TEST IN SPELLING.

Shannon News, 12 March 1929, Page 4

TEST IN SPELLING.

SCHOOLGIRL’ S FAILURE. PROTEST AGAINST METHOD. DUNEDIN, Feb. 23. At a meeting of the Otago Education Board a protest was received from a parent against what he described as an injustice tb his daughter in the recent proficiency examinations. The, pupil was failed in spelling in tho proficiency examinations, although she was one of the best spellers in a class of 26, and in term examinations gained high marks for spelling. In the proficiency examinations it was quite possible for a pupil to get 25 words she had never been taught, and in tliif case 26 per cent, of the words in th<§ paper had not been taught. “I have heard many eomplainls this year,” said the chairman of the board, Mr James Wallace. “This strikes me as being an unfair handicap for the child. The explanation given is that the child did not gain her proficiency, because she did not get the number of marks required. I think the child lost her proficiency because she was given words to spell that were not taught to her. There are 25 words and for every mistake three marks are taken off. The girl had six words wrong and gained only seven marks. That seems altogether beyond reason. • This child, I consider, has been treated most unfairly. It is not our local inspectors I am finding fault with. They have to carry out the departmental regulations, and they do not prepare the, papers. This matter should be brought before tie Minister, and we should point out the injustice which the girl has suffered.”

It was decided to draw the attention of the Minister of Education to the letter of protest, which had the board's endorsement.