OAMARU SCHOOLS COMMITTEE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 193, 2 December 1876, Page 2

OAMARU SCHOOLS COMMITTEE.

A committee meeting was held last night in the office of Mr. Church, the Secretary. Present: Mr. Sumpter, in the chair; A. J. S. Headland, J. Falconer, T. Meek, T. Fairley and H. Aitken. Mr. Thornton, Rector of the Grammar School, and Mr. D. Fleming, Master of the North School, were also in attendance. After the minutes of last meeting had been read and confirmed, and the outward correspondence read and approved, the Secretary read an application from Mrs. M'Murtrie, whose husband was killed some months since, asking that four of her children should receive free education. The advisability of stating any particular time for which the application should be acceded to was discussed at some length ; but ultimately, on the motion of Mr. Falconer, seconded by Mr. Meek, the request was granted. A letter was read from Mr. Rutherford, as hon. secretary to the Otago Convention, asking that a reason should be assigned for not replying to the circular forwarded by the Superintendent, inviting the Chairman to represent the body at the late Con-r vention. It was resolved, '"That this Committee, not having been elected to give expression to political views, does not feel called upon to give any opinionjo;n.-the subject." . The Secretary read the following inspector's REPORT GRAMMAR The examined on Monday, Uctober r SOj following days. All classes Jjgio'tV Standard I. were not exafcirt'ed occasion. > TheTinstructioa.fif the class tested in Standard I; was fairl/ creditable. Reading was very distinct and well grouped. Spelling, fair. Writing", moderate ;' better results °Qiight be expected if the slates were '.tably ruled. Arithmetic, moderate. -a large number failed to add readily and accurately. I'would-recommend the systematic use of an addition table from an early stage. My opinions on the best method of teaching the elements of this are given in considerable detail in my report for 1675-76. The results of the plans there advocated are generally very satisfactory. Class movements good. The next class was examined in the Second Standard. - Reading : Very satisfactory. "Writing in Books : Moderate ; in a considerable numb'T of cases rather badly formed letters were met with, and a good deal of untidiness and blotting. The books might be kept more carefully. Arithmetic : Very inaccurate. Much practice in mental addition i 3 required, and a more through mastery of the addition table. Grammar and Geography : Just begun. Class Movements : Good. Discipline : Fair. This class is hardly up to the Second Standard, and should probably have been presented in Standard I. >iiss cleary's room. Lower Division here was examined N.rd 11., and the Upper in StanModerate ; in many cases Mier indistinct, and devoid t and expression. The 1 attention. Comprehd explanation of •«ds more atten- -> some cases, accun,

Arithmetic : V Fair. I: Useful economic applications' of cqd. atten* tion. I ■ i • \ . Grammar: Here the answering was very unequal. The Lower is ~ better grounded than the Upper, in which in many cases' the first principles axe are but poorly known. These need more careful exposition. Geography : Fair, rather unequal. Writing : In books ~ careful and wellformed, much superior to that in written exercises. . Discipline : Fair, but there might ne greater attention. Class Movements : Good. The instruction of this large, unwieldy, and not very well matched class is on the whole satisfactory, and certainly much improved since last year. It is difficult to appre* ciate rightly the difficulties' that have hadto be encountered, and consequently to measure with any accuracy the success that has attended the teaching. Much care will be required in making promotions from this class. MR. SMITH'S ROOM. The work of this room is very much superior to that of last year. Reading : Very satisfactory. Poetry : Repeated with accuracy and' taste. Comprehension : Moderate, as the reading book is one of unusual difficulty. _ Tnis subject should receive constant attention. Spelling : Very good. Arithmetic : Good, and most creditably written out. Grammar : Fair. Parsing was in many cases rather backward. Geography: Very satisfactory. Discipline, Attention, and Class Movements : Excellent. The teaching has been very faithful and thoremgh. ... I I am, &c., I D. Petrie, M.A., I Inspector of Schools. I Education Office, Nov. 6, 1876. _ .1 The Rector explained to the Committee I that probably the reason why Mr. Petrie I had not reported upon his (Mr. Thorn- I ton's) class, was that the papers relating J thereto were particularly numerous, and I consequently would take the Inspector I some time to go over them. I On the motion of Mr. Falconeb, I seconded by Mr. Headland, the report I was received and laid upon the table. I The Rector drew the attention of the I Committee to the absolute necessity which I existed for an increase in the teaching I power in the Grammar School. I The question was discussed at consider- I able length, and eventually a committee, ■ consisting of Messrs. Meek, Aitken, and I Sumpter, was appointed to visit the old I Grammar' School and report upon the 1 necessary needful repairs to utilise it. I On the motion of Mr. Headland, I seconded by Mr. Fairley, it was resolved ■ that "The Secretary >vrite to the Secre* B tary of the Education Board, drawing the I attention of the Board to the fact that® the Old Grammar School should .be re\® opened' as a side school, as 'there are 500 children attending the Grarnrif#* School, and to apply at the same time for B a sum of money sufficient to repair the K old school." ■ Mr. D. Fleming then handed in the B following report, which he had received I from Mr. Petrie, the Inspector I INSPECTOR'S REPORT ON OAMART7 SCHOOL ■ NORTH. B The above school was visited on thefl r2nd and 3rd instant. I The highest class in the infant room* was examined in Standard I. The pupiliH have been very fairly grounded in .thefi work of the class, and showed good dis-B cipline and attention, and excellent class-fl movements. In teaching the elements offl writing, it would he well to begin with ifl hand not larger than half-text, and hav»B all the slates suitably ruled with pairs o!H parallel lines, that the size 3 and heightsdH the letters may be properly learned. fl The next class was then examined »■ Standard 11. I Readings Almost fair, often low a»l indistinct, and without any natural group® ing of words. H Spelling : Inferior ; pupils should be aim customed to pronounce words d stinctlyi® syllables previous to spelling tnem. H Writing in books, moderate: The slate-B writing was often inferior, and almosS illegible. . I have seldom seen worse writ-B ing, even in an infant's room. The slataß should be suitably ruled on one side, araß good carefully-formed writing should I® expected in all written exercises. I Aritnnietic : Most inaccurate. I this® " I never;met worse results than this cla® showed. The marked backwardness i>B this subject certainly have besß pointed out to me beforehand. As tbiS was not done, I am almost, led to belief that none of the staff had any idea of tbfl condition of the class in this subject. I® a long time to come practice in should be chiefly mental, and my remaiwj on the teaching of the subject in my !*® report consulted and acted un, I . Grammar and Geography are both ve® . kward, and the most elemeutary prijfl ■> of the former do not appear to® ♦ood. The greatest caution shofH '*ed in promoting the pupilf® was examined in Stands.® moderate. B i : Very deficient. Hj qual; on the averam t,ny of the exercises vf® and Slates : Fair. B e average, -e inferior. B v . SafeWj

Cuu»pr«h«n»ioo : Moat deficient. , ro f the pttpila understand e«en moflejfciljr what they are reading about. This. .»most important master, and the best n „ for showing whether a school is cdnitinif or merely instructing. It requires lid deserves much attention. Spoiling : Very fair. Writing: Careful and welt formed. em''. ,ther backward. Arithmetic : Backward and inaccurate. Useful economic exercises should he n*en." Th« present text book is most unstable. I would recommend the numiur# rn the Royal School Series on Arith-

Grammar is but mod* rately known, and ,|ous not appear to have been intelligently taught. Geography is moderately known. Glass Movements andi Discipline are factory. On th» whole the condition of the school is far from satisfactory. There is a rety marked want of intelligence in alt tlio classes and in alt the subjects. The work seems to have been done in a perfunctory and routine way in the second room, and; to some extent in the highest one also. I would suggest ttiat in all the olussea steps should bo taken to test the pupils' acquaintance with the work done orally as often as possibte. IE this were intended to the staff would have a more correct idea of what the pupils could do than was apparent on the present occasion. The head master, though not personally responsible for the work of his .assistants, should know thoroughly the actual condition of every class in the school, and inform the Inspector beforehand if there are any deficiencies anywhere. There seemed to be no accurate knowledge of what the pupits realty could do, a point which appears to me a necessary preliminary to successful teaching. Pains should be specially taken to see tliat the pupils are not any tonger put into books beyond their comprehension.—l sm , Ac., D. Prv&tic, M. A., inspector of Schools, Education Office, Nov. 6 r I 87& Mr. Fleming entered into an explanation of the causes of the adverse report made by Mr. Petrie, and spoke in very strong terms of the disadvantages under which he ! labored, and the difficulties he had to contend against—difficulties which, if not removed, tn the future, would militate i greatly against the success of the school. He then handed in the following letter, a portion of which we excise : " North School, " Oaxnaru, December I, 1876.

"■ Xo (/he Secretary, School Committee. »!«tR r —I beg to lay before you Mr. J"()trie's report of the SchnoL I think it unnecessary to make any comments upon it, but how far It is correct I would teave ytnt to Judge by a personal examination of the School. " Apart altogether from the opinions expressed! by Mr. Petrie, the tone of the school is not to my satisfaction. No effort »_• betcn wanting on my part. For two thr> school has been unsettled as rei ascTs an assistant master, and daring this * time- my health has frequently threatened to give way. . "It is the first time I have received such a report, tuid knowing the difficulties I have had to contend against I feel it all the more keenly.—l am. Ac. , " D. Fuittt^rt." The report caused considerable discussion, as also did Mr. Fleming s litter and explanation; but ultimately it was resolved, " That Messrs. Sumpter, N. Fleming and Falconer (with power to add to their number) be appointed a Committee to report generally on the conduct of the Sforth School, in connection with Mr. Petrie's. report, and the head master's tetter accompanying the report." The Sat.'tUfiTAfcY mxi read the following report received from Mr. George Brownbe : Oamant, December 1, 187 W. To the Chairman and Mernbera of the School Committee. Gentlemen,— ! have pleasure in furnishing you with a brief summary of the work don® in our schools in the matter of singing for the past half year. In the Senior Classes there is a marked improvement in the quality of the voices, and in the style of singing, which is nowsoft and melodious. This is the result of much practice, and untiring drilHn voice training exercises.' In the Sol-fa Notation, the majority of the pupils are well able to make a creditable pass in Standard V. of tile London School Board Code. In tl: e stall' notation, we have carefully studied the key of € major, with its relative keys of F and G, and have made considerable progress. In these classes the object aimed at is, to secure that the pupils, before leaving school, shall have c ctjttired the power <?£ reading music. By reading music is not meant naming the notes, or getting some help to the memory by notes, in singing a piece which has been learnt mainly by the ear. By the powtr of reading music is meant the power to sing at stght, and in part, or a piece of ■ «iinpl» innate such as a paa!m tune, which the pupil had not formerly seen, or heart! " sung. In the Junior Class, the loud singing and straining of voices, su> prevalent in schools, has given place to a much softer style of sing'ng. It is incalculable the damage done to young voices by the highpitched noisy songs which are forced front their throats. Ttiese pupils are well up to Standard 111. of the London Code; they have also some pleasant drill in the Old Notation, which is bearing good fruit. In the Infant Class we have dictation •xereiaes, and simple songs from the blackboard ; our aim being to train the littlv ones to observe the proper position of the body—head erect, mouth freely open, and shoulders back, <Stc. f and to* avoid slovenly and coarse fiat singing* If we wi*tj Opuxe and chaste song; to pervade our schools and homes, and have at heart the V

spread of musical knowledge among the people we cannot afford to neglect masac in the Infant Classes. I bare to speak in the meet favorable terms of the kind assistance accorded me by Mr. Thornton, Mr. Fleming, and the other teachers.—l have, &c., Ceoßite fifiow.suE. Mr. Tborstos bore evidence to the carneft zeal displayed by Mr. Brownlee, and spoke in him terms of the interest Sir. Brownlee took in his pupils. _ A tfciscuasion took place as to the advisability of giving prizes, and whether there should be a public examination ; bat the first question was deferred till next meeting, the masters to bring op a report as to the number of prizes required. It was then settled that the examination should be held in the North School on the 13th, in the Grammar School on the 14th, and vacation to commence on the 15th inst.