OUR SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 230, 5 February 1876, Page 12

OUR SCHOOLS.

The report of the Inspector of Schools for Wellington Province for the year 1875 discloses most satisfactory features, and shows that the gentleman who prepared it has in no respect neglected the duties of the office he fills. Mr. Lee has, with the best results, established a system of examination which is now in full working order, and which by irrefragable tests shows almost at a glance, at the close of each year, the exact position which the public education of the province occupies ; that is to say, it is easily apparent whether the standard of our State schools has progressed or retrograded during a oiven period. The system of examination fructifies in a table of results, which, in the words of the report, gives the fullest details of the state of the schools, inasmuch as a summary of the actual standing of every child, as determined by examination, is presented. Tried by this examination a very considerable progress

has been made in education during the past year, and this is shown by actual results. The Inspector, however, further testifies, as the result of his individual observation, to the advanced condition of the schools, both in the character of the work presented for examination and in the improved management and efficiency of the schools. The report states the progress made to be as satisfactory as could be desired, although, of course, there are schools which present exceptions to the rule. The system adopted by the Inspector has this advantage, that it presents an opportunity of comparing results under which a good master has his work valued, and a bad one cannot hold his ground. The marked improvement shown by the educational results of 1875 is attributed to the effects of improved accommodation, careful selection of teachers, and the working of a uniform system ; and even more especially to a strong spirit of emulation generated in the scholars themselves by the system of uniform and definite examinations, and to the conscientious discharge of duty by the teachers of the efficient schools. Whilst this last most powerful agency has brought their several schools to the front in the Inspector's notices of them, it has also lifted the whole standard of education in the province From a compendium of the results of the Inspector's examination, we find that there were 3470 children actually present at all the schools during the month ending on the date of the examination. Of these 2998 were examined. There are now in the schools 1666 candidates who have passed Standard I. This raises the percentage passed in that standard from 46 to 48—a fairly satisfactory and steady increase, as it is in the higher standards where most improvement was this year hoped for. There has, however, been a very large increase in Standard 11. passes ; and this the Inspector considers a most satisfactory statement. Whereas only 445 passed Standard 11. last year, 657 have passed this year—an increase of nearly 50 per cent., and a most gratifying result, because, if the foundation of any education is well laid, the superstructure will most probably rise in time and remain firm. No school has been examined of which the Inspector had to complain that not sufficient work had been attempted : the fault was generally in the quality of the work done or supposed to be done. The second standard still represents, as it will probably for many years represent, the limit of the work done in many of the very elementary schools, and therefore the Inspector hopes to see year by year larger percentage passes in this standard. It is not, however, according to him, until Standard 111. has been passed, that anything deserving the name of an education has been received. The number of passes in this standard has increased from 45 last year to 111 this year, of which latter number 91 are new passes, and 20 are scholars remaining in the schools out of the 45 passed last year. He has examined for the first time in Standard IY., which is at present the highest standard inaugurated, and which represents most creditable "work for a pupil of fourteen years of age. Six boys and one girl have obtained the first certificates issued for this standard. This, as we said at the commencement, discloses a most satisfactory condition of affairs as regards State education in the province of Wellington. The report goes seriatim through the various schools under the control of the Board, and this portion of it we have already printed in full. We may notice beyond this the very excellent suggestions made by Mr. Lee for providing for public education in thinly populated districts, as also for combatting irregularity of attendance by efforts on the teachers' parts to make the school hours attractive. This ib is quite possible to effect, and we can cordially endorse the Inspector's statement of having seen schools the scholars of which would° deem it a hardship if they were kept at home. In order that our readers may more readily appreciate the standards which pupils are examined in for pass, we append them : STANDARD I. Maximum Marks. 1. Beading— Narrative next to monosyllables in Heading Book .. - - - • . • • • • o 0 3. Writing— Small common words, written from dictation .- •• * 3 Spelling— Words of the Dictation exercise .. M h Arithmetic— -Simple Addition and Subtraction of numbers of not more than four figures ; Head and Write Numbers under a thousand ; Multiplication Table 80 200 STANDARD 11. 1 Heading— Easy narrative (say 3rd Keader) .. M 2 Writing— 'Passage from dictation from Keader 40 3. Spelling— Words of the passage>.. .. •• «w L Arithmetic Compound Multiplication ot ' Money, and Common Weights and Measures SO SIA.SDAKD 111. 20 ° 1 Reading-More difficult prose (say sth Reader) 40 "i Writing— Abstract of a fable or other narrative after hearing the same once read; formation of sentences and correct spelling re3. Geography and History-Outlines of English History, leading events; outlines of the Geography of New Zealand and Europe .. . - 40 U Arithnictic-Vxxlgav and Decimal Fractions, ' Practice, and Simple Proportion .. .. SO STAND ART) IV. 200 1. Bending— Passages of difficult prose or easy poetry.. .- -• •• •• * ..40

!?. English Grammar —Paper on English Parsing. Syntax, Analysis, Word Meaning, Paraphrasing, and the Accidence of Grammar; including also the Composition of a short essay .. 40 3. Geography and History —Paper on a period of History and section of Geography, each named a year beforehand.. .. .. ..40 U. Arithmetic—Paper on Arithmetic generally, including some knowledge of Mensuration .. SO 20» It will be observed that the maximum number of marks obtainable under each standard is 200. The number of marks required to be made in order to entitle a scholar to a pass is 120. It is fair to Mr. Lee to mention also that the standards fixed by him have met with the warmest approval from the education authorities of other provinces.