PRIMARY SCHOOL COURSE.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14974, 22 May 1914, Page 9

PRIMARY SCHOOL COURSE.

THE MARK OF PROFICIENCY. (CTECIAI. TO '-'THE PRESS.") AUCKLAND, May 21. Some timely observations ou tho practical effect of the ordiuary primary school courso of education- havo oeen made by the Auckland school inspectors in their annual report, "it has been felt for some years past," they say. "that tho standard o c attainment demanded by a certificate of proficiency was in general not sufficiently high, and at a recent conference of inspectore it was agreed that it was desirable to raise tho stauQard. The possession of a certificate of proficiency implies, or ought to impiy, tnat tue noiuer has mooccred the work of tno primary scuool, nas nad nis intelligence uovcioiled ana powers ot observation extended wicnin tno limits ot primary scnooi influence; ana is. «n a position to profit by tuat further training piovicied tree of cost by the -State. It follows, tiicieioio, tnat a reasonably high standard of attainment should De demanded before- these certificates are awarded, cspesiaiiy i:i view of tlw proposal to abolish ordinal? scholarship allowances and substitute more widelyuistributed boarding allowances. It should be boruo in mind, however, thtv* the -.ice.place privilege earned oy tho certificate of proficiency is of very real oenefi'fc t/> a large number of pupils, so that to raise tho standard of attainment in such a way as to shut out applicants whose primary school training would warrant tneir receiving further instruction, would be unfair to the pupils concerned and unfortunate to the interests of the community. By all means let us raise the standard of attainment required for the proficiency certificate, but let us also safeguard the interests of thoso who desire to take advantage of free secondary education. "While, therefore, we are or opinion that certificates oi proficiency should be reserved for the best' product* cf our primary schols, we also maintain thai- the lower certificate in Standard VI., viz., the certificate of competency, should carry scmo of the privileges heretofore won by tho certificate of proficiency. Thero is another matter iv connexion with the award of standard Vi certificates to which we find it necessary again to draw attention. Some teachers are apt to think that the efficiency of the school is tested, and the ability of the teacher gauged, by tho percentage of Standard VI. certificates won by pupils. We refer of course 'to the smaller schools. Though wo recognise tho need for intelligence and skill ou the part of thoso who successfully prepare pupils fo:- c3ca.minp.i.ioii, aud though, as a iule, we th:nk highly of the school whose pupils are able to acquit themselves with credit in examination tests, wo submit that other parts of tho school hay« eq"al claims on the attention of tho te.-icher, and that these, must in no way be to preparing pupils for Standard VI. examinations. The efficiency of the school <:> estimated b\ the vtandaid of work i*. is able to maintain thronghonfc all classes, and no amount of proficiency in Stan-l.ud VI can cr> ppe*;salo for backward conditions elsewhere."