THE PROFICIENCY EXAMINATION. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21216, 23 December 1930, Page 13

THE PROFICIENCY EXAMINATION. TO THE EDITOR.

_ SIE, —The recent proficiency examination as far as the Lawrence School is concerned was not as satisfactory as your list of names would appear to make out. All those whose names are mentioned in your paper never sat for the examination. Some merely passed on the,merit of their year’s work or on the recommendation of the master. One or two pupils sat for the second year in succession, without any result. I consider that this system is wrong and that every pupil should be required to sit for the examination. Out of .a class Of 18 scholars, nine were required to sit for the examination,- but not one of their names appeared. on your list, and it is evident that the progress of these scholars is stopped for another year at least. It will be seen that from the Lawrence District High School not one actual pass was gained by them. There seems no doubt but that some pupils are fortunate in not being required to sit for the examination. One wonders what the result would be it all were required to sit. It would appear to me that a schoolmaster is in trie awkward'position of having to show a certain number of passes and failures in trying to keep his school at. its present grade. According to my view, the result of the examination is not in keeping with the reputation of the Lawrence School. A class of only 18 should not, in my opinion, have had a failure. I understand that those children who appear to have missed have the opporunity, if they r so desire, of again sitting for their proficiency exomination in the month of March, and thus being enabled to carry on with their secondary education. > If this is the position, I would suggest that it be a recommendation, from our local board that those scholars desiring to sit in March should receive every care and instruction in preparation for doing so, and that the child's progress should not be barred by the system that prevails.—l am, etc.. Parent. Lawrence, December 20,