SCHOOL EXAMINATIONS.

Evening Star, Issue 3990, 8 December 1875, Page 3

SCHOOL EXAMINATIONS.

The senior [classes attending the Albany street and Middle District Schools were examined to-day. The examination of the firstnamed school was conducted by the Rev Dr Stuart and the Rev. Mr Johnston, tho puj-ils in each instance being subjected to a very vigorous test in arithmetic, grammar, geography, spoiling, Ac. &c. The "spelling bee” proved very successful, some of the children aptly spelling a number of •words which had proved "pills ” at the recent public entertainment. The Rev, Mr Johnson, who examined the head class, congratulated the scholars on the thorough and expert manner in which they had answered tbe questions put to them, A vast quantity of sewing was exhibited, including specimens of needle and crochet work, curtain'', Berlin wool and fancy work, daisy mats, worked slippers, &c. The exhibits taking into consideration the youthful age of the scholars —reflected the highest credit on the mation, .Miss Fraser, A couple of shirts (all hand work), liianufacture t bya] pupil-teacher, attracted considerate attention. After the prizes were presented, Miss Alice Johnson, on behalf of her fellowpupils, presented the head master, Mr Alex. Montgomery, with a very handsome table and writing desk, as a token of their appreciation. Mr Montgomery, who has held that post since the establishment of the school, now severs his connection therewith, having accepted the head practical mastership of the Normal School, The last weekly return shows the attendance at the school to be : Herd class, under Mr Montgomery, 28 boys, 16 girls ; second class, under Mr Kyte, 40 boys, 36 girls ; third class, under Miss Fowler and »r Geo. Montgomery, 39 boys, 35 girls ; fourth class, under Miss Mollison, 21 boys, 27 girls ; junior division, under Miss Fraser and pupil-t-achers, 125 boys, 89 girls; total attendance, 241 boys, 199 girls. At the Middle School Miss Stevens’s class was examined by the Rev. Mr Rigg and Mr J. Thornton, the newly-appointed Reel or of the < )amaru Grammar School. Th) children were examined in arithmetic and English, and the answers throughout were most satisfactory. On the walls there were exhibited numerous specimens of handwriting and some excellent mapping. For a map of (Scotland, executed by Miss Bower.s, Mr Thornton presented her with a prize. Before the prizes were awarded the Rev. Mr Kigg addressed the children, saying that ho was very much plea ed with the examination, the result of which was alike creditable to themselves and to their teachers. Mr Thori; ton then addressed tho children. He said that when leaving India, three or four months ago, a gentleman recommended him to go to England instead of New Zealand, where he would have to live amongst savages; but had his friend been present that day be would have formed a very different opinion. Keporting on his examination of Miss Stevens’s class, Mr Thorton said that he considered in dictation the pupils did well; while the writing was particularly neat and good. In arithmetic, the two sums submitted by him were correctly worked out by a large majority of the pupils. An abstract of a short essay previously narrated was well dene in nearly every case. The children had evidently been well trained in an accomp ishraent which was, unfortunately, too rare the ability to express themselves in simple concise sentences. In analysis, they possessed a very fair knowledge of the structure of sentences. Speaking of tho elocution, he reported that thedebate on " Ure-mr” was capital, and the recitations and dialogues which followed reflected very great credit both upon teacher and pupils. So large a collection of pieces represented a great deal of hard work and painstaking teaching, and Miss Stevens was to be congratulated upon the result. Befoie separating, the children gave three cheers for Messrs Rigg, Thornton, and Halliwell, three for Miss Stevens, and three for tho visitors. A proposal to pass a similar compliment to the School Committee was not well received, the children complaining of their conduct in withholding the usual prizes. As it was, only four prizes were awarded in each clas j— two. to boys and two to girls. Miss Stevens was quite overwhelmed by her pupils with presents. It was with great diffidence, however, that they were received, Miss Stevens explaining that tho School Committee would notallow her to receive them. At the Oddfellows’ Hall tho senior class was examined. Mr Ferguson, the master, who has held the position of second master for eight years, received two presents, one from his scholars, and one from the teachers, the latter taking tho form of a dressing-case. The following shows the attendance in each da s Mr Ferguson, 44 ; Mr Chapman, 42 ; Miss Stevens, GO; Miss Halliwdl, 54 ; Miss Galloway, 45; Miss Gourlay, 39; Miss Lowry, 40 j Miss Kmvig, BO ; Miss Turnbull, 26; Miss M ar . tin . 25 ; Miss Hay, 82. Total, 496. \\ o had almost forgotten to draw attention to a most important branch of the school, the sewing room, under the care of Miss Hay. Here articles, not only useful but ornamental, were shown, iULi tlie exhibits, though not so numerous as usual, were quite equal in point of merit to those of previous years.