FORGERY IN EXAMINATIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19135, 1 April 1924, Page 6

FORGERY IN EXAMINATIONS.

CoNniDEUABLK importance attaches to the decision of the Court, of Appeal bearing upon the charges of forgery preferred against two students, till lately attending the Dunedin Training College, in connection with the teachers’ examinations hold in August lust. The facts in the case, simple in themselves and undisputed, have already received a goqd deal of publicity. The two young mon concerned adopted a method of procedure somewhat closely corresponding to that which in relation to horseracing is popularly known as “ringingin.” They arranged that in a subject in which one of them was weak the other should sit for examination in his stead,

signing his companion’s name to the necessary documents. The scheme failed because the impersonation was discovered, and the Board of Education, whoso officers the students had thought to outwit, saw to it that legal proceedings were instituted. In the Supreme Court counsel for tho accused rested the defence on the argument that the documents in the case wore not forgeries in the legal sense, since the student who had used tho other’s name had done so with the latter’s permission. Mr •Justice Sim made it clear to the jury that the crux of tho matter was whether or not the documents wore false documents within tho meaning of the Crimes Act. He ruled provisionally that they were false documents. The jury found accordingly a verdict of “guilty,” understanding beforehand that the question of law would be submitted to tho Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal has considered the case and has upheld the ruling of Mr Justice Sim that the young men accused of forgery were tho authors of false documents. So their conviction stands. The moral of such legal proceedings, fortunately of an unusual kind, needs little pointing. The educational authority no doubt carried tho matter to the courts with reluctance. But one of its duties is to protect the comprehensive interests of education. Apart from the legal position there was no question but that these young men were concerned in an endeavour to impose upon the examiners by fraudulent representations. Possibly they regarded comparatively lightly, and without a due sense of responsibility, a line of conduct which really admits of no conclonomcnt. A high ethical standard is naturally expected in aspirants for the teaching profession. Regarding a lack of qualification in this respect this ease has offered its revelations. Examinations play an extremely prominent part in the educational system of the dominion. Those for matriculation, teachers’ certificates, and higher educational honours attract every rear a very large number of candidates. The task of supervision is a heavy one, and the supervisors cannot be expected

to have a personal knowledge of all those who present themselves before them. Doubtless the absence of an adequate check upon the identity of the candidates has led to abuse of the confidence of the examining authorities in such manner as that lately ventilated. Unfortunately there is reason to suppose that the practice in question is no novelty, but has had some vogue over a longer period than the uninitiated might imagine. It is to be hoped that the publicity which has attended the recent legal proceedings and the verdict of the judges in classifying the practice in question under a very uncompromising name will have a salutary effect. The integrity of the great mass of candidates for examination is no doubt, and always has been, the outstanding safeguard against misrepresentation. But it has been shown that the system under which the examinations are conducted has weak points of which the unscrupulous are able to take advantage. The argument for the introduction of more adequate safeguards against such abuse should not need further emphasis.