SCHOOL EXAMINATIONS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1133, 29 August 1882, Page 2

SCHOOL EXAMINATIONS.

We take the following very pertinent remarks on School matters from ‘ ‘ The Schoolmaster :—“ In the paper set to the candidates for certificates in Classes D. and E., on the “ Art of Teaching and School Management,” 000111*8 the following question : ‘ What is the most expeditious and effective mode of calling the roll of a large school ?’ We confess our inability to answer the question in its present form. It implies that the most expeditious and effective mode has been discovered, and that it is written down in some work on

‘School Management.’ If so, we should like to know in what work it is found. It is not in Gladnian, Prince, Griffiths, Saunders, Major, Robinson, Currie, Fitch, Gill, Park, Blakeston, and a score of other standard works we could mention, and to which we have taken the trouble to refer. Gladman only ventures to speak about the importance of registration, but he does not state ‘ the most expeditious method of marking registers.’ It docs not ask for an opinion, as, Which do you think, or which in your own opinion is the most effective? It does not ask, “What method of marking the registers was adopted in the the school where you have been engaged,” but the question is absolute in form, and therefore requires no opinion, no previous experience, but simply an answer, which by the question is supposed to be known. Perhaps our readers will be good enough to forward us answers, stating what in their opinion is the most expeditious method of marking the registers. We undertake to publish the answers ; and, if they agree or show that the best method of marking has been discovered, we will apologise to the examiners on School Management for doing them an injustice, and likewise confess our ignorance of this inportant subject. One of the most interesting discussions which we remember to have been read in the proceedings of the House of Representatives took place on the introduction, by Mr Steward, of the School Committee Election Bill. Mr Steward is desirous of altering the date of the annual election of school committees, as also of abolishing the cumulative system of voting. It is proposed to alter the annual election of school committee in the month of December, before which nominations must be sent in. Further, it is provided that school committees are not to take office until the close of the school year, ending December, 31st, by which means the accounts of the retiring committee can be duly balanced and certified to as correct by the incoming committee. These alterations are very necessary ones, and we believe will be found of great use in future elections, Everybody interested in education must be acquainted with the off-handed manner in which the elections of school committees are managed. Sometimes men of the grossest ignorance have suddenly found themselves elevated to the dignity of committeemen, without possessing a single qualification suitable for the due carrying out of the duty. Such men arc generally the greatest hindrances to teachers, and act like petty tyrants. The proposed bill will remedy this great defect, for we may be sure nominations will not be made of men utterly incompetent to undertake the duties. Year by year the positionjof committeeman is becoming an object pf ambition to the more intelligent among the people, for they see in a great measure the progress of education is lq the bauds of the loci] committees j aud the position w|lj become yet more important now that special nominations have to be made. On the question of abolishing the cumulative vote we are not so sanguine. And yet there is no difference whatever in the single vote and the cumulative vote. The majority in the cumulative vote will also get a majority in the single vote. The advantage of the cumulative vote lies in the fact that the minority are aroused to activity by th? apparent advantage given to their party j ami they in some cases out.vote the party constituting the majority, simply because the majority are indifferent, and do not put in an appearance on the day of election. If the majority continued to be as active as the minority, it would be as impossible for a minority to put in more than their actual representative number, whatever theniUuUi|> of votes obtained by cunpilative voting, Under all conditions, the representatives for majorities or minorities, supposing that all voters avail themselves of their voting power, will be in the same proportion as the majority or minority among the people bears to the total number of people in a district. Personally, we shall be sorry to see tli® Qumu. lative voting abolished, for we believe it has often been the means of ai<msing interest in * the annual mootings, and of bringing members to vote who would not have gone a yard from their house-doors had it not lieeii for the advantage which might be gained by an opponent, through a careful use of the cumulative vote.”