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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 30

Percentage of Passes in Standards

Percentage of Passes in Standards.

For the information of members of Committees and parents it may be well to mention that the percentage of passes in the Standards for 1886 was, for the whole colony, 42½. For the year 1885 it was 71. The difference was accounted for in the fact that the basis of calculation had been altered. Before January, 1886, the passes were reckoned on the number presented by teachers, who were allowed to withhold from presentation any child they deemed unprepared.

After the 1st of January, 1886, however, the passes had to be reckoned on the total number on the roll. Under the old system a teacher might present, say 40 out of every 100 on the roll. If 35 out of the 40 presented passed, the passes were said to be 87 per cent. But, as will appear clearly, there were but 35 per cent, of the roll number who passed. Under the present system every child whose name is on the roll is page 19 reckoned as being presented, so that the percentage is lowered. In a school at the examination of 1885 the passes might be as above. In 1886 the teacher might pass just as many of his scholars out of every 100, and yet his percentage of passes would be but 35. Through ignorance of this change of the basis of calculation, many Committees were considerably troubled when they received the Inspectors' reports upon their schools for 1886. In some cases teachers were called in to explain how it was that the school was going to the dogs. And it was commonly reported that many Committees were denied the satisfaction of publishing the Inspector's report, as they were thoroughly ashamed of the low percentage of passes. It would be for the best interests of the schools if less importance were attached to the number of passes, and more attention paid to the very many other points which characterise good schools. Both Committees and teachers may be well satisfied if, with other points satisfactory, they get anything over 30 per cent, of passes.