An examination and reappraisal of the content of fifth and sixth form geography in New Zealand secondary schools, with particular reference to School Certificate University Entrance and Scholarship prescriptions

Abstract

'The main crop of the Corn Belt is corn, whereas the main crop of the Cotton Belt is cotton'. This was part of the answer on the test paper of my above average School Certificate student. To him this summed up the most important agricultural difference between the 'Corn Belt' and the 'Cotton Belt' of North America. At least the most important difference that he could remember. Naturally I strongly criticised this statement and successfully discouraged my class from making similar self evident comparisons. A year later I was an assistant marker for the School Certificate examination and the same comparison question arose. The statement, 'the main crop of the Corn Belt is corn, whereas the main crop of the Cotton Belt is cotton', was accepted by the Chief Examiner as a scoring statement ! The fifty markers - nearly all practising teachers - were placed in a quandry. We all agreed that encouraging such statements was abhorrent, but if it is an easy way to gain marks then naturally next year we would teach our pupils this 'essential' piece of information.