Manamatu Herald. SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 1898. School Examinations.

Manawatu Herald, 30 April 1898, Page 2

Manamatu Herald. SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 1898. School Examinations.

Next week the scholars of the Foxton school undergo, what many of them consider, the ordeal of examination. Need the test be so considered ? The work which will be set before those who are presented for examination will be no different to that which has been taught them during the twelvemonths by their teachers, and with the least steadiness of head, every scholar who has really paid any attention to his instruction should be able to pass, but experience has shown that they do not. It is well-known by teachers that many scholars who during regular work have been looked upon as sure passers with the best of marks, manage at the examination just to get through, or else fail ; and on the other hand children who have been reckoned upon as sure to fail have passed well. A great deal of this curious working arises from the various temperaments of the scholars, for whereas a studious child, desiring to pass well, overdoes his powers and on the appointed day becomes too nervous to do anything calmly and quietly, yet another scholar, the careless, healthy, romping one, who has allowed his brain plenty, if not too much, rest, comes up to the examination with the fact impressed upon him that on this important occasion* he must piill himself together, and doing so, is successful in drawing out the knowledge his teachers doubted ever having, been absorbed by him. Thus we get such extraordinary, as it is termed, reversal of form at school examinations, though to those who understand children it is natural enough. We thus arrive at what the Education Boards have also learnt, and that is that it is as well for every child who attends school to attend the examination whether they are likely to pass or not, as until an attempt is made, the. result is unknown and, as we have made clear; the likelihood of a pass or not is not easily guaged by the teacher. Parents can be aware of one fact and that is that if a child is not presented for examination he will not be passed on to a higher standard, and will thus haye to remain for one year more for his opportunity, whilst a trial can make his position no worse, with all the chances of its being better. If so much consideration was not shown to the average oi passes obtained by schools as a whole, and also of the passes gained by each teacher of each Standard, we have not the slightest doubt but that they would echo the same views as we do, as it must be an excellent experience for every scholar to undergo an examination which widens nis view of what is required of him, whether he passes or does not. When more interest is taken in school matters, then it may be possible to hope that some better arrangements will be made whereby the smarter scholars will get through their course of study in less time than it now takes them. As the case stands at present the smarter scholars are handicapped by their less earnest companions. We have before drawn attention to the rules made by the government as to the acceptance of employees that a certain Standard, the 111 for some posts, the IV for others and the VI for others must have been passed, so as to show how important it is that children not only should attend regularly at school, but that they should get through their Standards under certain ages, otherwise certain openings for employment under government will be closed to them. It thus seems a pity that every child, with the least prospect of success, should not have a try to pass every examination that is held.

The usual monthly meeting of the Borough Council will be held on Monday evening, when tenders for the erection of the pound must be in.

Mr McQueen has rented the dwelling previously occupied by the late Mr Gibson. He bring 3 his family down to-day.

Next Wednesday we understand a game of cricket will be played between a team captained by Mr McLennan, of Oroua Downs, and the local cricket club.

The Post says " the Railway Department intends to place 40 or 50 new trucks on its Wellington, Taranaki, and Hawkes Bay lines in the course of a week or two," and not before they were needed.

British companies in New' York have increased the rates of insurance on American bottoms 50 per cent.

The special Jubilee issue of New Zealand stamps is selling steadily in London.

An exchange says the bank rate (in London) at 4 per cent, in the month of April has been unknown for 20 years, and it means that the era of cheap money is at an end.

The shooting season commences on Monday.

The amount the United States pays in pensions to those who were engaged in past wars, or to their relatives, last year reached the sum of £37,000,000 1

The Post says Mr Chaß. Pharazyn. of Wellington, has decided to cut up his Makino property, in the Borough of Feilding, into dairy farms. The property comprises 2675 acres.

The Right Hon. R. J. Seddon ba3 been installed as Grand Master of tbe Masonic Grand Lodge of New Zealand.

Fob Coughs and Colds Take Woods' Gmai Ps?mbmih.x Cum, 1/6 and 2/C-

The Spanish naval credit sounds terribly large when mentioned in pesetas (90 million of them), but put into our English money it only means three and a half million pounds.

As a result of the late visit of Colonel Pole Penton, a definito scheme of coastal defence i 3 being laid down in connection with the Auckland forts.

A disastrous fire has occurred at Glasgow, doing damage which is estimated at £200,000. Sixty firms suffered. The Catholic Cathedral narrowly escaped destruction. At the request of tho priests the people knelt in the streets and prayed.

A Christchurch City Councillor gave the Charitable Aid Board the names of threo people drawing between them £60 a year in relief, one of whom he believed, had an income from the earnings of his . family, of £100 a year. In another case the members of a recipient's family had three bicyles among them. Further, he knew recipient's of charitable aid, men and women, who were as well dressed as any member of tho Council, and who walked about with fourbutton kid gloves and silk unbrellas.

Benin curiosities aro now reaching the London auction rooms as tho result, no doubt of the recent expedition. There is something decidedly gruesome in the first item in these curiosities recently cata'ogued for sale at Stevens's. _ Probably someone will have an eye upon it for the Chamber of Horrors. This is how it reads — ' ' Bronze moulded plaque of six figures, ancient origin, found in Ju-Ju house, freely drenched with human blood, antique workmanship representing Ju-Ju king and 'executioners going to sacrifice." Not less ghastly is t'nc following : — " Small ivory tusk, stained with human gore, with Ju-Ju mark* on ihe back, found in a compound belonging to the priests, and formed one of tho ornaments of the altars upon which human victims were offered up with a hideous and sacred brutality."

The secretary of ih 1 Foxton Racing Club notifies that all stock found o-i tin racecourse will De impounded. It has boon found that some poisons go. upou th^ property and not on y open! Lut 'ewe open, the gates. ''-■"■*■"

Messrs P. Hennessy and Co. i rv: n us that flour has risen thirty shi'li;** *,* •>. ton, and is like'y to go still higiu . This is owing to lhu war. We must take these things pl-asa-itly, as the war is making our staple vroduc*. — fl x —boom.

Messrs Wa Is and Langley notify that on and after Monday n< xt the price of bread will b-* 4d cash, ami 4.^.1 bonked.

The annual meeting of the Tj : cpn^i-ag Committee for tho Manawatu Di.-itiict is advertised for Thursday, Oth June, at 12 o'clock at Marton.

Mr Marriott, a Yorkshire manufacturer, has bequeathed half a million of charities, including £180,000 to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel.

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