MATRICULATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3912, 5 March 1929, Page 29

MATRICULATION.

MARKING OF THE PAPERS.

THAMES, February 26. It was stated at tliis morning’s meeting of the Thames High School Board of Governors that the headmaster of the Thames High School (Mr W. H. Hoult) had stated that he had evidence that the matriculation examinations were a farce. He had proof that a girl and two voting men connected with the marking of the papers had stated to persons outside that ‘ one school had been given a jolly good spin. He had proof of this - through persons who had spoken to the markers. Mr Archibald Burns (acting chairman of the board and chairman of the Auckland Education Board): “That is likely to shake one’s fait 1 - in the examination.” The meeting then went on to discuss the accrediting system, the matter of examination marking being dropped.

T March 1. In the course of a lengthy letter to the Thames Star in regard to the statement concerning matriculation marking, Mr W. H. Hoult, head of the Thames High School, says:— “ The matriculation examination today, in its unwieldiness, cannot compare' well with that of 25 years ago The number of hopeful candidates has vastly increased. The English examiner and his assistants have, to mark, I believe, some 4000 papers in three weeks. Only a very few minutes can possibly be given to the candidates’ two three-hour English papers, the culmination of three or four years’ work at secondarj- schools. The judgment is nearly as swift as, but far more erratic than, it will be on the students’ final day of judgment. Teachers generally criticise most violently- the marking of the English and French papers. It is here undoubtedly that the queerest results are obtained. Mathematics, science, history, and so on can be more definite, as the items can be right or wrong. The jsent break-necK system cannot pretend To do justice to such elusive things as languages. “Now for a word or two on the examining personnel so far as I understand it. At the head of a paper one generally reads: Examiners, professor, and assistants.’ From evidence gathered from the testimonials from young teachers applying for positions at this school, I am, 1 believe, on safe ground when I state that the * assistants ’ are frequently students at universities. Furthermore, some testimonials in some cases will show that these young folk have never had any practical teaching experience. I here hasten to state tW I do not wish to challenge the honesty of any of the assistants, nor do I suspect for a moment that any assistant has ever favoured any

special candidate or school. I do, in all seriousness, question the ability of such students, who have never had any teaching experience, to sit in judgment on, say, English or French composition, Directions can be given to them carefully, but even then the risks of uneven marking are appalling.” AUCKLAND, February 27. When the matter was referred to Mr M. R. O’Shea, registrar of Auckland University College, this morning, he said: While the Auckland University College has no responsibility in or control over the matriculation examination of the University of New Zealand, the college has taken immediate steps to bring the matter before the notice of the University of New Zealand so that an inquiry can be made, the view being held that the statement must be substantiated or with* drawn.”

RESULTS REVIEWED. WELLINGTON, February 28. The University Council at its last meeting referred to the Executive Committee the duty of reviewing the results of the matriculation examination, with an instruction to pass those candidates who, falling just short of the pass mark in one subject, satisfied the committee that they possessed special qualification in a group of cognate subjects. The committee has passed the following candidates:—Alexander, J. M.; Bell, A. A.; Blaikie, C. W. N.; Bryan, W. A.; Cleary, Dorothy T.; Craighead, Doris M.7“Dawson, J. E.; De Lambert, J. R.; Donaldson, R. L.; Edgecombe, E. M.; Gibb, A.; Hammond, J. E.; Hodgson, J. N.; Howarth, P. F.; Hoyle, T. S.; Isaac, W. A. D.; Johnston, A. H.; Judson, R. F.; Ludwig, M. F.; Mullin, T. G.; M'Kewen, S. B.; Neil, J. I. B.; Payne, W. P.; Radford, K. B.; Rudd, J. G.; Saker, E. G.; Sutherland. V. E.; Thomson, T. A.; Vazey, F. F.; Wellington. W. P.; Woodley, A. W.; Young, A. M. SPECIAL INTERMEDIATE EXAMINATIONS. The following candidates passed in the subjects indicated of the special intermediate examinations. The subjects are indicated as follows:—B., biology; P., physics; 1., inorganic chemistry; 0., organic chemistry; C., chemistry Medical Intermediate.—J. E. E. Blomfield, C.; W. S. Charters, P.; E. H. Clarke, C.; A. P. Cotter, P.; A. G. Cumming, B.; N. F. Greenslade, B.; D. W. Guthrie, 8.P.C.; C. B. Innes, P.C.; G. B. Orbell. 8.P.C.; N. W. Pryde, 8.P.C.; Zoe C. Rutherford, P. Dental Intermediate.—A. L. H. Barsdell, P.; C. A. Blackwood, I.; A. Grass, P. 1.; A. H. Gresham, I.; D. S. Macpherson. P. 1.0.; N. de B. Noakes, P.

Home Science Intermediate.—Marjory J. Barr, P.; Kathleen S. Begg, P.; Clara E. Dash, P.; Annie M. Hill, I.; Aileen E. Morrison, I.; Tui M. Rankin, I.; Phyllis E. Reeves, B.; Thelma IL Simons, I. B. Agriculture Intermediate.—D. N, Ferguson, P. B. Agricultural Science Intermediate. —R. A. Sherwin, P. B. Forestry Science.—J. P. Gorman, B.; H. B. Latter, B.; R. B. Moorhouse, P.I. B. Architectural Science.—E. R. Somervi. le, P.