Marlborough Times. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1880.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 174, 19 November 1880, Page 2

Marlborough Times. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1880.

Tin.; Report of the Inspector of Schools, which we publish in to-day’s supplement will, we expect, put many debatable questions with respect to ! soii'u! of. our schools at vest The j fierce opposition by Mr Henderson to i the appointment of a third master in the Town Schools, and in which he was unsuccessful, for nine months of the past year, has borne the fruit expected by the Committee and ; teachers. Although the School Com- | mitten persisted in their demand j until they succeeded in obtaining the ! necessary assistance, we are of opin- ; ion that they wouid have acted better ! by closing a portion of the schools | rather than have a large number of I children half taught, and the teachers harassed. Taking the number present I at the examination of the district as ! our guide it will be seen that those schools provided with a sullicient. staff rank highest-. Tua Marina with 05, Picton SI, and lienwick GO, have each two teachers ; Tua Marina passed 92, Picton 84, and lienwick 78 per cent. Some of the schools have done badly, and we apprehend it will be the duty of the several Committees to take the failures into consideration with the view of putting matters into better order before i the next general examination. Wo by no means take it for granted that j an Inspector is infallible or that it is possible for him to take into consideration the many local and other circumstances which affect the well- ! being of a school. The consideration of these is especially the duty of the local school authorities who being on the spot, should be acquainted with everything affecting the locality of : each. There isno doubt tliataninsufficient staff, non-attendance through harvest and other outdoor work, are factors which no teacher can combat, and the worst of it is, that when a j general report appears, the public j forget, although they may previously j

have well known the circumstances ami blame implied or latent is almost certain to be attached to the teachers Y\"o do not make these remarks with the view of palliating any faults m the teaching, if such exist : indeed we consider in justice to flic public that entpiirv by some of flic ('mumil tees is necessary. We merely wish to point out the tendency m attach so much weight to Inspectors' reports that local circumstances am in danger of being forgotten. | u spite, howeyer, of the few faults found if is gratifying to find that much nrogress has been made during the past year. The only subject, which vm regret to see somewhat in the hackground is arithmetic. No doulit it j s a difficult- and extensive subject ami gives scope for much diversity of teaching and examinaiion. It appears, however, that Inspectors do not coniine themselves to putiinoquestions in the ordinary wav, that is, as given in the books or by the teachers, or, to put it in Mr Hodgson’s own words, “Thought would he stimulated ami accuracy gained if teachers would exercise their scholars in sums set in the most varied forms.” It is admitted, however, on the other hand, that it is dillicult to bring classes up to (he several Standards, which do not require this ; and we must confess our inability to sec how the average child can bo taught to work arid metical problems in the most varied j form, while it can easily bo seen how the simplest, question can be put so ns to puzzle a class. It is well In draw teachers' attention to this subject no as to prevent the statement of sums being set in a stereotyped form. That part of his general report which boasts of the amount of subjects handled in the school deserves careful attention, coining as it does from a gentleman of large and varied experience in scholastic matters. So far as the present experience of the Standards is concerned he is correct in stating that the majority of the pupils leave school at 12 years of age. Out of the 1,122 pupils attending the Marlborough Schools only -I!) were presented in Standards W amt VI. This is certainly a very small number receiving what can only lie called after all an elementary education; and it is a matter for grave consideration how to model our educational laws so as to obtain attendance up to l.'i years of age at least. The acquirements of a Standard IV. pupil, as detailed by Mr. Hodgson, can scarcely he called an education. Another view, however, although one of expediency, presents itself. The amount of grammar or history which can be acquired by a child of 12 is for all practical purposes in after life entirely valueless. "Why then lake up the time of teachers and pupils in the lower Standards with such subjects as grammar, history, or science, as it must be conceded that unless they remain at school until 17) or 1G years of age, they can get no practical knowledge of either. I t seems demonstrated that their time would lie better devoted to reading, writing, or arithmetic, so as to secure greater proficiency in these. essentials. Teachers and Inspectors no doulit will say, We must adhere to the Standards,” but these can be modified by the Education Department. Another MiiUcaUy also stands iii the wav : few parents can say how long they may be able to keep their children at school, or for what sphere in life they intend them. A study of the Heport will also show to any person having the true interests of the rising generation at heart, that teachers and School Committees, under the present high pressure of Standards, have dillicult and onerous duties to perform, ami that the sound sense of the community should be brought into play to protect our educational system from mere political attacks. If any faults can be found, there exists a perfect system in Committees and the Education Hoard for investigation ami control, and to these bodies all matters of complaint should in the first instance be referred. Adopting any other method is stabbing in the dark, and is one that the moral sense of the of the community must condemn.