THE MATRICULATION STANDARD.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9709, 3 February 1910, Page 4

THE MATRICULATION STANDARD.

In the University Senate on the 20th iLst., the Rev. A. Cameron asked that a special investigation should be made into the work of the Recess Committee in relation to the matriculation examination, remarks the ''New Zealand Herald." He referred to the numerous failures recorded this year, and stated that if the committee had pursued the same methods as in previous years as many as 382 more of th't candidates would have passed. The statement was not denied, but an explanation was promised at a later stage. It is now admitted that the custom adopted for the dozen years was this year discarded, and that, as a consequence, 179 candidates, who on the old system would have passed, were failed, It seems to ua to be a serious error of judgment to increase the standard of any important public examination without giving the fullest notice to the candidates. To adopt, without a word of warning, a new system, which peremptorily brushes aside some scores of candidates, it is most unfair. It treats with contempt the reputation of the teachers and their schools, and the. hopes and the labours of the candidates. The requirements of an examination so widely used as the New Zealand University matriculation become standardised, and teachers can with considerable precision advise pupils as to their chance of success. When, however, the status quo is altered in secret by the adoption of a fresh standard of measurement the ground is cut away from both teacher and taught. To accept fees from 179 candidates' by deliberation thus foredoomed to failure and to subject them to the strain of a week' examination, might be characterised as a cruel breach of faith were it not quite evident that it was the result, simply, of thoughtlessness. But, with that much admitted, the effect is only less regrettable than if the cause were less innocent. Ic is quite beyond justification.