Page 13 - 1972 News Clippings

Good response to

report card system

29 March 1972 to do study — as distinct which are kept as school
There had been highly from written homework records, are photostatted,
favourable reactions to the — outside school hours. and the copy thus obtained is
introduction of six-weekly Pupils are given a sent home to parents. The
report cards at grading letter - A, B, C, D scheme is in operation for all
Ngaruawahia High School or E - twice a term for each pupils from third to seventh
this term, the school subject, so that there are six formers.
principal, Mr E. B. Allison, such grades given during the The six weekly report
said in a telephone school year in every field of cards do not mean the end of
interview from the school study. The grades take into internal school
on Monday afternoon. account practical skills in examinations, Mr Allison
Listing the advantages practical subjects, Mr made clear. There will still
which the report scheme Allison explained. be end-of-year exams for
seemed to have brought in Asked whether the letter junior pupils. In addition,
its early stages, Mr Allison was intended to indicate the candidates for outside
noted: level of attainment or of examinations will have

• Teachers without any effort, he replied that it was internal exams — the
exception report better aimed to cover both. Mr traditional “dry runs” — in
control and more Allison defined the basic October.
willingness to work. aim as being “to get children Mr Allison said he
to want to improve and to expected parents of pupils
• More use of the Library. learn.” Pupils were basically who obtained unsatisfactory

competing against grades to consult with him,
• Less corporal punishment
in the school, an indication themselves. though not until the second
“The boys in 3C who series of grades was released

of fewer disciplinary otherwise might feel a later this term. He estimated
problems.
second class citizen still has that about 20 percent of the
• For the first time in the a goal,” said the first results clearly indicated
history of the school, he Ngaruawahia principal. room for improvement, and
had seen pupils studying in On the technical side, that about half of this
considerable numbers in the introduction of the report minority could be described
places such as school cards has been made more as being at failing level.
buses, and practicable by the use of
modern office equipment.
• Enthusiasm from parents, Once teachers have entered
who observe an increased their grades, the cards,
willingness by the children