo of Juno in ouch year. Country teachers have for years complained of the difficulties they encounter in maintaining agood, attendance durhig tho winter months, especially if the weather proves : exceptionally stormy just before tho dato of examination. In this colony, too; not a small part of'' tho population is a floating ohe, and it is by'no means unusiial for a country school just before examination to receive an influx of pupils from clsewhero in a, state of advancement very different from that of tho pupils who have attended throughout the preceding school yoar.- In oxtrcmo/ eases it may happen— and, indeed, has happened—that a school coming first in the itinerary of the inspectors may, during the few months preceding; examination;' loso a largo proportion of its upper class piipils by removal, their places being taken by .others whose work in their respoctiyo classes has -been of several months' less duration and on entirely different lines. Thus all the work of tho. teacher .for that year has been, through no oversight or neglect, of his own, rendered unavailing, and disaster overtakes the class or' claescs subjected to such change in membership.

"No definite action. been yet taken by this institute' to: sccurfc simultaneous examination of. all' 'sohools, though our teachers as a Whole wero somewhat gratified to learn early in the,year that tho proposed new syllabus submitted in draft % the Inspeofo.r-gcnoral to tho N,Z.E.I meeting at' Christehurch in January last, provided for the school year of all schools beginning on .Tammry 1 in each year. Such regulation, which found a'place iu the draft syllabus referred', to, , would practically mean tho 'examination in December of all candidates for proficiency certificates. That there live no' serious difficulties in the way we feci convinced. The examination for proficiency certificates atfeots only tho pupils of Class VI, and these could easily be collected into convenient ccntrcs on a •riven date in December for examination in tho "written" subjeota, which might easily : form tho whole matter of examination. Competent supervisors could easily lxi found by the 'Education Boa-rds, so that 110 teacher need necessarily supervise tho wrk of his own pupils. Tho draft syllabus provided, I believe, lor two visits, still to- be mado yearly to each school bv tho inspoctors. If 'Reading' v/cro" eiill held to be a compulsory subject of examination, it might, bo examined orally by the inspector at his second visit, and the marks, allowed added to tho sum gained at tho written examination in December.

"There arc many advantages in a simultaneous 'examination of the soliOoIi! of tho colony,near the close of tho year. > Tho general advancement of tho pupils in all schools in the work of tho- classes would 1« more •nearly uniform than it i 3 at present, and the transfer of a pupil from one school to' another' would provo Iqss detrimental to his progress than it docs under present- conditions. Further, thero would be no,difficulty in all 'proficiency' pupils entering the, high schools at the 1.-eginninpr of tho following school year, and the present unsatisfactory Standard VII ot so many schools might, disappear with advantage to the remaining classes, Standard I to Standard VI, and to tho teaeliers of smaller schools, who. in many instances litivc to teach a Standard VII_ for several months, in the year, with nothing to show after their midsummer holidays but loss on the part of the other classes then remaining in school when Standard VII has disappeared. '" In Southland ' .the larger sohools aro always examined bv both' inspectors working'Ttogcther, who tako from two and a-half to threo dnys to do tho work." We&tland.—" No slops."

Timahu.—" None. The inspectors propose to "<to this, as far as possible, for Standard VI pupils. Havre's Bay.—"The .inspector and teachers. arrange on suitaWo centres all through the'education district, whero Standard VI pupils arc examined. The; teachers interchange schools on that and. ait as supervisors. The subjects reading and spelling have been examined at ilio inspector's annitnl visit." North. Canterbury.—" Strongly .in favour of such a 'change." Grey.—None. "The distriot consists of small Bchools. ' Tile only largo schools aro near Greymouth,. and up to the present havo always been examined laic in No'vcm-. her or in December. The whole matter is not, a ' live ' question in the Grey district." 2. Are examinations in the largo schools being held near Christmas? Aucklaxd.—The examinations in tho large schools, ard held in June, July, and August. The country schools arc examined near Christmas, • when tho weather is ■good and the roads' dry, so that tho .inspectors can get ''about the country. Tho town schools aro examined in winter, so that tho inspectors will oscapo the bad weather in. tho country; and because country children cannot attend well in wet weather. Maki,dokougji. — " No." [Arrangements ara made for synchronous examinations this Christmas.] Southland.--'Yes. [See answer to the first question.] Westiand.—'" Yes, in both largo schools."" South Caxtkhbdiiv.—" Tho examination of Standard VI is this year to be held in November." llawke's Bat.—"The examination N in all schools is in Decoriiber. so far as Standard VI is concerned. The institute and inspectors agreed on this before 'it was made a regulation of tho department to promote .in Dccembor." North Oaxtkrburt. —" No; June or July." GreT.—"Yes. There are only four largo ■ schools—i.e., having an average of over 110—in the district." 3. What method of procedure is being adopted to secure, as far as possible, examination of schools 'at the same time? Auckiasd,—" Tho. town schools are examined, as nearly as possible at the same time, the six inspectors forking in groups of two, 6a'ch tiro'examining'about ono and a-half schools' a week. Tho Rcmucra School, 450 pupils, is examined in the lirst week in June, and the Kllcrslie School, 250 pupils, not. more than two miles distant, is examined towards the end of August." • ■MAiIIiBOROtIOH.-" Standard AT pupils are io assemble in .November at stated centres —viz.. I'icton, Blenheim, Havelock, etc., for examination in pass subjects. Class Mibjocts arc • exainintid at each school at various times." We!)tlaxi).—" None." South Caxteiibbrt.—"For the purpose of Standard VI nroficienoy certificate examinations tho. scflpols are Jo bo grouped,

the children fo be collcctcd at convenient centros for examination. It is prbv>c€e<l to liolil this examination in November each year, all tho Standard VI pupils in tho district to bo examined in about a fortnight." ■ ■ - llawkk's Bav.—"Sec answer to No. 1. The annual visit of the inepootor is much the samo as hitherto, but must now be recognised as a progress examination. In December the schedules of nil classes must bo furnished and marks assigned. Thesearc criticised by inspectors, and the Standard VI is completed from results' of examination." North Cantkrbdbt.—"Non'o as yet." Gkev, —" None." 4. How Ion;; dees an inspector take to examine a school of 500? Do two work together in tho largo schools? If so, how long- do the two take? Auckland Two inspectors .work together in the large schools. They ox- ' amincd my school (450 pupils) in three days; tho Parnell School (590 children) took three days also; sometimes it take's ■ t.hreo and a-half days." ... Marlborough.—'" Almost a week. Thoie. is only one inspector in Marlborough." Wkstund.—" Largest, school has a roll of about 500; tho inspector takes about three or four days. There is only one (1) inspector." South Canterbury.—•' About thres days; two inspectors work together." Hawkf.'s Bay.—A school of 500 taken about four days. They rarely work together. You must remember our.second inspector is only appointed for' a ' few months. In future, I undorstand, they will ■work conjointly. North Canterbury.—" Two inspectors usually take four or five days." , Grey.—"Our largest school has an average of 444. Tho inspector, (wo havo only one) iakos three days to examine this school." 5. Will you state briefly what are tho difficulties'in tho way of having the examinations immediately before Christmas? '. Auckland.—(a) T.ho 'chief difficulty, is tho examination by the insi/cctor of pupils in Standard VI lor certificates of ■. proficiency, on which-depends the admission of children to tho secondary schools. I know cf no other real difficulty, ns tho head masters .promoto the children ,in all the other olossos. Tho department can get over the difficulty by adopting the suggestions givon on pa'go 40 of the annual report of tho N.Z.E.1., 1907. No doubt you have this. ' ' [Tho following aro tho clauses referred to With''TegftTd <0 pupils and others.who ore candidates ior certificates oE profidonoy, th« inspector, it i 9 suggested, may take one of four courses. He may (a) Examine them,' at. the time of his visit, of whioh ■10 days' notice is given;. , ■ (b) Arrange to hold' a control examination of all candidates from plaoos within $, convenient radius; 1 (c) Accept tho result of tho head teacher's examination as sufficient evidence that a candidate has reached the .required standard of attainment; : (d) Direot candidate to Fit for the special examination for certificates of proficiency held by the Education Department in December in each'year. . The inspector shall give certificates of proficiency to all candidates that, in his opinion, qualify in any ono of .the above four ways.] ' Marlborough.—Difficulty is impossibility of getting to tho' various schools at one and the same time. [This difficulty vanishes this year.l ' Westland—"Tho fact that schools are so scattered and travelling facilities very few." South Canterbury.—lmpossible for in l •spectors to examino all schools in any sufficiently brief period at tho ond of the year. ■" ■ . Hawse's Bay.—l really cannot remember one reasonable excuse. The question ol unfairness has been mentioned, but it' is not of'any moment. . Teachers havo got to recognisc that no ultduo ha6te in promotion pays. .. -. ■ ■ North Canterbury.—" Nono that are insuperable"' . . . , Grey.—Personally, I see no insuperable difficulties, but, of course, I havo not been forced to give tho matter any lengthy consideration.

6. Will you also state briefly tho ad' vantages obtained by holding the examinations at that time?' \ Auckland.—'" Whon children moved from school to school their attainments, .would he about equal, and tbey would not need to be put back because they could not overtake tho work, as is frequently the caso now.. . Less special coaching for ■'scholarships would bo done, as the .children would go up for the scholarships just fresh from Standard VI, and the' results of tho school work, instead of the results of , special work,, would be shown.".,: Maklhobougii.—" (a) Tho avcrago. attend-. anoo would bo increased, as- attendances always > fall off after examination. , i_(b) Teachers' salaries and committees' Capitation would not fall off;" Westland.—" Prevents attendance faLling off between tho examination and Christmas vacation, and enables Standard VI pupils to attend District High School straight away at beginning of next year." South Canterbury.—'" If all examinations for promotion wcro lield at that l.imo (1) all pupiis would be at same stage of progress—this would be a great .ad< vantage in ca6es-of transfer from scbuol to school or district to district; (2) tho work of the school year could bo more conveniently divided-Vthe Jong vacation would not, then break into tho work of any period." Hawke's Bat. —" Children changing schools find themselves at no disadvantage, Those entering liigli schools start the yew together: Tho children ate retained in school better to tile end of' the year." NoßTii Canterbury.—"All schools have examinations at 6ame time; benco there is no work missed' in ov'ont of change of residence. .New Year is best time for commencement of new work." ■■. > G-bet— I ".Tho school 'year' ends with December, .hence examination should be as near that date as- possible, and whoro high schools-are-established it is necessary il pupils arc -not to lose part of a year.' 7. Would'it -riot'be better for the.'! respective schools, as a whole, to ha-vo all the. examinations, at Christmas? - Auckland.—"Certainly. Tho whole ol the tcachcts in this province would welcome, the'change." . ' , Maiubohocgil—" Most decidedly." . Wkstland—" Yes." ~ Sodth CANTEimcrit.—" Certainly." ! Hawke's Bat.—"Wo have always thought so." : North CAS'TEBBusr. — "Certainly it ,4.culd." . . '■" v GREf.—"Yes, T think so. The long vacation makes a suitable break, and naturally ends a year's work." 8. Would not this secure a better attendance and a higher one, peeing, that Standard VI would then bo in school up to the end of the year instead of becoming a disappearing VII? Auckland. —" Yes. Moreover, tho Standard VII would not contract habita of laziness before entoriiiß tho secondary schools. At present, after tlioy have passed Standard YI, they look forward to having an easy timo till after Christmas." ( MAm.nono.UGn.—"' Certainly it would." Westland.—" Yes." , . South Canterbury.—" Certainly." > Hawke's Bay.—"Yes, we find it «>." North Canterbury. — " Certainly it would." Grey.—" Certainly. Even the small country schools would benefit hero." 9. Would it not be better for those taking high school work to commence that work' with the high school teachers instead of commencing m the primary schools and then taking up the work under another set of teachers? Auckland.—" Yes. I think to," MARLBOROUGH.--" YcS." Westund.—"Yes." South Canterbury.—"Yes." • Hawke's Bay.—"The primary schools should, under present conditions, confine themselves to perfecting Standard VI work. Schools following this course have been most successful in supplying high &hools with their most distinguished pupils." North Canterbury.—" Yes. The inspector at Christmas would examine, only Standard VI. Any other examination h< deemed advisablo would tako placo at th( annual visit." Grey.—" Most decidedly."