REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS, 1878.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5614, 27 March 1879, Page 3

REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS, 1878.

The condition of each'’school described, in the fifth annual.report on 1 the I 'state of education is as follows. We'extract the reports of the Wellington schools only /- 1 - : " MOUNT COOK INkANT SCHOOL ’' This school was opened in January, 1878, aml’a’t the date of my last report '-was for the first time being thoroughly organised, by Mrs. Francis/who had then been but a very short time in charge. The building is large, lofty, imd'well-'Suited for its purpose. It consists of a main roorh with galleries, parallel desks and large draft space, two class rooms witlf dual desks, and a babies' room, with galleries. I examined the school at the end of September, spending nearly a week in the work. The attendance during the summer months has since very largely increased, and the building is now fully occupied. The school is admirably managed and thoroughly well taught. As an institution in connection with-graded boys| and

girls’ schools, its value cannot be over-esti-mated. The pleasant awakening of the mental faculties by the Kindergarten system: of teaching, the cheerfulness inculcated by 'the singing lessons and object lessons, the habits of discipline and order engendered by the marching and action songs, and the ordinary easy routine of the school work, cannot fail to mould better material for our graded schools, and save much of the wearisome drudgery of their A B 0 work. The children, who are nearly all under seven years of age, are taught to read from wooden blocks, reading sheets, and books—an upper class of about 50 being able to read monosyllabic narrative. The same class write easy dictation in very good form. Eleven children passed Standard I. last September and twenty-three others very recently. Writing is taught on the Mulhauser system by analysis of letters. Multiplication tables are known to the end of five times, and; the oral instruction is systematic and ably imparted to large gallery-classes chiefly by the head-mistress. Perhaps the moat striking feature in the school is the accurate singing from notes taught by the use of the modulator. The children can 1 sing over ' thirty slugs. Much credit is due to Mrs; Francis for the pains she takes to instruct ’ her assistants, several of whom are fast becoming efficient .infant teachers. • ' MOUNT COOK GIRLS’ SCHOOL.' : I am-pleased tOc'repert that'this large girls’ school as a separate institution is a success, and that the education imparted is quite satisfactory. The division of the school into 1 upper and lower with 7 a responsible'teacher in each room has tended, to increased efficiency.* -The teaching power is above the average of large schools. Although .in i some repeats the management’does hot compare favorably with that of the best ordered mixed schools, the admirable tone whichobtaius throughout the whole is a good set off against any want of masculine organisation. During the seven days of the examination-'l"was'much impressed with'the quiet manners, with; the'gentle and respectful bearihg of the eldergirls, and* with the happy faces of the''whole;school/ ; Nothing -'in the management of- the; school i appeared harsh or distasteful! to. 7 the •* pupils.- The work 'ifraa ; sound and showed markedprogress during the year. This was-especially nbtioe- ; able in the dower: 7 school' ' under i • Miss i Deverefix, as that "portion of the school last i year was the least satisfactory division of i the school. The reading of this school deserves especial mention; ./The excellent style andTe- * fined enunciation of the'pupils'in ! the highest ! class showed very 'careful' and: very- able : teaching on the; part of- Mrs. * Tarn; • i The arithmetic of the lower school wasparticularly good ;,ahdithe work-generally throughout the : whole!; school • was * more than satUactory, [except that the oral teaching/as to the. word meaning-/andsubject r matter of i the readers, ; will require more attention next year,-’ . The I school is now well '.’arranged in two; large i rooms vHth’two-class rooms; * Parallel desks are used throughoufe the'school./ Needlework :ia taught throughout. There was room- for imore accurate classification/- and 'the:liead- | mistress should bei a -little- -better acquainted i with all the classes. There is’ an increase of 162 girls on the books during the year. " There ! are nearly three times a's'many. girls classed in i Standard work this year as last year.:

mount;COOK boys’ school. •:This large-school, consisting 'of; two, main rooms 62 feet by 22 each and six class rooms, was.-ereoted-a year, ago in the heart of this rapidly increasing part of the city, During the past year'the school has fairly filled, showing an average attendance of-440 ; ;hut many of the new comers, although'of ;good' school age, had received very little previous -instruction. The inevitable result is that the present actual standard of the! school is low. It has been; a -work of no inconsiderable labor to classify, organise, and drill into habits of discipline such large numbers, with a teaching staff for the most part untrained. : There has also been ranch experimental change in the methods adopted, in the time tables, and in the disposition of the teaching power. It can then hardly be wondered at that the head master at present is not-.so well acquainted with his classes as I could have wished; insomuch that in oases candidates for three different standards came up from: the same class. The head master has a Herculean task to perform. He is energetic,, and has shown himself a. thoroughly efficient master of a moderately sized school. I have.full confidence in his ability, if-he can succeed in carrying, with . him. the sympathy of his teachers. The reading at present shows little expression, but the writing, arithmetic;: and dictation are already generally good. The oral instruction, especially in geography and word kriowiedge,' was frequently deficient. This is the only school in which the system of teaching reading by monitors on the plan of the British and Foreign Society is adopted. The boys arc well drilled to form line "and march, and elementary drawing and singing are.taught.. Considering,the,fact that this school has increased from 262 to’ 518, during the year; the condition !is satisfactory, and promises improved results; next .year, as the school has not been-classed too high. Twofifths ;of the: pupils. are below Standard 1., but over 400 r have been in school ( less than one year. The examination; occupied eight days. ■ •-: -■ ‘ - r • THEEACE .SCHOOL. .

.; The number on the .books.has.mcreasedfrom 201 to 276. The building which 'consists^ of two large rooms? and ■ two class rooms, with suitable cap rooms,and lavatories,’is very convenient, and, the school is particularly well appointed in its interior and /exterior appliances. This is a mixed school: taught by .a very efficient staff of teachers; /working with’: true sympathy and singleness of aim. , : The' results are highly satisfactory as evidenced by the fact

that there are 200'children of age for Standard ‘work, and 2Of) have actually obtained classification, half that tjuihber being classed higher than Standard 11., .The excellent reading and grammatical knowledge of Standards TV,-V., and VI. deserves special commendation. The painstaking teaching of Miss Berestord, in the lower department, and the even and effective teaching of Mrs. Young and Mr. Watson in the -middle of the school, told well in the results. I was not able to pass the writing of certain Standard V. candidates without a’ caution, nor was the 'spelling and geography of Standard lIL candidates all that could be de■'Sired. During the. six examination days I ■ noticed that there was much life in the school, that kind and good influences were brought to bear in' 1 the teaching, that the manners and general bearing of the scholars were commendable,'and ‘ that a wholesome atmosphere ap'peared to surround the whole work. The intelligence of the children is thoroughly awakened,''and a strong spirit of emulation is manifest; 'Drawing, physiology, and physical science are taught, special attention being given by Mr, Young to the teaching of elementary science. I consider this school in a high; state of efficiency, and exceedingly well managed.TB AEO SCHOOL. During the past year the attendance has increased from '305 to 413. This is a mixed ■school, very centrally situated, but the building is of an ancient order and worn out. Taken as a whole the general efficiency of the school; is improved, hut the upper work of the school) was very' unsatisfactory. Mr. Gordon, the; first assistant in charge of the upper depart-, menfc, informs hie that the classes under him : had fallen back during the time Mr. Doherty '■ ■was assistant. ’This statement must be ac-; cepted.-as the' same;'work last year was per-formed'-by ■ Mrl/Gordon with satisfactory re-; suits. The work of the classes under Miss; Richmond, Miss Barnard,' and■ Miss Colgan , was particularly good' ' in' all ■ sections, not merely as to results, but in the character of ; the education imparted. The' work .of the : first three Standards was generally very good, but that of eighteen good candidates for Standard IV. in the upper room, and of' the. small batches for Standards V. and VI.; was very , weak in-several sections, and of an inferior order. Many of the Upper; Standard children dropped the h in reading, and showed weak spelling. 1 .Only' tWo-out of sixteen Standard ! IV. candidates could write millions. m> The infant classes were satisfactory. There is a well-trained cadet’ Corps established in the school. It is drilled by an officer t from the Armed- Constabulary barracks, and is a credit to the school, the master serving as captain. The corps is efficient and attractive. ■ Tho present champiou rifle shot, •it ' appears was,'as a boy, a member of the Te Aro. Cadet Corps.’' Entire cordiality prevails between.. Mr. Holmes, who is exceedingly kind and. painstaking, and his subordinates. I trust the appointment of Mb Austin as first assistant-will lead to better results in the highest'class of the school. He is a teacher of good ability-and has proved himself a successful teacher in his former appointments, and by steady application liewi.il do good' service in Te Aro. There are 258 of age for Staudird' classes, but only .182 are at present classed. No less than 233 have been lesa 'tban one year, at echo'd. School songs are very fairly rendered, and drawing is very well taught. Archdeacon Stock’s savings bank is a great success. IHOENDOU' SCHOOL.

During the past year the number ou the books has increased from 325 to . 469., The number over 8 years of age —234; the number classed in the Standards —293, one-haltbeing above Standard 11., and 60 being -classed in Standards V. or VI. No better evidence could |be given of the thorough efficiency of this school, which is now by far the most advancediu ;the district, no other- school having more than one-fourth as many pupils classed in the two highest standards. The buildings are not very suitable considering the convenience of newer designs. They are densely crowded. The proposed new schools Tor boys, girls, and infants late much needed. The work of the school continues uniformly good in all classes and in all 'sections. A complete bond of sympathy exists; ■between the r headmaster. and his assistants. ■The school is a hive of intelligent earnest work, ! and the whdle condition of the' school ■ reflects great credit on the management. The teaching power is strong, but its strength is made effective by the . training - given to.the’ pupil teachers by Mr. Mowbray. . Though all the work was good the following was excellent :—The reading of Standards 111., TV, V., ;VI.; spelling of Standard VI.; writing of Standard 11. and XV.; arithmetic of Standard iV. ; and the grammar .and:: composition .of jStaudards V. and VI. The scholars are well; jbehaved, and show an interest in their work, jwhioh is always;refreshing, to an , examiner; jwherever it is distinctly noticeable. The high: ;marks obtained by candidates in standard V.; ‘are very creditable to the ■ first .assistant, .Mr. Lewis, who is a painstaking teacher of llarge experience. The general , tone, and 'management throughout .the, school,lead to the conviction that the manners and, morals,of the’ pupils are well cared for. - 'I may;also.state; that religious instruction;,.has , always,.been, jq the- school, by,the'teachers, and that, isingmg, drawing,, and elementary science form iau important part of the curriculum of the jsohool, the,singing,in: particular being,, very jgood., ” ’The- scholarships given by the College ‘Governors again fell this year to boys from the SThomdon school. j; ;; , f i I-":