THE MATRICULATION EXAMINATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 December 1924, Page 2

THE MATRICULATION EXAMINATION.

I'KOFKSSOR THOMPSON'S CIMTIOIS.iI. DUNEDIN, December 11. “The practice of judging a. school by examination results is happily relegated to the dark-ages,” said Dr. G. S. Thompson (professor of French in the University of Otago) at the St. Hilda’s College vacation ceremony to-night. He mentioned, however, that examinations showed the amount of progress made in a school, though lessons wore not nearly everything. • Dr. Thompson then took a tilt~at the matriculation examination. ‘‘The matriculation examination.” lie said, “is causing grave dissatisfaction light throughout the Dominion and there will have to he a change within a year or two. The examinations are too

rigid. Our schools are being ridden |>y examinations, and the sooner we get more liberty the better.” Continuing. Dr. Thompson said that in these examinations there were compulsory subjects which one had to take whether one liked them or not. All girls and boys were not equally brilliant. nor were they brilliant on the same lines. Mould it not. then, be better to permit them to choose such subjects a.s they would shine in. Up till a year or two ago every girl bad to pass mathematics for matriculation despite the fact that as a rule girls were not at all good at mathematics. There wore many girls who found mathematics very difficult. 'I hev should lie at liberty to go on with literature or music or art and count that as a subject for the examination. The speaker thought that the time was coming when that would be done.