TRINITY COLLEGE EXAMINATIONS.

Evening Star, Issue 22142, 24 September 1935, Page 12

TRINITY COLLEGE EXAMINATIONS.

TO THE EDITOII. gj r The above examinations are now in progress, and will in the couise of a dav or two be completed* and I, along with man}' others, feel that the time lias come when the candidates must be given an assurance that in future they shall receive courteous treatment and the opportunity of giving of their best. The present examiner, Mr Alexander Watson, has in many cases laded in Ins duty as an examiner. His hrst duty is to place a candidate at his or her case, that is understood to be the rudiments of fair examining. This has not been done. Students of psychology acknowledge without any hesitation that a girl in her teens is at a very impressionable age, sensitive, and certainly unable to. cope with the treatment which has'been meted out by Mr Watson. Trinity College fees are heavy, and at a tune like the present often it means ajsacrilice on the part of parents to present thenchildren for examinations. After the experience that some of the candidates have had at these examinations it will write “ finis ” to the hopes which they had cherished for the future, and will certainly not give any encouragement to pursue what would probably have meant a successful career.

The syllabus for each examination is drawn up, I presume, by a board of Trinity College examiners. Why, then, dose Mr Watson say to a candidate on presenting him with a list of the work she has prepared: “ Why did you choose those chapters? Why did you not choose something else?” That is absolutely beyond his jurisdiction. His duty is to examine, and when the syllabus is adhered to it is inexcusable that he should comment in an irritable way upon the work that has been chosen, and so put a candidate at a great disadvantage to commence what is, usually, somewhat of an ordeal even under happy conditions. A teacher chooses what is considered the most

suitable for a pupil. Some candidates have been reduced to tears in the examination vbom. Others have been able to bottle it up whilst there, but have arrived home iu a state of collapse brought about by Mr Watson’s sarcasm, which is surely unpardonable in an examiner, knowing that he has the whip hand, and that the candidate has no redress. Perhaps the local secretary, who is always ready to help, will give tiie teachers an assurance that she will do all in her power to avoid another visit from Mr Watson.— I am, etc., Nancy Lee. September 23.

FAs the result of inquiries made in official quarters, we are assured that all the candidates were treated with the utmost consideration and courtesy, and where, in one case, .tears were shed in the examination room there was no possible explanation why this should have taken place. It immediately preceded tlie asking of questions, which, under the circumstances, could neither be put nor answered satisfactorily. The tears were not due to any fault on the part of the examiner, but were possibly due to the highly-strung state of nerves of the candidate, to which, most certainly, tiie examiner's conduct .did not contribute. An attendant is in the room throughout ibe whole of tbc examinations, and could testify to the courteous manner in winch the examinations were conducted.—Ed. B.S.] . ' . .