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Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume II, Issue 11, 1 May 1912, Page 164

To the Editor, Waiapu Church Gazettis. Sik — Have your readers studied the Religious Examination Results as published m your March columns ? Out of all the Sunday Schools m the Diocese five entered for the Examination. One of these was a town, and four country schools. In the division over fourteen years of age no one took a Senior Pass of 60 per cent m either the Bible or Prayer Book ; Junior Passes of 40 per cent were taken m each subject by three girls, two of whom passed m both subjects, being the only two m the whole Diocese who can claim the moderate Certificate of Proficiency. The Bishop's > enior Prize could be awarded to no one m a Day or Sunday School. In the division under fourteen years of age four took a 60 per cent pass m the Bible and eight m the Prayerbook ; sixteen obtained 40 per cent m the Bible and nineteen m the Prayerbook, eighteen having secured Certificates of Proficiency for having passed m both subjects. Of the twenty Certificates given m both divisions, three Juniors come to boys. The examination for this year is to from its predecessor m two particulars. It is to be independent of the appointed Syllabus and Textbook, and it is to eliminate the Bible. The only difference m the Prayerbook Examination is that it is to go again over part of the ground just covered. May I say what I think about this ? First, I fear that it will be a sad pity to kill, purposely or otherwise, this Diocesan Examination. A few of us have discovered its utility. We have found that the prospect of competition with other parishes m no way retards or militates against the Spiritual instructions of Bible History or Prayerbook Doctrine, but does stimulate at«

tendance, interest, and zeal. Secondly, I know the practical local difficulties which surround the matter — both the unwillingness of scholai'S who underestimate their own knowledge of the subject, the difficulties surrounding the attendance of those willing to be tested, and the want of suitable places to hold the examination. Thirdly, I am perfectly aware that the greatest possible desire on the part of the examiners has not prevented Papers from being sometimes too long, sometimes above the capacity of our little friends. Fourthly, I am too well aware that too much may be crammed into the year's teaching. Having experienced all this, is it too venturesome for me to make a few tentative suggestions? The InterDiocesan Lessons for this year are exceptionally good, but the course is long for our circumstances. Yet. it is easily devisible. Let us be told that certain parts will be taken out. Then two hours is a long time for a child of twelve or fourteen to sit over a Paper, and "My duty towards God" is a long answer to start with. Can we not have three Papers of one hour ? Again, it is hard for children to bear a distinct recollection of lessons for several months. Would it not be better for them, and easier for the examiner, if the examinations were divided m time — say, the New Testament soon after Trinity Sunday, the Prayer Book (keeping to the Text Book) some weeks later on, and the Old Testament about Advent. In setting the Papers, would it not be well to avoid Doctrinal and Spiritual questions, as well as technical terms ? It is not easy for adults always to explain or grasp these ; for children it is almost impossible. My appeal, then, is to the Examination authorities (I do not know who they are), to spare our very fragile life ; to the Examiners, to think of their own little ones, with the remembrance that those whose minds they are taxing have less, far less, capacity ; to the managers of Sunday Schools, to stir up m their scholars the spirit of emulation and proper ambition ; to the parents, to give the youngsters every opportunity ; and to the boys and girls, to have a go for at least a Certificate, if not the Bishop's Prize. Lastly, to the readers of this letter, especially to those who despise our examinations, my appeal is for a reply.— l am, etc., J. Hobbs. The Vicarge, Te Puke. March 12 ? 1912.