SIXTH STANDARD EXAMINATIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 175, 28 August 1909, Page 6

SIXTH STANDARD EXAMINATIONS.

NHIW REGULATION CRITICISM. The Education Department's aeff regulation concerning sixth standard examinations is comrng in lor some severe criticism. At the Educatiou board's meeting on Wednesday a letter was read Irom Mr. \Y. ]>'. llilsou, pro- : 1 iiitial secretary to tile jS'orth Camer-t-ury executive of tile FiinueiV Uion, lorwiirding a copy of a resolution passed on Wednesday last: "That this executive are of opinion that the present syjVmii of centralisation ol standard six scholars lor examination is unjust; that they are in iavor of reverting to the old system of examination, and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Minister of Education and the different Education Boards."

Mr. Morton said lie had heard numerous complaints from parents in the country thai the new system was going to entail great hardship and inconvenience L'pon them and tlieir children. They pointed out that the <wuiitry school chiidien woiiid naturally be acrvous in otiangc surrounuings, and perhaps tired as Hell from travel to the place of examination. I'adcr such conditions tliev would hardly be at their best, lie had protested when the regulation was issued, and he to protest again most emphatically. He had been told 0} the chairman of the lvaiiniro committee that the notices were already •*ued to the effect that the sixth standard examinations would be held in • w Plymouth next Christmas.

-Ui. ballantyne, Chief Inspector said nu audi notice had been issued by him or irom the 13oard ? s oilicc. As for Kainuro, °aly the other day the inspector© had, at the request of the teacher, examined six of the sixth standard pupils who did not wish to remain at school until December next. So tliey j?at at the ordinary school examination. He would like to explain that tke inspectors were not in love with the Bepayment's proposal, preferring the OJd system. It had advantages only for tiiOso who intended continuing their studies at a high school, for it enab'ed them to secure the competency or proncioncy certificates in time to enter the High schools at the commencement of the first term.

-Mr. .Morton said that, of course, there would be no hardship to children who intended continuing their studies, but it was distinctly inconvenient for pupils at those schools whose examinations took 'lace in the middle of the J car. llm :\th standard pupils would ve Iu I.nmiu at school till the Chrietliiiid vacation to secure their certiiicatcs n i i t t ' stLuiios w «e completed mouths before. Ue w as glad to lean j loui the inspectors ihat they were allowed to USO their discretion in this matter, and that they did eo. 'the chairman was of opinion that tile "oanl should enter a protest against tills injustice to the country children, on the grounds mentioned by Jlr. Morton; e . Ullef I'ispcctor, in answer to a question, said the examinations must tie held in .November or December, according to regulations. To comply with this the pupils must attend at conbut ,10t —* «■ Al - n t ° a moved > That this Board would point out to the Department the gieat hardship that is entailed on parents and scholars consequent on tue working of regulation 21, sub-clause c, Which requires that all scholars presented for certiiicatcs of competency and prohciency shall be examined at central places only; and again enters its protest against a system which in its oninchild'ren. 0t ' n 1841 intcßsts of

Mr. Trimble seconded the motion, amen was earned unanimously.