ASHBURTON SCHOOL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 2, Issue 225, 24 December 1880, Page 2

ASHBURTON SCHOOL.

The following are the letters of the Examiners regarding the result of their examination of the Ashburton School: The Parsonage, Ashburton, December 23rd, 1880. Dear sir,—l have examined the' Borough School in geography and history, and some of the standards in reading and recitation. I have the pleasure to report that the children to whom I awarded the prizes in their various classes showed a very thorough knowledge of the subjects in which I examined them. The third standard I consider very backward in both history and geography, but the other standards were well'informed in comparison with children of their own ago I have elsewhere examined. I was much pleased with the cheerful, pleasant tone of the children, and met with no obstinacy or disobedience. There were two or three cases of copying, but they were promptly noticed by the teachers, who gave every assistance in their power.—l am, &c., A. W. Hands.

I have examined the upper 3rd, the 4th, sth, and 6th classes (standards) in English, including reading, spelling, dictation, and recitation. What most struck me was the general evenness of attainment in each class, as showing an impartial and patient attention to all the scholars. The clearness and intelligence of the reading were also very marked. A singular anomaly showed itself in the fact that the spelling was always better given under dictation than by the voice. The scholars, though inclined to take matters easily and to talk with one another, were readily brought to order and quietness. The assistants were very youthful, hut intelligent and promising. Charles Fraser. Ashburton, December 22, 1880.

I have examined No. 1 class of lower part of the school, and found some difficulty in awarding the prizes on account of their evenness of attainments. I also examined the 3rd division of 3rd standard. I found them very backward in their dictation. I examined the 3rd division of 2nd standard in arithmetic, and had no difficulty whatever in selecting the three best, they were so far in advance of the others ; but there was some difficulty in awarding the prizes, in consequence of the frequent ties in working off questions for final decision. —J. Ward.—Ashburton, December 22, 1880. The Manse, Ashburton, December 23rd, 1880. My Dear Sir, —Herewith are enclosed lists of names of scholars, who, in my opinion, stood highest in the branches which fell to my share to examine in your school, during the first three days of this week. These branches were chiefly English, grammar, and arithmetic throughout the various standards. The discipline maintained and the behavior of the children throughout the whole school during the examination, were very excellent and praiseworthy. I have all the more pleasure in hearing testimony to these things, because I recently observed in a newspaper a report by an Inspector to the contrary. Indeed, with the new additional rooms, now almost ready for use, and with another assistant teacher also, whom you ought to have had long ago, I think your school should be one of the very best cf the kind, in this new colony.—l am, &c., A. M. Beattie.