CRITICISM OF EXAMINATION PAPERS

Chronicle (Levin), 10 December 1947, Page 3

CRITICISM OF EXAMINATION PAPERS

DUNEDIN, Dec. 9. In her annual report the principal of the Otago Girls' High School . (Miss M. S. Fitzgerald) takes atrong exception to the new style of school certificate examination as it was applied this year to papers in history and English. She observes that, in spite of the protest which is flowing in to the Director of Education this month, it must be an indieation that the teachers, exaininers, and the Education Departinent do not see eye to eye. ' ' This year, ' ' wrote Miss Fitzgerald, ' 1 the papers caused history teachers to despair teaching ordinary third or fourtli year pupils enough facts to enalde them to tacklc such papers with coniidence. If the facts are not to be taught 'adequately, then only a dangerous generalisation can be made." Miss Fitzgerald says that, whether the teachcr makes the generalisation lirst and then teaehes it, or whether the child is left to make it himself from the l'ew facts he does know, the result is equally suspected. "It scems to me to be entirely ' wrong. " Miss Fitzgerald adds that children of reasoiiable abibty, who have had the advantages of what was considered a sound teaching in their examination subjects for four years, should have_a tinal and irreversible judgment passed on their achievement. "After the examinations, such as has been couducted in geography and history in 194ti and 1947 respectively, .1do not consider that the Education t)£partment lias any right to victimise the children and to iiupose its Will on the teachers. If it is not trying to do this, then L can only conclude that it has a deplorable Jack^o^ control over its examiners, combined with a surprising ignorance of the jisychology Of the caiulidates sitting their first exaniination outsule a school. ' ' ' •: '