Senior teacher on Biology from 1971 to 1981

Since 1972, I should say that the percentage passes has been wavering from fifty over percent to the highest of 68% in 1974 while the maximum number of distinctions obtained so far is 7, in 1977. We seem not to be able to break the 70% pass mark. Hopefully, with the reduced number of Biology classes in 1980, we will surpass this mark. As for quality, in almost every year, I find that the majority tend to score D or E. This is not encouraging. Although this may be attributed to the fact that the better students go for the Pure and Applied Maths class and the majority of the others join the Biology class, one may still argue that if more effort is being channeled into this subject, perhaps we should be getting more Cs instead. Normally, I make a survey of the classes I teach, and I find the majority of the students rank Biology last in order of preference for study. They argue that Chemistry and Physics are tougher.

Biology topics now tend to be more analytical than just merely factual. One has to analyse, extract, compare and even compute when learning Biology. The traditional thinking that Biology can be learned through just memorizing is obsolete. I do agree that memory work is still required, especially say for morphology but for physiology and ecology, a great deal of thinking is required. With an overloaded syllabus in HSC, Biology is a subject to be treated with more dignity.


By Senior Modern Science Teacher of 1981.