THE DENTISTS’ BILL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19259, 25 August 1924, Page 9

THE DENTISTS’ BILL.

AX APPEAL TO SYMPATHY. It is said ihat, an attempt is being made lo influence members of Parliament in favour of the Dentists Bill, which proposes lo give another opportunity of securing registration io candidates who have failed to satisfy the examiners at previous examinations, by Ihe plea that the examinations have been unduly hard in the past. Dr Piekeriil, Dean of the Dental Faculty, at the University of Otago, has made the following reply to this plea;—-

“Tlie dental mechanics who are petitioning for an amendment, to the Dentists Act are appealing to your sympathies on grounds which are both false and misleading. Apparently their main argument in favour of being granted fresh examinations is that previous examinations were unfair as to the range of subjects asked, and the stiffness cr unsuitability of the questions, and various examples of sucii have, I believe, been quoted. “Now, I wish to assure you most emphatically that such is absolutely contrary to fact. We endeavoured to the very best of our ability (o conduct the examinations both in the letter and spirit of the Act. W© realise we were placed in the position of guarding the public health in that it was our duly to see that no whoso practical knowledge of operative and mechanical dentistry did not warrant it, and candidates stood or fell by the lack or otherwise of this necessary knowledge. I have here with me, for anyone fo see, the original marked sheets, whicli show conclusively that not one single candidate was failed because of his lack of theoretical knowledge only. As a matter of fact, the Board cf Examiners was. for the most part, agreeably surprised at the character of the theoretical knowledge displayed. It is, however, of course, nooessarv that a man should have a thorough knowledge of the theory underlying the practical application of his work.

“If such questions were asked in the oral examinations as have been quoted, and the candidate was unable to answer them, it made not one iota of difference as to whether he passed or failed. Further, and to give the candidates every possible chance consistent with safety, the Board of Examiners wont through the papers three times, and each time raised candidates' marks in order lo enable them to pass. This was done in 28 cases, and every possible leniency was shown to the candidates. Whilst the above is true, it was equally apparent that seme of the candidates were very obviously lacking in general education, even of certificate of proficiency standard. whilst others quite as ahviously. and contrary to their statements, had had no experience in operative dentistry. “There are 120 students at the Dental School undergoing the four years’ training demanded by law, and, naturally, they arc feeling extremely bitter that others who have not complied with the law are now having a farther chance of becoming registered dentists by a short cut through a itack door. I think it is the duty of Parliament to keep faith with those 120 students and with the public.”