ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND COMPETITION. [To THE EDITOR OF THE "
SPECTATOR." J SIR,—The writer of your article on "The Protest against Over-Examination" assumes that "elementary schools are wholly free from any sort of competitive examination." As a Board teacher of twelve years' experience, let me say that his assumption is, unfortunately, incorrect Elementary scholars may not compete; but elementary schools do, with results injurious to the minds, the health, and the morale of both teachers and taught. The Code which rules the elementary school offers a maximum of pecuniary reward which in ninety- nine schools out of a hundred cannot honestly be won. As a consequence, a competition between the schools of any given locality, a competition for the highest possible per-centage of "passes," occurs year after year. Both income and repute depend upon a school's success in the competitive examinations annually conducted by her Majesty's inspectors. The essence of a non-competitive examination would appear to be a minimum, not a maximum, standard for a "pass ;" and as the Code sets up a well-nigh impossible maximum standard, it may fairly be charged with adopting the methods of competitive examination in a sphere where those methods do not naturally and properly apply..-.-I am, Sir, &c.,
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