to.

“prepared

“Science ae

* Page. 42

" “Extremely disturb- ing” is the phrase used

describe

achievement in written

expression at the end of

the secondary grades in

British:Columbia public

schools in a_ report

for the: - Ministry of Education,

and

Technology.

The phrase | used was ‘the result’ of finding that per- formance of: a sample. of

_ grade 12 students was rated

as satisfactory on only three of the 31 writing skills tested during. a province-wide assessment of written ex- pression conducted last spring.

‘The conclusion is con- tained in the report of a team of researchers headed by Dr. Robert Conry of the University of British Columbia Faculty of

Education. 9,000 TESTS:

Fhe report describes results of tests designed to ‘measure student mastery of both specific writing skills and general writing ability. The tests were written by 9,000 students in grades 4, 8 and 12 across the province, and! were marked by 75 experienced language arts and English teachers.

Following the tests, panels consisting of educators, school trustees and members of the general public examined each exercise and set a basic level of com- petence that should be achieved by students in the grades tested. They then made judgements as to the relative strength or weakness of the provincial based upon the percentage of students whose exercises met or exceeded the basic level.

According to the report, cause for concern is not restricted to the grade 12 level. Performance of the sample of grade 8 students

was rated as satisfactory or .

better on only 14 of the 33 skills assessed.

NARRATIVE WEAK

Achievement of both grade 8 and 12 students was notably weak in narrative writing as well as in such specific skills as organizing written work, summarizing the main idea of a passage, using correct letter and envelope format, selecting appropriate vocabulary and maintaining agreement between subject and verb.

On the positive side, “achievement in written expression at the end of the primary grades was generally satisfactory,” the report states. The pancl rated performance of the grade 4 sample as satisfactory or better on 18 of the 27 skills assessed. It

- was particularly pleased with

grade 4 performance in the arcas of originality, organizing details and ideas,

Janvary 14, .1979- - Sunday News:

Schools’ to "boost | English

results,”

- supporting comments or

judgements, giving simple instructions, completing printed forms and using correct capitalization.

Contrary . _to “frequently voiced opinions, students’ spelling and handwriting was judged to be satisfactory at all three grade levels.

AVERAGES ONLY While it may be tempting

to try to draw conclusions about . the relative per-

formance of the three grade

levels, the authors caution the reader against making invalid comparisons among the grades. “Such com- parisons as ‘grade 4 students are better than grade 8 students at addressing an envelope’ are not valid because the basic level of competence is set differently for each grade level.”

The authors also em- phasize that the _ results represent provincial averages,, and “are best interpreted as general in- dications, not absolute truths, that should be ap- plied to all students. Many students surpassed the basic level of competence and among the test responses were frequent instances of excellence in writing,” the report states.

PNNINIOINE

punctuation and.

Clearly, the goal now must be to find ways of increasing

the percentage of students . “who are achieving ac-

ceptable levels. of per- formance, the _ report stresses. A total of 28

recommendations for doing

so are made in the report: MORE ENGLISH .

the recom- mendations is a call for schools to increase-~ the allotment of time for English

Among

. in the secondary grades,

particularly for instruction and practice in written expression,

Teachers of English are encouraged to emphasize instruction in specific writing skills and to assist

students to develop com-

petence in a wide variety of writing ‘tasks and forms. In addition, teachers of all subject areas are urged to ensure that acceptable standards of written ex- pression are taught and reinforced in their classrooms.

_. The report recommends that faculties of education examine their . current methodology courses to ensure that these give adequate attention to preparing graduates to teach the many specific skill areas of written expression.

SALE

CHRISTMAS $ ‘SHOPPIN - SPREE DRAW sponsored by Edgemont Village» mer-. chants brought winner Betty Roberts $500 worth of shopping vouchers -- presented to © her by George Sandwith, manager of the Toronto-Dominion Bank on Edgemont, and John Toomer, president of the Merchants’ Association. (Ellsworth Dickson photo) —

s

The report of the assessment is currently being

studied by the ministry and.

will be made available throughout the province in early January. The ministry said it is seriously concerned about the results and con-. siders corrective action to be a priority issue.

Some constructive steps have already been taken to launch follow-up programs. Over the past year, a revised secondary English guide has been prepared and will be released early in the spring. This guide centains specific directions to teachers as to

. what is to be taught at each

grade level.

Teachers’ resource kits containing exercises,’ marking procedures,

samples of student writing, and suggestions for teaching each skill

on imported Scandinavian

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a PO ie Bane te

all accessories

all lamps

all items from our bathroom boutique

Sale In Progress

both upstairs & downstairs . stores

20% off

Drolanlaic ses

}

PARK ROYAL SOUTH MAL

G22. 18)

i .

tested in the

assessment have been prepared. These will be distributed to all schools in January, along with a copy of the assessment report.

BCETA FOLLOW-UP

In addition, the ministry is —

working with the B.C.. English _ Teachers’ Association to plan co-

operative follow-up and in- service programs in the teaching of writing. The ministry has been especially encouraged, it said, by the response received from the BCETA and is meeting with

--the executive in the first

week of January to for- mulate concrete plans. —

The executive of the BCETA’ met over the Christmas vacation to develop a proposal for joint action.

While. this is only a start and the problems are-ob-. viously enormous = and complex, the ministry said it is committed to doing everything it can to make certain that “extremely disturbing” will not apply to the results of the next writing assessment three or four years hence.

The Vancouver Playhouse presents

i

1979 National Tour

Theatre Company

Hamlet

‘The play’s the thing”’

tragedy.

& Arthur Sullivan Smash hit musical!

dance inspired Gilbert & Sullivan.

Q. E. Playhouse

Sat. January 27 at 9 p.m.

Tues., Thurs., Fri., Janua Sat. January 27 at =“ P.

. The-National Arts Centre

by William Shakespeare, directed by John Wood

Set in the 1930’s, Neil Munro Stars in this brilliant new production of the world’s greatest

William Schwenck

and Arthur Who? or “Shades of G & S”

A new musical by Alan Laing & John Wood. Words and music (mostly) by William S. Gilbert

A dazzling Potpo ourri of song and y the genius of

Hamlet - Mon., Wed., January 22, 24 at 8 p.m. and

William Schwenck and Arthur Who? -

ry 3, 25, 26 at 8 p.m.

Evenings: S¥.50, $75 (Mof. - Thurs oe 50, $8.50 (Fn and Saf Saturt _> maganee: $5.

a cole cketgcentre

$6. 0

go Eagon’s.