Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 36, Number 2. 7th March 1973
Revolution at Victoria
Revolution at Victoria
Despite all this defence of examinations, however, Professor Philpott wrote that it "should, in any case, be noted that a virtual revolution in examination methods (pioneered by my own department) has been introduced in recent years at Victoria with very great accent on in-class assessment . . ." Accepting, for the moment, the accuracy of this statement it might well be asked, in light of the Professor's defence of examinations, what fault necessitated this "virtual revolution", or could it be that the Professor believes in change for change's sake? There may, however, be good reason to treat the Professor's contention re reforms with some scepticism: A study of the reforms worked by his department suggests that the changes are changes of form, rather than of substance.
This, then, was Professor Philpott's polemic in response to an article questioning the value and purpose of exams: a misstatement of the article's thrust, an assertion that the pursuit of knowledge is not easy, an assertion that exams "matter" and an assertion that the student who thinks otherwise is wasting his time. Hypotheses sheltering under the guise of truth indeed.