THE REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 166, 11 July 1878, Page 2

THE REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS.

(Coihmilhika'.edij; In ati age when .education ii ainiost forced down the throats of a passive population by illuminist statesmen, we look with more than customary anxiety to the recorded experiences of o <ficials of the education department, as illustrations of our much boasted progress being attended with success or failure. An Inspector of Schools ccchpies the position of a sort; of educational constable who, to qualify for the ever active supervision of the army of school teachers under him ' ought to possess an assortment of abilities not always found together in one man. He must combine a power of seeing with a knowledge of, what to look for, and he mast know how, not only not to be dazzled by the arts ! of a trickster flaunted before him, but how j to appreciate that rare quality of genuine merit* either screened from his observation ot reluctantly produced under forcible 'Pressure. .__ _ _.r. •. ; _-'.'/ "'^'.'. v There are numbers of teachers lu l cobniry ~ places doin^ steady, useful work, who shrink from obtruding themselves upGS wider notice, and who djuietly Vegetate idj'retired sequestered spots,'where theyjen joy as much of life's pleasure, as can be found away from the busy hutn of delirious frowns Bui " _or the Jaetiodical visits of ihe tnttpectpf * these rheri iwoiild.be left to persevere i_ obscure toil} ah& silently wait for ti distant, &._ often - long deterred rewiii_. Yet, as the' j&o'ple "who succeed best at trifles, are.tbose who are capable of something better, 1 ! spi='i»V^e.i' those "sehbolmasteis *" whose Mhdustry -arid^ patience are pregnant with telling results in a small country school,' ly develop -into '; educationists of high worth when they have increased 1 opportunities frhifcdd within t6eir ' reach. Aad it is oh 1 , these eiatopMes of quiet uhpretendibij hierit) aiici huh On _a__yan_' ' raereMciblis dismays of seJr-assurii^tfdt. that' the Inspector most iree^ly-bestoWs Jus com-/ mendations. Influenced by' his advice, tlie ' Board seldorii.hesitjitks to exercise its power 'bfp'rbriiofciba in siich-'higlil^ de'serviri^ bates. To such teachers the intelligent criticism of a competent examiner is simply invaluable. The principle of selection and removal of teachers m* tbe Nelson-^ distrac^-Shaa'-so'fei^ followed the philosophical J rble^of ' the _m>; - viyal of the r fittpst, that instead^pf .being enchained by a rigoro_s%e^'riction tb.t_e*man who has scored tthe v hi(|heßt'J marks ih'ia host of subjects,. that pepple ?> o.r, sensible people at least* dprrVwoht L'toV smkj the Board has been guided ih the clioifce ttf a toaster bf tbe special qualifications of the man himself for the duties which the nature of the particular school imposes. Our supply, of. scbabki masters is derived from such various sources, and under such multifarious aud often contradictory circumstances,, that we should often mis* a- very. . gdod man if the choice -we're restricted by . purely literary or technical, tests. _ A suitable Candidate mny lack the prestige of a degree, or the skilful evolutious of a master ot method* yet be mfty possess! many combina-^ . tions of excellence tbat have a distinct edu^i catibnal value iv training intelligence _nd: character. ' ' ...... '■ The Inspector's long experience and closeObservation ought . to . enable him to discriminate between good and bad' teaching, between efficient and useless teachers 1 .! That ; his report sliould'not give uniform satisfacV^, tion to the teachers . themselves is about ithe,-. highest tribute . of impartiality it could' receive. And of course there will always be men who are ready to defend the absurdities of their conduct by the equar absurdities off their pen. "It is only truth that stings;*?! says the IVenbh proverb, and when - one os. two teachers writhe under., the rebnkp.or criticism of their Inspector it is a very pH?n» sign tbat they have been hard hit. Audit is equally clear that the public duties of such, taeh ought : to be subjected to tho cooling process of official review. ' But "in the present .instance : the Inspector's .report is really so mild and inbffebsure .'that it would, puzzle Sir Lucius. Dagger, to, pick a quarrel out of it; • Where*; there is no serious ground' fbr ! interference* the Inspector evidently. sees that it would be' unwise or mischievous io meddle- But when schools are glaringly and notoriously inefficient he speaks with no uncertain sound. We believe that the schoolmasters as a body give the Inspector, a-, loyal., cordial, , and . friendly support, and the impotent? efforts of : the few who attempt to make a sacrifice in which, contrary to-the custom; \the priest, becomes the' victim,; aire their own-: nest-con-demnation. The best answer to such is furpished by Dr Johnson— "l hppe, Sir, I shall hever do anything to deserve your good opinion." ) : \ If a report simply meandered through the level plain of vague generalities, it would be utterly Valueless,— its intrinsic worth would . npcpay for the ink aud paper wasted, on itpublication. Mr Hodgson's report is'jsatisfactory. Its style is perspicuous^ and its matter comprehensive and explanatory* His opinions hear traces of having been 'cautiously formed, and they are temperately expressed; his suggestions too; are. earnestly and eminently-practical. There is' >_s complaint of the tendency of official Vulesfso jfar as at present indicated by the instructions from the department of tbe Minister- of Education, to rediice nn Inspector *to '-thp posiMo_»of a "mere recording cleric.""'. And the empirical measure which thf_w|is_om of our legislators has so far-protidediofns, has incumbrances; that at all: event^donot assist the easy working'bf; .the ieducalgion aystern which has hitherto* been -jo proanerona in Nelson. ' ' j \aL -A >-- A i.Lj 1- i An Act. of Parliament was -Once -passed for building a heW; country gaol.; -By" one clause of the Act -the material of jtha'iold gaol was to be nser_- for building ' the j.ew fgabi; and by another clause the prisoners were to be kept in the old gaol till the neW ione was finished. And so it is now found extremely hard to control and direct >a • System of education which has a lineof faction arid deflniteness, framed, and, as experience ; proves, wisely .framed, to meet the e>igertcie3 of a scheme foreign to those: who afejto beuefit, the -most from the -Gorernmebt measure. This chrysalis-state of our schoolmasters in process '--of-- ta^nsitibn from -loyal attachment to „- system under : which they enlisted to a banner which commands their enforced obedience, isfof ' course productive of temporary derangements -of matters of police, and some confusion i of duties. But when our public schools are freed from that anomalous Mahomet cofiin-like existence, although the change will not be one of unchallenged, advantage,,we shall be able to point with just pride for many years to come to the fact' that much of' 1 - : the : success j wemay safely prpdiet for pur future •? etqoaitional career, wjll have been due tbVa''j.eh6ol I system previously in force, .'wisely planned, gradually and carefully Improved, and ably , and efficiently administered. ■- -i | In giving anacconntdf'a repeat land sale at Ashhus(;on. the _ftfqt( says t-y-^We might write columns about the present prosperity and prospects of this town and country, but nothing we could pen could possibly eclipse ; the eloquence of the fact that shrewd, hardheaded, experienced men of busines&gata fisr agricultural land within a mile or so of v th> railway station such prices as £41 and £5i per acre. The total sum realised at tho sale ; w.as, we may mention, £23,353 10s lOd - r > -{Ltjmynot be generally Akiqpyrn (says i Poverty Bay Herald^ that . ;^we /have .'-^B--j trious visitor in the Bay. at the present 'time lin the person pf^Qepa ,;wif a of Te KootL This lady is down here at'pragaat

.^conl^anied b^one of the rebel's sol|t_rs, on'; . ft visit to her frienas. S^6 ! wsffthe only one : of T<iKooti'B;wiTeb who\,escaped ffeih the 4*tai_k^ rhade^^ b^ '-the rNgatlpbrousi la the tJrlwet_ cbuhtoin Se_te_iber, 1873. In con_ia_jr with Tb- Hoot^lahe 'took refuge in the^aikatPj; and' till noWf i _as i _etfiained ; there since. In connection with Kumekume 's visit, the natives have been spreading a re- | port that if she were detained, Te Kooti would come to Gisborne and born down the town and generally make himself disagreedble. Of course there is no truth in this rumor, neither is triefe'flny n_tehtibn ol: detaining Mrs Te Kooti. -In the-meWlime-she and her follower are uuder official surveillance. The Bevy B. S. Taylor, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Sandlake, New York, recently, instead of preaching a sermon, made this announcement : — " The Board of Trustees have not paid my. salary, have taken no notice of my demands, circuJjate^d no subscription paper, nor made any •other efforf to fulfil their obligations to me. >I am hadlyinvolved fn debt, and do not propose to contihhe preaching fo_ nothing. I, therefore, declare the pulpit vacant until God in His mercy can send you a minister wnojcj&n ii?e*;o'Mfi_ airjfafS^ear^bftckakin breeches of his. win make." §j % %ff % %TM: Christeharjeh Pr^is^therrpn^liion Mr Seymour George, the new memher^for HoMfciJta^ After reviewing his speeches and the electibti ahd its surrounding circumstances generally, p_r contemporary says : — Such' are the main features of this great speech, and if thi. _]_&m_ry aj_ords"o._r readers half ,thejfun which the* denv'eif^ g«ve to some of the" West Coast" "ieaiSeniS, i the -"remfer's nephew r will, have, dP ne a, real, if nnintentidnaljgbod <to'the-i_blony.( In /cbhcldsion, \we. roay ( say . tbat_ to; ,_fr George's puerilities' seribrisly wbuid,' _uf}sbsing bis ex•pectationaoivnis Ow_i __sure \are justified, bejikerbreafei^ng, _ butterfly , apon the, wheel. Su6h' fefefldtike' grtiesSnesi,- a_ch'' bk_y 'self- ' cbh_detfce\_as _ot. Ijeeb. Irefotfi exhibited on a New Zealand platform by t_e iwost inexperienced candidate fpr _ councillorship in the tfi'nut^s't b'orou'g_. We congratulate the Hokitik_ _le6t6rj| iteartily upon their infant phenomenon. Concerning t_eir i'nrdeppndeace^nd manly spirit, it is best to be 7gUe_s;/ '' A'.'-i+ Sometime ago it was stated that "The. Vagabond" intended to bring an action to recover £2000 damnges for slander against Joseph Thomson, the well known Australian bookmaker. Referring to the case, a writer in the Newcastle Morning Herald says; — " In tn6..e4ejeJse w c^_ ( jvhat iK ..we consider a very _ laudable .desire to plifgelbe'Wi.; of* 'Its un-*" bleanliue|s^"ahd_escue a noble spor tirpfli the clatches|andtn)aphiiiatßiis of -ajgambling igang of?:n_p^'(Splied;^ bond' has imore thau once hit-out righfc manfully against th 4 boot-making element, 1 which has done more than any thing .else to degrade, the turf and- heap odium -Pn raping ■ and fall Connected with it. A Triton among the. bopk-making minnows has seen* fit <to resent . this outspokennessrand j n the truly courteous kad gentlemanly manner peculiar tb the gang, v . has indulged in invective, the result being an Jtotion for slander, .which .w|U .be n heard in Augiist neit. It is. likely to • be iine " cause cekbre. Messrs Butler, Q.C.. and Want will be counsel for plaintiff. Damage.* are laid at £2000. I hear that 'the ring', have s.tth.- --: scribed £1000 to defend their fellow-bird of . preyj and books are opened on tbe , double event of the verdict ia this 'case arid, the,, result of the Melbourne 'Cup. I am decidedly of opinion that tbe journalistic world should not.be beaten in esprit de corps] by a ;gang of bookmakers. ] ■ ' The"Vagabond* is deserving in this matter of Jhe moral support of the united Press of the Polony. He is fighting a battle -for ,the liberty of free speech and honestjcriticism, which should.ensure him the good wishes and sympathies of every .public writer.. He has fearlessly exposed a crying scandal which bas of late been ; attaining shameful dimensions and threatening the very existence of the^ national sport" both here and at home; and, in his spirited attempt to resist coercion and abusive threats, he deserves the - support of every brotber'of the pen. More . power to him, say Tl" Commenting upon the proposed judicial changes, the North Canterbury Standard says:— "A Bill should be introduced into the House, making it incumbent upon every Kesident Magistrate to pass an examination ; on the Laws of Evidence,;the Statute Law of New Zealand, and the laws affecting the procedure of their Courts. Any R.M. not ' toeing the mark,' to he summarily sent about his bnsiness, and replaced by another, wbo, otherwise, competent by experience and education, would have faced the ordeal successfully." '