FOXTON STATE SCHOOL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1767, 20 December 1917, Page 1

FOXTON STATE SCHOOL.

EXAMINATION REPORTS. The following is the drawing inspector’s report of the local State school during the inspection on October 2nd and sth last: — Stds. V. and VI. —The work in drawing books shows an all-round improvement. Free drawing of plant, form and objects is on the upgrade, and the examples of Design work show both originality of arrangement and intelligent treatment. It is pleasing to discover that pupils hre beginning to apply their design to the decoration of objects, such as book covefs, etc. Std. IV. —Some very commendable exercises in free drawing and design were shown, evidencing intelligent teaching and thorough supervision. In both Mr Jackson’s and Mr Gabites’ classes some homework exercises that were set produced some very good examples of work. Std. 111. —The work in the drawing books is on the whole satisfactory, and in some cases very praiseworthy. Pupils should be encouraged to make up their own designs, and not merely copy the teacher’s from the black-board. J Any means by which expression can be gained in free drawing, such as line-accent, pencil-painting, shading and colour, should be encouraged. It is astonishing how much interest is added to drawing thereby. The interest in drawing displayed by the pupils of the classes visited was very gratifying. INSPECTOR’S REPORT, The following is the annual inspection report. The school was inspected on October 25th and 26th by Messrs J. Milne and D. Stewart, inspectors: — The roll number of the school on the date of inspection was 386, and the number present for inspection 339: — The class arrangement shows a fair apportionment of the pupils among the several teachers. Though in some -of the classes there are pupils whose fitness for the standard is doubtful, still ■ the classification shows due discretion in making the promotions. All matters connected with the general organisation of the work (duties of teachers, etc.) are duly scheduled, and well carried out. On the first morning of our visit we found all the teachers with a well prepared programme of the day’s work. Environment. —All the rooms were found clean and tidy, and there was evidence of effort to make them attractive. Much praise is due both to teachers and pupils for the exceptionally fine outside environment. Discipline. —There is a very good tone in the school. The willing cooperation of the pupils with their teachers is a satisfactory feature of the discipline. The assembling of the pupils arid their marching into the various class-rooms are orderly and expeditious. Instruction.—The teachers are faithful and energetic, and the work of their classes is generally, of good quality, as may be seen in the following detailed report. It should be noted that in Standards I. to HI, the teachers have been in charge only a short time. Satisfactory schemes of work were submitted. Trainees. —'The studies and the professional training of the two pupil teachers receive effective attention. Both show very good promise. Stds. V. and VI. — A marked and very satisfactory feature of the work of these classes was the interested, attentive and responsive bearing of the pupils. Their eager mental effort at oral answering gave evidence of fine teaching. The Std. VI. class is this year an exceptionally small one for the size of the school; but this is due to accidental circumstances, and is no means an adverse reflection on the progress of pupils through the classes. The class began the year with 18 pupils. The average size of the Std. VI. class of this school at the end of the year, for the past seven years, was 19. Reading was good, and the passages were fairly comprehended. In S.d. VI. the recitation pieces were extremely .well delivered by the boys, but only moderately well by the girls. Spelling was on the whole good. Composition: The essays Avert generally of good quality. A satisfactory feature was the almost en-

tire freedom from careless mistakes, and the evident care bestowed on the execution'of the work. Paragraph arrangement was invariably followed, but in many cases this was only in form, for often the one paragraph treated on matters not at all connected with one another. Tbe writing always showed care, and was at times good, but often of a rather poor style. In formal composition the appearance made was riot much better than fair, but in papers done for the teacher the pupils showed themselves capable of doing much better work than that which they did for riie. Arithmetic: Good in Std. VI,, and about satisfactory in Std. V. Drawing: Some very good work was seen in the books. Geography and History: Very good. Standard IV. —The behaviour of the pupils was very good, they were bright and ready in response, and concentrated well on the work in hand. Instruction lias been along good lines,, and the work tested showed that methods to secure the interest and co-operation of the pupils had been employed. Care and neatness marked all written tests. Reading was satisfactorily fluent, but more attention might be given to voice modulation and phrasing to secure the sense of the passages road. Subject matter was well understood. Recitation was very fair. Formal English, writing, drawing and handwork were good. Written arithmetic gave satisfactory results, mental was very, good, as were also geography and history, subjects which showed specially good treatment. Essays, neatly and carefully written, gave results approaching very good. Standard 111. — This class has had several changes of teachers during the year. This will account for the mixed character of the work in certain subjects. Pupils were orderly and attentive, and good in response when work was known. Written tests gave better results than oral. Reading, recitation and comprehension of subject matter were only fair. Writing was of very mixed’ character. Spelling and written arithmetic were very good. Oral arithmetic was satisfactory, FormaLEnglisb, weather study, and drawing and the work tested in hlfitpry and geography gave good Some good essays were seen, but here 1 ; S-. suits generally were not up to standard. Standard II. —Good work was seen in this class, except in arithmetic. The pupils were satisfactorily attentive and responsive. Reading was good, and the answering in comprehension very fair. Spelling and writing were good. Tbe pupils have been well trained to write simple sentences. Arithmetic was only fair, both on slate and mentally. The pupils were slow in mental working when subtracting was required, e.g., 63—8, 61 divided by 7 (the number over). They should be trained to apply quickly here the elementary number results. Good work was seen in the drawing books. Standard I.—-Very fair to good work in this class. The pupils were generally attentive and responsive. Reading was very fair —nearly good. Spelling and writing were good. A good beginning has been made in sentence forming. Arithmetic was good on slates, and very fair mentally (see remark under Std. 11. re mental working). Drawing : Very fair work was seen in the books. Object-drawing in many -cases was rather poor. Instrumental drawing should follow the paperfolding. Primer Classes. —Primer 111. and IV.: The pupils were attentive and responsive. Primer IV. is a good class, and by the end of the year it should be very well prepared to begin the work of Std. I. Primer HI. is not quite so good. Reading was good in Primer IV., but only fair in Primer 111. Spelling was good in Primer IV,, and very fair in Primer 111. Number was very fair in both classes, and writing was good. Primer I. and II.: Miss Moxham shows zeal and ability in her management of the little ones. They are well advanced for their age and time at school, and a good foundation is being laid for future work. The pupils are kept busily occupied and interested in their work, and they respond freely to their teachers. Handwork subjects receive due attention, and Montessori methods form a considerable factor of the day’s work.