The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 1887. EDUCATION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1584, 14 June 1887, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 1887. EDUCATION.

The report of the Inspectors of Schools throughout the colony have been published, and as might have been anticipated there is much of interest m them. As, however, the report dealing with the North Canterbury district more immediately concerns our readers, a few extracts from it may not be out of place. At the end of the year there were 148 schools supported or subsidised by the North Canterbury Board of Education. As m former years it was found impossible to complete the examination of the whole of the series of schools by the end of December, but the percentage of passes for the district, estimated on the roll-number of schools examined, is 38-61, the percentage of failures is 29-16, the percentage on class|ubjects 44-6, and the average additional marks 542. A number of tables are given showing tVe summarised . results on pass subjects and, commenting on these figures, the Inspectors say: — " It is impossible to base on these figures an accurate conclusion as to whether the education of the district has advanced or retrograded m the past year. We can only express our belief that much good work is done, and that, if the general condition is not all we should like to have it, the less successful teachers have erred more through misdirected effort than through neglect. In any comparison with results ol the preceding year there are the following disturbing elements — fi:st proportions are altered by the systematic purging of rolls immediately before the examinations ; secondly, the number of the exceptions or disregarded cases of inability to pass a higher standard is not equivalent to the number represented under the previous-existing rule; and, thirdly, the conditions of passing are different. In illustration of these facts we may point out that the rollnumber of the five largest schools, as shown on the examination schedules, is less by 411 than the return of the previous quarter, where as m 1885 the corresponding difference is not appreciable. Again, m the same schools m 1885 22 children were represented, and m 1886 only 135 were excepted. In oiher words, there were m the former year 5 per cent of disregarded cases as compared with the roll-number; and 9 per cent as compared with the sum of passes and failures ; while m the latter the corresponding proportions are 2*6 per cent and 4 per cent respectively. In regard to the conditions ot passing it may be sufficient to state that, although a knowledge of history is no longer exacted for a pass from each individual, little latitude is allowed under the new regulations m respect of the remaining subjects. It is, speaking generally, no easier now to obtain a pass than before, and m cases where more dependence has been placed on the memory of the child than on the cultivation of his other faculties it is possibly a matter of greater difficulty. Arithmetic and grammar are elevated into more important positions relatively to the whole, and m these subjects skill and thought, as contradistinguished from accumulation of knowledge, cpostilute the main elements of success."

A remarkable case wag that of Police v Gallagher, heard at the R.M. Court yesterday. There were throe charges a^alhst the acoased, viz,, that he had been drunk and disorderly, that he had resisted a police oonstablo m the execution of his duty, and that he had damaged the uniform of the said constable The case foe the ptasecuHon was very dm (lap to that m all others of theaotk, with the exception that the number of witnesses called was more tban ordinarily large and their examination and cross • examination oond noted with » greater, degree of minuteness. Their testimony briefly summarised was this : Tho accused was undoubtedly drunk, he made a great ooioa, and gave much trouble when arrested. Tha tir^t witness called for the defence was the constable who was m charge of the watphhoU3e when Gallagher arrived iv custody at the police station This man awore that the accused was perfeotly aobor, that he was treated with great roughness — perhaps brutality would be the better terms. Gonerally, bla evidence was ihit an Innooent man had been locked|up, and that he had been 'übjccffl to indignities each ai people

had been aooustoraed to regard as the lot of only Siberian cxileß and other such unfortnates. It can readily be Imagined « rut evidence such as this would cau?e a sen* satlon ; and there wera very fevr persons" In Court yesterday who were not staggered and astounded by the evidence* given m the accused Gallagher's favor by a police constable. He admitted never having drawn the attention of anyone m authority to what, if his etory ia true, undoubtedly was a most serious matter but Bald that he was " half-frightened " to do so " being a new man here." It was remarkable, h wover, that the accused himaelf did not Bpeak Dearly a? strongly ia regard to the matter of illtreatment as did- his friend tha c mutable ; and Is it not strange that a man alleged to be the subject ot a moßt brutal knocking about, should not remembor at least aa much about the oiroumstancas as a by atandei 1 The result of the oaae was, that after a protraoted hearing, Gallagher was oonvioted on two out of the three charges brought against him, but tho amonnt of the fines and costs was almost immediatdly subscribed by the persons m Court, a great many of whom disagreed with the verdict. Several charges which were alleged against the arresting constable formed the subject of a departmental enquiry last night