THE RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS EXAMINATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 289, 7 December 1901, Page 2

THE RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS EXAMINATION.

TO THE EDITOB. Sir,—Considerable dissatisfaction is beii>g expressed by candidates at the recent scholarships examination and by teachers who prepared candidate*. The examination questions in many instances were written in shocking'y caiehss and ungramuaatical English,' und at least one impossible problem was set for solution. A few of the worst examples, t .ken at random, from the different papers are given here: — (1) Explain how the earth is divided into zones, and name the dividing lines between each zone (Geograpky paper). (2) In an election l-16th of the electors did not vote: of the two candidates the one, supported by 19-40ths of the whole number ot voters is returned by a majority of five vo f es: find the number of votes each received (Arithmetic paper). (A candidate cannot be returned by 19-40tbscf the number of voters, i.e., those who vote: »nd the expression "total number cf voters" can hardly be contorted to mean any-

thing but" the total number of those who voted." If the examiner meant electors where he wrote voters, why did he not repeat the word in its true meaning of " persons entitled to vote ?" The use of the two words renders the sum an impossible one; and children who were intelligent enough to notice the studied change from elector to voter and who were unable to do the problem on that account, lose marks and perhaps their chance of success, through the carelessness of the examiner,) (3) Describe Nichelson's Hygrometer. If a Nioholson's Hygrometer, etc. (Science paper). Every one knows that tnere is no such instrument as Nicholson's Hygrometer, but there is a well kcown scientific instrument called Nicholson's Hydrometer. If any candidate attempted the question, he has probably given a description of the hydrometer, which is n totally different thing from the hygrome'er. The words are somewhat alike, but there can be no excuse for their confusion in an examination paper. (4). Parse the underlined words in: " Such men aa thou art England's boast." (Grammar paper). This may be a quotation, or it may not; it cortainly is not grammatical English. How the use of art ii justified is hard to determine. Another matter of complaint is tbe refusal of the supervisor at Stratford to allow children to use compasses to draw circles in doing their Euclid paper. This is outrageous, and if the supervisor knew anything about the conduct of public examinations, he would know that the u«e of compasses, rulers, etc., in doing Euclid is always permitted. Much valuable time was lost by the children ia their attempts to make circles without the use of which was freely allowed in other centres. —I am, etc.,

Aggrieved. [lf the abfiva statemeats are correct, " Aggriev.-d's " letter should have been adr'resfed to the Education Beard. -Ed.]