Hugh John Macdonald School - Searchlight Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

Page 11 text:

Ernest H. Reid Inspector of Schools. Another school year is drawing to a close and students will have some concern with their prospects of promotion to the next grade. Promotion is determined by the performance of the student in meeting the requirements of the grade. These requirements constitute the standard fo r each level of study. It is possible that Junior high school students may have some interest in the matter of standards. The standard for any particular grade level consists of two elements. These are the content of the course on the one hand and the extent c£ mastery by the student on the other hand. This may be illustrated by reference to Grade IX. The Grade IX course consists of certain material in language, literature, mathematics, science, social studies and some other subjects. The student is expected to make a study of the work prescribed. Some students will, of course, be more proficient than others but anyone completing the course with what is considered a reasonable degree of mastery will be granted a Grade IX certificate. Thus the kind and amount of subject matter together with reasonable mastery by the student determines the standard for Grade IX, The same is true for any other grade. The thoughtful student will easily see why the school should maintain a suitable standard. Possession of a Grade IX certificate represents to the student and to the public a definite achievement in the mastery of knowledge together with skill in its use. It is valuable evidence of the effort and ability of the student. An easier course with fewer subjects or with a smaller amount of work in each subject could be established. A lower level of achievement could also be required. Such arrangements would, however, be a lowering of the standard. This could be done to an extent where little effort or intelligence would be necessary to meet the requirements. With the slightest application anyone could secure promotion. Under such circumstances a Grade IX certificate would mean very little and its possession would have small value to the student. The present subject matter of Grades Vll, VT11 and IX has been selected with great care to represent the possible ability of students in these grades. It is the kind and extent of knowledge which students should be able to master. To the students in these grades at Hugh John Macdonald may I express the wish that each one of you has achieved such reasonable mastery in your studies as to entitle you to promotion.