EDUCATION BOARD.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4937, 18 January 1877, Page 3

EDUCATION BOARD.

A meeting of the Education Board was held yesterday there being present Messrs. Pharazyn (in the chain, Toomath, Beetham, Bnnny, Boss, and Watt. Th'e minutes of the last meeting were duly read and confirmed. inspector’s annual report. Mr. Lee, School Inspector, laid before the meeting his annual report, which is unusually long, the reason being that Mr. Lee considered the system of education as being complete and satisfactory, and he had therefore entered into an extensive report of what had been done in the past, as well as giving a sketch of the future, coupled with certain suggestions, based upon close observation of the working of the schools throughout the province. . . , , [As there are some thirty-six folios of closely written foolscap, we shall only give a portion of the report, namely, that portion which the Inspector read to the Board.] The report commenced as follows Sip.,—As the education system adopted by your Board has now passed its period of probation, I purpose this year giving, in a full report, a statement showing the condition of the schools as compared with last year's statement, and as compared with their condition three years ago. My report is (I) General as to the state of Education as a whole, (2) Particulars as to the state of Education in each Electoral District, (3) Special as to each Particular School, and (4) Individual as it Records the Position of the Local Successful Candidates. I.— GENERAL RESULTS FOR THE PAST YEAR. During the year the total attendance has increased from 3470 last year to 4081 this year ; but I should point out to your Board that the return includes children only who were actually present during the month previous to the examination, so that 4081 in the books would represent a much larger attendance if compared with returns giving the whole number on the registers for a whole year, or indeed any part of a year greater than one month At my late examination 3072 were examined, as compared withTOOS last year. Also, whereas last year 16(16 passed our first Standard, 2123 have reached that standard now. Last year 057 passed Standard 11., this year 850; last year, 3 passed Standard 111, this year 168 ; last year 7 passed Standard IV., this year 17. Of the whole attendance 48 per cent. Inst year could pass Standard 1., or had received a good two years’schooling ; this year 52 per cent, have come up to that Standard. The increase in Standard 11. has been from 19 per cent, to 21 per cont. of the increased attendance. The increase in Standard Ilf. and IV. passes is even in greater proportion. When, in addition to the increase in percentage results, it is borne in mind that this calculation makes no discount for a largo increase in numbers, representing much raw material; and that the number of schools has also increased from 62 to 70, I consider the statistics most satisfactory. It may also be interesting for me to add that the 2123 passes now registered in Standard I. are made out of what may be put down at a maximum of 2790 in point of age only, without making allowance for those who have not been long at school, inasmuch as 1291 of the 4031 children on the hooks are under eight years of age, and are therefore not expected to pass the Standard. lI.—WORKINO OF THE STANDARDS. Although I wish to prove whatever I may have to advance, by an irrefragable statement of facts, I cannot refrain from an expression of satisfaction at the smooth and successful working of the Standards. I am fully sensible of the value of the work already done, and convinced that a practicable and efficient system is in operation, and one which is useful not only as a means of testing the value of the work done in a school, but also in directing the teachers to the profitable employment of time, and in training them to a uniform system of work. Nor do the advantages of such a system end here, for every pupil is stimulated to self-exertion by being in a position to win honors for himself and credit for his school. The more I see also of the two years’ interval in the Standards, the more I like the plan, as it affords scope for work being done by clever pupils or able masters in less time than is ordinarily required, and the plan admits of a much more extended system of work. Nor do I think our Standards afford an opportunity for any attempt at forcing or cramming. The work common to our Standards cannot be crammed, such as good reading, writing, and spelling; and the method of examination will, I think, foil any attempts to prepare only special matters in other subjects. Certain it is that, whenever anyattempt to neglect back work lias occurred, tile results have been disastrous ; whilst on the contrary, I have found that the most successful results have been obtained in schools where steady painstaking systematic teaching has been given. 11l PROOF. ESS DUINO THE PAST THREE YEARS. At the beginning of the year 1874 there were 26 vested schools under your Board, generally with very poor properties : and 33 non-vested schools, held simply in temporary rooms. There are now 57 schools, generally with very good properties, vested in the Board; and 13 schools held on lease, or held as the properties of other trustees. During the past throe years 35 new schools have been erected, or very large additions made to old buildings; 14 teachers’ residences have been built or enlarged ; and nearly all the other schools have been furnished, and the properties put in order. At my first visit to the various schools 2331 wore examined ; at my last visit 3072, or half as many more. In the beginning of 1874, 900, or 40 per cent, of the number present, passed Standard I,; now 2123, or 62 per cent, of the number on the books, have passed Standard 1., more than double the number passed throe years ago. At the first examination 247 passed Standard 11,, or 10 per cont. of the whole ; now 850 come up to the same attainments—being 21 per cent, ©f the increased attendance, and three and o-half times the number passed In 1874. There is no pretence at present to any great work in the two higher Standards. More time is wanted. It is satisfactory, however, to slato that ICB pupils have now passed Standard 111., and that 17 have passed Standard IV. The Standards are much more difficult in practice than they appear on paper In syllabus, ns a candidate failing in any one of the five sections into which It is divided, fails altogether, and a total of 60 per cent, of the maximum marks is required to pass. I beg also to inform your Board that the careful selection of teachers has hada very great effect in Improving the position of the teacher; and, by Insisting a --in good qualifications, your Board secures a much more effective service, which thus becomes a more honorable one. I v.— character of the education imI'a,".TED. During my visit of inspection, made at the beginning of the past year and also during the examinations held at the end of it, I have been careful to observe the general character of tire work done, I find that the arithmetic throughout the education district under your Board lias generally improved ; that the work is ranch more accurate—much more neatly presented ; and fiat there is less disposition to attempt more than can bo mastered. Weakness in

arithmetical teaching is generally a sign ot a weak altogether; but not always. I In-«s re ? 1 teachers whose best pupils cannot work in the readiest way, or put down in a succinct and dear tom a sum iA simplification of fracUons Jhc copy writimr taken as a whole is very faulty. Many teachers appear to think, either that writing may bo done whilst they themselves are occupied in othu work, or else that the copy-book is itself the teacher. The best writing Is taught by the best writer Children imitate and feel that they.can inutate w .at is done before their eyes, spoiling is generally fairly taught, but is best taught in schools whole no one method of teaching it is relied on, but where word learning by heart, writing from dictation, spelling the words of the reading lesson, are all given. The way in which dictation work is presented is much improved. For the most part. I think the middle of a school is generally most neglected, and does the worst under examination. Standard 11. work has very much improved, but in many schools it is yet very low. The reading throughout the .AVairarapa is .a wretched mumble: in "Wellington cit-it is good: in Rangitikei and Manawatn it is very satisfactory; but there is no better subject in an elementary, or indeed in t any school, than good reading, and none more difficult to acquire. Great value vvill always be set upon it in all our Standards. I think when V* ll l'ds became candidates for Standard 111. they should do more work neatly on paper than I had done at present. V. —HONOR CERTIFICATES. Let it be granted that education should be general, that is, open to all and within the reach of al . .Let it also be granted that the more children are educated the better for the State. Then wo must have good schools, and no limit should be put upon the extent of the education given, so long as it can bo afforded Pupils who are willing to remain long enough- at school should therefore be in a position to beneht by the instruction which the teacher is able to impart. For this reason I beg to propose to your board a plan for examining in any work taken up over and above what is put down in the Standard schedule. t course for some time to come there will not bo much work of the kind to examine, as very few have yet passed No. 4 Standard. This scheme will, however, practically put an end to the idea that the 4th Standard is the limit of our work; it will enconrage pupils to remain at school after passing the 4t.li Standard, it will encourage children possessing ability in any special subject to pursue that subject, and it will practictilly examine any advanced classes in schools winch mav in future be brought under your Board. Then follows the proposed scheme, which will come under the consideration of the Board hereafter. VI. —GOLD AND SILVER MEDALS FOR PRIZES. Ordinary prizes of books are often (I. think I may say generally) provided by local committees, or by the personal efforts of tbe teachers. I think your Board wisely leaves this matter to public effort. I take very great interest in the education of girls, and hope the time is not far distant when girls will be much better educated than they have been in the past. Though there is a scholarship of good value offered annually for the best boy in the schools under your Board, there is nothing given to the most painstaking or successful girls. In our Standard 111 and Standard IV lists for this year, it will be seen that the two highest candidates in Standard 111 are girls, and that in Standard IV the highest is a girl, and that two girls occupy a third position. These are interesting facts, showing how much education is valued- by girls, and how studiously they can apply themselves to work, I may add that the best scholars in at least four of our largest schools are girls, and that our pupil teachers .are largely drawn from the most promising female pupils. The best arithmetic done in any school by any pupil was the work of a girl. Many of our best masters prefer girls to boys for pupils, as they give less trouble to the teachers, are less disposed to be overconfident in their own abilities, and are more industrious ; also, as might be expected, they are more willing to supplement the school by doing home lessons. I recommend your Board to offer annually four gold medals and ton silver medals, the gold medals to be given to the two highest boys, under fourteen years of age, in the Standard IV list, and to the two highest girls, under fourteen years of age; the silver medals to be given to the five highest boys and the five highest, girls, under twelve years of age, in the Standard 111 list. VII. —NOTICES TO TEACHERS. At the next examination the revised schedule of Standards, as adopted by your Board, will come into operation. I wish to state for the information of teachers that no marks will be allowed for copy-book writing it the child be using a book too difficult for him, that only very elementary books should he used until Standard I. is passed, that the shape of the letter only will be considered, and that script exercises will shortly be provided. In reading it should be understood that a fair knowledge of the words and meaning of the text is included, and that considerable value will be put upon expression. As to the new work introduced into Standard 11., by “ Parts of Speech” will be understood an ability to define in simple language, and have an intelligent knowledge of the several parts of speech, and to be able to point them out in an easy sentence, or show their use in relation to given words. The geography will include ordinary definitions, ideas of a plan and map, the position of the continents, oceans, leading countries, seas, and islands, largo rivers, principal mountain chains, and the position of the leading cities of the world. For Standard 111. a fair knowledge of the accidence of grammar will be required, with the very simple rules of syntax. The geography of New Zealand will include the position of the counties, and that of Europe will be more detailed, especially as to Great Britain and neighboring countries. For Standard IV. the special period of history recommended is the Saxon and Norman period from Egbert to the death of King John, and the special portions of geography to be taken up will be the Atlantic Ocean and its coest lines, especially the geography of Britain. The essay for Standard IV. should occupy at least half a page of foolscap. Repetitions should in all cases bo previously written out on paper, for Standard I. in round hand, and for other Standards in small-hand. VIII. —RE-EXAMINATION OF UNSATISFACTORY SCHOOLS. In future, with the permission of your Board, I intend devoting extra time during my visit of inspection to the supervision and re-examination of schools which for any reason are not working satisfactorily, and to specially report from time to time on the state of Anch schools. IX.—CLASSIFICATION OF SCHOOLS. Of the seventy schools in operation fifty-seven are fnll-tirae schools, each having its own head teacher; seven are half-time schools, each receiving three hours instruction daily, and the remaining six are affiliated schools, to which your Board contributes a payment of £3 per head, with remittance of fees towards the cost of their up-keep. The affiliated schools are fast replacing half-time schools. All the full-time schools are attended by at least twenty children, except three; and in two of those the cost of female teaching power is not greater than it payments were made as to affiliated schools. These schools are, however, liable at any time to be so classed: The remaining school, at Gladstone, is a now school, which is not fulfilling all the expectations held out at the time the school was built. It will therefore be desirable to remove the present second-class master in order that less expensive teaching power may be provided. There arc no advanced schools in operation yet. An application has been made on behalf of Masterton. I am of opinion that there is no guarantee at present, and no reason to suppose that twenty-five children can be met with in Masterton who can come up to the required Standard, I think it will he best to appoint a first-class master in the place of Mr. Lillington, who has resigned, until snch time as a greater number can pass the required Standard, when ho can either be sot apart for the higher work or another head master appointed. CONCLUSION. Then follow special reports of all the schools under the Board within the province, several suggestions being made which will receive proper attention from the Board, and Mr. Lee concludes thus : I have written a much fuller report this year than I think need be presented every year, but It appeared to me desirable at this stage of our progress to review the past and sketch out a way for the future. I think your Board may be congratulated on the completion of the work done thus far, on having a machinery in smooth working order, on the prospects for the future, and on the moral support which is being accorded by all sections of the community. There is still very much to be done, but the great difficulties which presented themselves when the work was commenced about four years ago are now practically surmounted, for the whole of the large area of this educational district is well provided with schools, the properties are of increased value, the means for the support of education are no longer precarious, and there is a complete system in work which will, I think, in good hands, year by year raise the standard of education, and more and more succeed in winning the confidence of the people. The appendices to this report form indeed a most important part of it. I am pleased that our system of examination enables me to present lists in Appendices 111. and IV. of the leading scholars, out of a total of 4081, arranged in order of merit. Then follow the appendices, which give the results of school work in tho different Standards. Mr. Gisborne moved ttiat the report bo printed; and that a copy be sent to the Minister of Justice, each of the newspapers in the province, and to each member of the Board; and that the report be taken into consideration at the meeting in February next. The motion was carried. FINANCIAL. The Secretary made a statement as to the Board’s finances, from which it appeared that the bank overdraft was £SOOO ; the ordinary expenditure for six months at the same rate as from 31st March, 187(1, £7OBO ; school buildings, contracts in hand, £1250; buildings! urgently needed, £0500; total, £7750. Total expenditure required, £20,430. Estimated assets: School fees, £I6OO : sum promised to recoup loss of education rate, £BOOO ; vote of General Government from 31st December, 1870, to 30th Juno, 1877, £12,460. Total, £21,950, leaving a balance of £1520 in favor of the Board. It was resolved that tho statement should bo forwarded to the Minister of Education, and that an advance of £2OOO should be asked for at tho end of the current month. endowments. Mr, Gisborne moved that a return be laid before the next mooting of tbe Board of endowments in land invested and promised to be vested in tho Education Board of the province of Wellington, showing tho acreage, locality, date of grant or promise to the Board, tho present title, present disposal of each of tho endowments, and rents if any payable thereon. Mr. Toomatii seconded the motion. Tho Secretary explained that such a return was in course of preparation. SCHOOL SITE GRANTS. The Secretary read a letter from the Crown LaniH office in reference to certain school grants in the direction of To Aro becoming vested in the Board in due course. A plan of the grounds, namely, an acre In Tararmki-street, and part of tho Armed Constabulary parade ground, accompanied the letter. The Secretary was instructed to acknowledge receipt of the letter, expressing the thanks of the Board for tho grant. A letter was also received from Colonel Moulo, suggesting that tho corrugated iron fence which enclosed a portion of the parade ground should bo taken over by tbe Board, paying the cost price of Us erection. Tho Board agreed in the suggestion, and Mr. Gisborne said bo should be sorry to see any delay now that the land was practically tho Board’s property, lie should like to make immediate preparation for the erection of school buildings, and asked what Mr. Loo had to propose in that dimnHnn

Mr. Lee said he should propose the adoption of the plan now generally pursued in large communities, that was the erection of a few large schools in preference to a nwfnber of small ones. It was desirable for two reasons : first, because it resulted in obtaining a better teaching power; and secondly, tho cost of education was much cheaper in a large school. He would strongly recommend the Board to build on one site a good large boys’ school, to accommodate say 300 boys. The acre in Taranaki-street might be used for this purpose, ns it was the largest piece of ground, and it was natural that boys required a larger piece of ground than girls for recreation. On the parade ground he would erect an infant school, and convert the whole of the Buckle-street school into a girls’ school. Mr. Ross fell In with the views expressed by Mr. Lee. The general opinion was that no time should bo lost in providing the necessary school accommodation. Mr. Beetham then moved that the Chairman, and Messrs. Gisborne. Toomath, and Bunny, he a committee to make arrangements as to the preparation of filans, etc., for the new school buildings. MASTERTON. Tho question of a superior school at Masterton was again brought under notice, mid it was agreed that the necessary class-room should bo erected ; but some discussion arose on the proposal by Mr. Leo to remove Mr. Pilkington from ids present district to take tho place of Mr. Lillington, who has left the country. Mr. Lee’s idea was that Mr. Pilkington, who possessed education sufficient to qualify him for the mastership of a higher class school, should take up the elementary school at present, . and when tho necessity for a higher-class school made itself distinctly apparent, the Board might either appoint him to the office or appoint some other teacher over him, as it thought proper. LOCAL COMMITTEES AND ELECTORS. The education rate having been abolished, it was pointed out that some resolution should be come to as to who had the power of voting on the election of committees, unless it was determined to leave such right solely in the hands of parents. Resolved, therefore that electors should be ratepayers within the meaning of tho Rating Act, IS7C, providing they lived within three miles of the school in cadi district. Another point was also raised by Mr. Leo as to the standing of local committees. He suggested that they should be elected annually. It was postponed till the meeting in February next. TENUI SCHOOL. Regarding tills school it appeared that Mr. Barry, the present master, had been induced to tako the appointment in consequence of representations made by Mr. Andrew (who was enthusiastic) to tho effect that it was a full-time school, and that some fifteen boarders might be calculated on. Matters turned out differently however, and it seemed that Mr. Barry sustained a loss by making the change of some £CO per annum to say nothing of certain considerable expenses he was inevitably put to. Instead of fifteen boarders one only had been obtained, and the attendance of day scholars was not so large as expected. It was agreed to let tho matter stand over till Mr. Andrew could be communicated with,"and then the question ns to whether Mr. Barry should receive some compensation will be considered. Tho Board adjourned at one o’clock till 11 o clock this morning.