ABOUT "CRAMMING."

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1164, 27 June 1911, Page 4

ABOUT "CRAMMING."

VIEWS OF A SCHOOL INSPECTOR, IDs , Tclccrauh.—Siiocia! CorrcEDOndcnU Auckland, Juno 28. Sonio remarks on tho advantages aud disadvantages of examination wcro mado by Mr. E. K. Mulgau, chief inspector of schools, at tlio opening of tho Sacred Heart Convent at Kcmuera yesterday. Mr. Mulgan said that examinations had their distinct, advantages as well as undoubted drawbacks. "Tho slock charge against examinations," ho Mid, "is Ibut they lead to, or lend themselves to, cramming, It is difficult to know what is implied by 'cramming,' hut if it menus the power of being able to master part of a subjec.l in a limited time it can hardly be said to be without educative aud utilitivo value. It may be true that when tho examination is over tho candidate may never have occasion to refer directly to tho subject in which he has been tested, but ho has acquired the power of learning with rapidity, and perhaps to apply himself resolutely where ho may have littlo real interest. This is a highly valuable and educative exorcise. The fuller and more responsible life lying before him will require a performance of many unpleasant duties and much hard and disagreeable work. Ci\n there 1)0 any better preparation for this than when at school ho hnd to apply himself to unpleasant tasks in a serious and determined way ?" M>. Mulgan said that ho believed there was such a thins ns injurious cramming, by which be meant tho hasty and imperfect training which not only left no lasting impression behind, and cultivated the memory nt the expense- of the intelligence; but'what was infinitely worst), led young people to imagine that a vral grasp of a subject was being acquired, when they were morely memorising n. little superficial knowledge, and mistaking the shadow for the substance. Cramming in this smisi' was unfortunately not altogether unknown, and no one more than he deplored its existence, but what he wished to draw attention to was that many people made against examinations and'against their education system tho charge of cramininn without clearly understanding what the term imnlied or how injwuro Was the foundation nn which such a chiirpe rested. In conclusion, tho speaker referred to the erave dancer tli.it lay in mnkiu.*- I"- , much of examni.itions, ami allowing them to divert the at+cntion of both *••■•»' ","" teacher from tlio real and more onduriiu? ninis of edue.il ion.