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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria University College, Wellington N.Z. Vol. 21, No. 1. March 13, 1958

Courage

Courage

There are those, no doubt, who would say that the prestige of our New Zealand Universities would drop if there were to be any large scale replacement of the examination system and it certainly would require courage for New Zealand to lead the world in this respect, so I suppose there is little likelihood of drastic changes.

Nevertheless I feel that some of the evils of examinations could be mitigated by some such measures as:
(1)Accrediting certain papers (as has been done by one department here).
(2)Holding three-hour examinations for one or more papers during the session itself; and perhaps by
(3)Giving students in the higher stages, at any rate, some choice in the number of questions to be answered.

I do not think that any practical difficulties about checks against injustice need arise because of substitution of essay and seminar work for the final examinations. In the case of Stage 3 and Honours students—when it is necessary (or customary) for work to be checked by another New Zealand University—the essays done during the year and the tutor's comments would be sent on to be assessed in the usual manner.

Russell Price.

Printed by the Disabled Serviceman's League at their registered office, 21 Lloyd Street, for the Victoria University of Wellington Students' Association, Wellington.