School Inspectors' Conference

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6893, 3 February 1894, Page 2

School Inspectors' Conference

+ , . Wellington, last night.— At the school inspectors' conference this morning a sub' committee on the uniformity of examination brought up their report, and the following recommendations were adopted : — 1. That the best way for providing uniformity of examination throughout the colony under the existiug circumstances seems to be for the Minister of Education to issue to inspectors a coda of instructions defining afl clearly as possible the standard of proficiency to be required for a pass in each subject of every standard class ; 2. That samples of arithmetical tests to be used in each of the standard classes i bove standard I should be issued by the Minister, these tests to be used by all inspectors in the colony, there are to be at least fifty special sets of tests for each year ; 3. For defining a standard of proficiency neoessarj>fijr a pass in reading, writing, drawing, and composition the committee has no suggestion to offer, but submit the following suggestions in connection with spelling and arithmetic ; That in standards I and II a pass be twothirds of the words to be taken from one of the standard class reading books chosen by the teacher, that in standard 111 about five lines and five words be required, three words in error to count for failure. The Inspectors' Conference also approved of the following recommendations of the committee re improvement of inspectorate of schools :— That in Standard IY, about six lines dictated from the class reading book, more than two errors to count as a failure ; that in Standards V and VI, about bight lines dictated from the class reading book, more than two errors to count as a failure, but at the discretion of the inspector an unseen passage of equal length from the reading book, when more than two errors shall count as a failure ; that in arithmetic, five questions be given to each Standard class, boys to pass on having three right and girls two and a half in questions that are not purely mechanical half marks to be allowed for correctness of methods ; that in Stan* dards 111 to VI mental arithmetic may be given as one of the questions or as a substitute for one that will be omitted on the following basis : three mental arithmetic questions to be set, two correct answers to carry full marks and one half marks. It was resolved that the Minister supply inspectors with a few samples of the kind of questions to be set in examining arithmetic of Standard I. The report was adopted. The following notices of motion 'were given :— Mr Bindon : That class subjects be divided into optional and compulsory-r---optional, singing, science, and history ; compulsory, grammar, object lessons, and geo* graphy. Mr Hill ; That the system of passes be retained, but that the number of standards be reduced from six to three, corresponding with standards 2, 4, and 6 under the present regulations, individual examination of pupils being held at Intervals of two years, in each alternate year pupils to be examined as a class as to methods, character, instruction, and general progress, and that the efficiency of the school be estimated on this dual system of examination. Mr Flemiug : That clause 16 of the regulations pertaining to teachers certificates so as to read,— " subject to the operation of regula* tions 5, 6, 7 and 8, graduates of the Univeri aity of New Zealand in first or second class honors, or those who have qualified for first or second class honors in passing the M A, examination be admitted to Cla^s A without examination .