THE SCHOOL INSPECTORS REPORT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 69, 23 April 1880, Page 2

THE SCHOOL INSPECTORS REPORT.

O I'OXTOX. Under Standard I, the discipline and instruction have somewhat fallen off, and the result of the examination was not so satisfactory as it was last year. Very few of the children read intelligently. Under Standard 11, the result was a shade better than in the Ist, but there was a good deal of margin for improvement, especially in geography. Under Standard 111, the general answering in geography and history was hardly on a level with the rest of the work. In geography, especially the answers were desultory, inaccurate, and disappointing, and were by no means what they should have been in a school of such a character, and with so able a master Great attention, however, seems to have been given to the arithmetic, and to a good style of writing. Under Standard IV, geography, too, was a weak point. And judging from the written papers given in, it appeared to me that there had been less real teaching iv geography this year than last. The arithmetic was much more satisfactory in its extent, its accuracy, and its neatness. Under Standard V. there was only one candidate, who passed a fair examination in all the subjects. The discipline has improved, and both that and the drill are in a very satisfactory .state. The singing and the sewing were very nice, and. so were the f roe-hand drawings shown by several members of Mie higher Standards. The children were not very attentive nor well-behaved during a lesson on the '■' Theory of Music," deliveted by Miss M'Phee. the assistant; but if she adopted a little moie method with them, she might succeed better, and be of great use to them. A fair start in science has been made. The lesson on food, delivered by Mr Hulke, headmaster, was interesting and instructive ; but it appeared to me that the intelligence of the children was not sufficiently brought out, nor their minds sufficiently exercised. Only a few of the questions proposed were faultlessly answered. A good beginning, however, has been made in this fascinating subject, and from the known ability of the master iv thi3 line, success will be sure. The infants read and knew their letters fairly, and thoy were very neat and very happy. The school is well conducted, and is as well supplied with apparatus as any school I have in my district. In conclusion, I regret to have to state' that the atmosphere of the school, owing to the improper situation of an office, is seriously unwholesome. The health of the children imperatively requires that this office should be removed. Several members of the School Committee attended during the ex. animation. JTOTOA. Numeration, or notation, and arithmetic wero very fair for this class of school, and the knowledge of the

meaning of words was unusually good. They read intelligently, sin^ and sew nicelj, and write very neatly on their copybooks. The mistress, Miss H prace, has imparted a very nice tone to the school, and do-s her very best to increase its' efficiency. Ihe majority of the children are very young One-half of those examined below Standard I, were Maoris. They reac 1 fairly and added sums smartly. The Committee was represented during the examination. SANDON. The handwriting in the lower Standards is remarkably good, nnd in the upper it is excellent. The children ofthelstand 2nd Standards passed a good examination in all the subjects ; but some of them showed weakness iv arithmetic. English grammar and arithmetic were the weak points of some of the members of the 3rd and 4th Standards, but especially the grammar of the 4th. The pronoun, with its inflections, appeared to be a part of speech with which they were unacquainted. The nominees of the sth and 6th did not betray sufficient accuracy or method concerning the information necessary for the various subjects of these Standards. However, the papers handed in were carefully written, and displayed considerable taste and style. Generally speakfag, the answers in the oral part of the examination weie rather desultory and confused. More attention should be given to the meaning of ■words and to the scope of the passage to be read, if expressive and intelligent reading is required. The drawings and recitations of the upper Standaid children were very satisfactory. Lessons on the " Mechanical Powers " have evidently formed an interesting and useful feature in the instruction ; but it appeared to me that the minds of the children were not sufficiently drawn out. The system of needlework is successfully earned out. The display of work was surprising, mid went to show that the time very properly devoted to sewing had been made the most of. The Assistant, Miss Sanson, shows considerable resources as a teacher, and devotes herself to the school with much zeal and diligence. Broadly, the school is in good order, and the tone of the instruction lias decidedly improved since last year. When the discipline becomes as. good as the instruction is, the school will be unexceptionable. The Committee was represented fully during the examination. CARNARVON. y This is an elementary school. The children are clean and orderly, and j^,. some of them are fairly intelligent. *■ The handwriting was the best point. Knowledge of arithmetic and geography was somewhat feeble. The classification was faulty, and the result of the examination was not, on the whole, so satisfactory as it should have been. The present master, Mr .Harper, has only been at this school for five months, so that it would he unfair to judge him from the present state of the school. However, the tone and discipline was good, and the school will improve as the master acquires more experience in schoolteeping, and in system, and in method. The Committee was fully represented throughout the examination.