Grey Education Board

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 22 March 1901, Page 4

Grey Education Board

Report on Conference of Inspectors.

bth March 1901. The Chairmen and members Board of Education Greymouth Gentlemen:

I have the honour to repoit that acting under instructions of the Board, I attended the Confei enceof Inspectors' at Wellington, which commenced on January 28th, and terminated on the evening of Ist February, having made ten sittings. With the exception of Mr Ladley, Nelson, whothrough illness was unable to attend, all the Inspectors of the colony were present. Five sittings of the Conference were taken up with discussions on the syllabus and the regulations Affecting the same.

The chief recommendations made in reference to the above were briefly as follows:

That the individual recorded pass in Stds. I. 11. 111. IV. or V. be abolished. (This principle was affirmed at the previous Cmfetvnce, but the forms issued by tho Department distinctly provided for the pus being recorded). That the subjects of instruction in the schools be divided into two sections, compulsory and optional; and that the Department determine tho subjects to be placed under each section, and prepare alternative schemes of instruction in optional subjects. That tho Minister be asked to curtail the syllabus of instruction so as to allow of sufficient time being devoted in all schools to the teaching of the fundamental subjects of the syllabus ; that the curtailment required might be secured—(l) By making the geography shorter and more procise; (2) by making history a reading subject only, and no longer liable to sp cial examination; (3) by rearranging tho course of instruction in

arithmetic, omitting altogether the

.study of tlio metric'.system of weights and measures, discount and present worth, stocks, and compound interest, and limiting the treatment of decimal fractions substantially to finite decimals.

That only so much grammar as is necessary to give a rational comprehension of the principles of composition 1 e taught, and that this be included with composition as one of the subjects on which classification is based.

That geography be deleted from the pass subjects for the certificate of proficiency. (Geography is at present !et*ined as a pass subject in Std. VI.)

That the scheme of instruction in geography be re-cast, so as to make the observation and study of the geographical features of the school district an important part of the wrrk of Stds. II and 111., and so as to connect the study of the great physical features of the several continents and countries with their political geography. That a relief map of New Zealand bo constructed for the use of schools and map to show the more important physical and geological features, the tourist resort", and the characteristic natural products of each district. That definite ouraes of study be prescribed for the upper Standards in the following subjects: (1) Elementary physiology and general science: (2) Elementary physiology and domestic economy: (3) Elementary agricultural science : and that the teaching of one or other of these courses be made compulsory in every school. That the syllabus should be materially lightened in the case of schools in charge of a sole teacher. That a colonial system of military drill in schools should be established, including the formation of companies and cadet corps dressed in simple uniform and provided with light rifles Arrangements should also be made for taking battalion drill. That to qualify for examination in any class the pupil must have been taught continuously in such class for the three months immediately preceding the examination, or, if he has attended the school for a less period, during the period since his admission. That as a general rule pupils should bo classified according to their capacity and attainments in English and Arithmetic respectively : —English to include Reading, Spelling, Writing, Com.position and Grammar. That as a general rule promotion in StdslK to V shall not be made unless the pupil satisfies the requirements of the standard in three at least out of the four subjects specified as English : —two of which shall be Beading and Composition and that only one standard difference be allowed in Arithmetic.

That the certificates of proficiency awarded to pupils of Std VI shall show in what subjects the pupil passes Std VI, and in whit subject or subjects he passes StdV. That the examination of private schools by public-school Inspectors is desirab'e. That it is undesirable that certificates be issued by any other than a School Inspector (This recommendation was made as it transpired there were other persons authorised by the Department te issue certificates.)

No recommendations were made in regaid to Scholarship regulations. Regarding Pupil-teacher regulations the following recommendations were made :

That the syllabus of institution fur pupil-teachers throughout the colony be so drawn up that the examination for the last year be the matriculation examination, or that for Cass D ; and that any pupil teacher who has pasted matriculation before entering the service, or who passes it during his course, be not required to present himself for the pupil-teachers' examination (except in School method), if he first complate his D certificate, and thcre--1 after gives evidence that he is keeping terms at a University College, piovid- \ ing his residence allows of his attending one.

That in each educational district there be facilities afforded for the training of pupil-teachers in manual work, and in the principles of their profession; or, alternately, that provision bo made by means of scholai ships wheieby pupil-teachers on complt-fcing their practical course may be enabled to pro ceed to the neatest training college

That pupil-teachersshould be allowed to devote certain time during school hours to private study. That the establishment of trainingcollege s at the four principal centres is desirabh-, that these be e>tablished in connection with the present University Colleges and that arrangements be made to allow all pupil-teachers to attend these for a course of one or two yeas. In regard to teachers'certificates the following recommendations were made:—

That the present system of classification of teachers be simplified. That the Minister be asked to established a special examination and issue a special diploma or certificate to teachers who show a thorough theoretical and practical knowledge of each of the following subjects : singing, drawing, physiology and general science, physiology and domestic economy, and agricultural science, military drill and handwork.

In reference to handwork in primary schools the following recommendation was made:

That such instruction in practical mechanical analysis and synthesis should be given in Standard VI. as would enable a class of children to take to pieces and reconstruct at least three machines—such as a lock, a clock, and a working-model of a steam-engine. In the case of girls the sewing-machine might, at the teacher's discretion, be substituted for the steam-engine. CONTINUATION SCHOOLS. In reference to continuation schools, copies of the attache! gazette containing regulations, made under the Manual and Technical Instruction Acr

1900, were handed round during the Conference. lam strongly of opinion that the Board should take every advantage of Sections I. and 11. of these regulations. It will be observed that Section I. provides f r the establishment of continuation classes ; grant) being made on behalf of these by way of capitation : —viz threw half pence for every attendance, an attendance meaning the attendance of one pupil for one hour at any class for which payment can be claimed unci r this Act. In the case of a continuation class held at any place distant more than five mi'es from the office of an Education Board, the above grant may be increased by one half with the approval of the Minister. It seems to me that such classes would be an infinite boon and I think they might be established with success in Grey, mouth, Brunner, Ahauia, Blackball and possibly Nelson Civek. The majority of onr children leave school when they have passed the 4th or sth Standard. Amongst many other higher subjects, those of the sth and 6th Standards are recognised as subjects of instruction in continuation classes, so that children who leave school could still continue their standard course. I feel that these classes will be the means of tiding many over a difficult period of their lives by affording them the opportunity of gaining much useful knowledge during a few hours in the evenings of each week instead of wasting their time loitering about the streets. Grants !n aid of material are not allowed to these classes.

In reference to Section IT, this affecls our ordinary school classes, aud grants made in connection with it are intended to provide material. Many of our schools will no doubt take this class of work up and derive considerable benefit therefrom. SCHOOL ATTENDANCE. Several minor recommendations were made in reference to amending the School Attendance Act, and also the following:— That the term 'attendance' be clearly defined as at least one hour and a half for preparatory pupils, and at least two hours for pupils in Standard 11. and upwards. That the Minister be asked to amend the School Attendance Act so that the services of the police as truant officers may be made available. Amongst other unclassified recommendations the following were made:—

That a uniform scale of staff through out the colony i 3 desirable.

That fiee season tickets on the railways be granted to pupils over 15 years of age who are doing higher work than Standard Vf. (to allow pupils and scholarship holders to attend high schools from their own homes. This should prove beneficial to our District). That it is desirable that the Inspectors of schools be placed under the authority of the Central Department. The Conference also suggested the desirability of establishing a pension scheme for teachers and Inspectors. I have the honor to be, gentlemen, your obedient servant, WILLIAM L. F. FETCH, Inspector.