CALEDONIAN SOCIETY’S CLASSES.

Evening Star, Issue 3927, 25 September 1875, Page 2

CALEDONIAN SOCIETY’S CLASSES.

The third session of the Caledonian Soci *ty’s lasses closed last evening, when the teachers met in the lower room of the Athenaeum, and read reports. Mr Keith Ramsay, President of the Society, w r as in the chair, and Dr Stuart, Mr Hislop, Secretary to the Education Board, and Mr Petiie Inspector of Schools, were present. About 150 boys attended.

Mr Maccreqok said in accordance- with an opinion expressed last year the Education Committee resolved th -t the length of the session should be limited to Jive months, for as the long fine October evenings set in the attendance greatly dwindled. It was deemeed desirable that the report of the Education Report of the Directors, at the Society’s annual Committee should be embodied in the General meeting in October. The classes opened on the 4th of May, and 175 pupils have been enrolled ; 86 joined the Nirth Dunedin School, and *Ol connected themselves with the Central Class, which met during the first month in the Dr 11-shed, and afterwards In Milton Hall, Stuart street The Central Classes were conducted by Mr N eish and myself, Mr Neish taking chaive of the junior division, while I attended to the senior. Acting on the views so strongly expressed here by Ur Stuart last year, which my own lengthened experience fully corroborate we resolved to allow the pupiis to follow the bent of their own minds, and to study whatever they specially desired to learn. ’ A vast majority them wished to devote their time to arithmetic and writing, and each night an hour was given to a.ithmetio and half-an-hour to writing. Four of the senior lads turned their attention mainly to algebra, aud studied tractions and simple equations; six or seven ladp made considerable progress in a course of book-keeping. As there were a few who wished to learn English grammar, I devoted an < cca sional half hour to that subject during the ses sion and encouraged them to write out exercises at home aud bring them to me for correction. In arithmedc—the chief branch of study —beginning with reduction, they have gone "ii through simple and compound proportion, practice, and interest, and a few ni them still fuither. Of the conduct of the boys, I atn very happy indeed that I have only to speak in terms of praise. Of those who have continued to attend, the behaviour has been quite exemplary. Of the 95 that, joined our clasps, the largest number that ever was present was Ti ’ During the first thise mouths the average attendance was 58, during 1

th« last two _it dwindled away to 39, Now the question arises, where were the rest? I think some means must be adopted in future whereby parents can be apprised whether their sons are attending regularly or not. It will be for the Education Committee to devise some method whereby such thoughtless youths may be better looked after and prevented from making these classes (instituted for their benefit) the means of seeming opportunities for the indulgence of their own evil propensities. ” Mr Neish and Mr Scoullab also read reports, the former ielating to the classes in Milton Hall, Stuart street, and the latter having teference to those conducted in the North Dunedin School.

Mr Petrie, in the absence of Mr Taylor, Assistant Inspector of Schools, read a very flattering report upon tho success of the classes,

Mr Hislop then read a very well-timed and appropriate paper on the subject, and gave some excellent advice to the boys present. ,Hr _ Stuart expressed his gratification in listening to tho papers submitted to them that evening. He was pleased to hear of their prosperity, and believed if publicity were given to the classes they would have treble the attendance next year.

The Chairman thanked the teachers in the name of the ety for the attention they had displayed in the discharge of their onerous duties, and presented the fo lowing boys with certificates of merit, whic i entitled them to free admission to the Athenaeum for six months

Alii ton Hall, Stuart stmt. —Henry Shepard (never absent), Thomas Blackly, Henry ' oungman, Win, Bethune, Geoige Linusay, Uobeit Wicks, Charles Beadie, John Paterson, Alexan er Weir, Thomas Henderson. North Dunedin, William Adams, John Algie, Wiiliam Davie, John Gow, Alexander Henry, James Hislop, George Johnstone, John Thomas, Henry Brundell. John Aitken. The i HaIRMAN expressed his pleasure on presenting Mr M Gregor with a gold pencil case, as a token of gratitude from his late scholars.

Mr M Gregor in tli nkiug them remarked that he had reward in ids work, as the boys felt an into, es . in their Lisks.

Ihe junior pupils presented Mr Neish with ■ l K° d locket which was suitably acknowledged, and ihe Chairman intimated that the boys at the North iJunediu school intended to ■jresent Mr Lindsay with a similar expression of gratitude.

A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the proceedings.