THE SETTLING OF EXAMINATION PAPERS.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1480, 29 December 1881, Page 3

THE SETTLING OF EXAMINATION PAPERS.

TO THE EDITOB. Sir, — My attention has been directed to a letter that appeared in one of the Auckland newspapers last week, on "The Setting of Examination Papers," and the first duty I have set myself in the holidays has been to read, carefully the papers set for the District scholarships. In a few cases clearness has been sacrificed to brevity ; the letter r dropped out of the word " Peninsular ;" and a more difficult question, "Explain how springs are found," put for the ordinary one, " How are springs formed ?" The first question is certainly the most useful, and the ordinary answer would be — "By digging, or boring for them, as in well-sinking, and boring for Artesian Wells." A piecocious boy, or girl, might answer — " With brains," — and relate how a famous general quelled a mutiny in his army by showing his soldiers where to dig for water, but this answer would imply a course of reading beyond the reach of most school children. If such a question had been set for the Civil Service Examination, a cadet might tell how a particular stratum could be tapped for a spring, and how nu invention of a celebrated English Engineer could be utilised for the purification of common countrywells, but lie could add little to the answers of the pupils from -the common schools. The . usual question in schools is— "What is a spring;" for. pupil L teachers—" How are springs formed ;" I but many ' teachers would consider the ■ one on the 'papeii much easie,r than the ■ second of these, and of its greater utility A tli^ro can be no doubt. -^-I am, &0., ■ J. I*. Siyci«Aiß.