MATRICULATION EXAM.

Southland Times, Issue 22766, 17 December 1935, Page 5

MATRICULATION EXAM.

To the Editor. Sir, —Dr Uttley’s and Miss Eastwood’s criticism of the matriculation examination papers is most enlightening and justifies the charge of unfairness to the candidates. It seems to me that what is needed is the application of commonsense. The matriculation examination, not being competitive, is designed to close the door of the university against candidates who do not attain to a required standard, but their standard can be tested equally well by a system of accrediting which can include examinations during the school year, and set by and under the control of the school authorities. Suitable provision or allowance can then be made for pupils who may suffer from temporary sickness. The exclusion of a competent or even brilliant candidate through allowing the element of risk to operate is a serious matter and militates against the interests and purpose of the university. In the system which adjudicates upon the qualifications of a candidate, there should be no place for risk, otherwise the system is a bad one. Reference may now be made to the hygiene of the situation. If a boy or girl shows signs of indisposition, accompanied by a rise of temperature and the parents are sufficiently interested to put into practice up-to-date teaching about health, the patient is required to stay in bed until the health is normal, but the relentless examination bogey shows no mercy. It is time this old man of the sea was thrown off. In any case commonsense demands that there should be a difference in the treatment of boy and girl pupils. The mental, psychological and physical conditions governing the school work of a girl are entirely different from those relating to a boy and should be taken into full and sympathetic consideration. It may be objected that the teachers cannot be trusted to be fair in their accrediting or that they do not wish to undertake the responsibility. In the first place the teachers are to be trusted until they have shown themselves untrustworthy and secondly, they already assume and magnificently fulfil responsibilities as important as devolve upon the parents themselves, and in the best interests of the young people can well afford to accept the additional one of accrediting.—l am, etc., FRANK SAMPSON.