THE WANGANUI DISTRICT SCHOOL INSPECTOR AND PAST WORK.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 322, 18 May 1878, Page 4

THE WANGANUI DISTRICT SCHOOL INSPECTOR AND PAST WORK.

Ox the introduction of the School Board Fvstoris of management in. Pie otr con n try, - amongst oilier schools taken _ovor war that ui Glasgow, known as Ivlr John Gidasjii'fs scliooi. A special reporter was sent hv-the London r Li r niiis to report generally on the. clxccttol toe fcnange.’ g. The following were the; concluding > nAmrks-of. (.ho report,, which" wegbeljeve ■ will be read-’with pleasure by all interested -in educational alTaira : ‘■Tim foregoing narrative relates the history -of a change, tho full significance oLwhich it is bard to realize, and the future effects of which no one can lore tell, f -The education of the 4000 children who 'will euier the Schools next session w-id not only be cheapened in price, bufc.it will be absolutely revolutionized in character and quality. Wo.-.all-,know the •X general tone : oI lisile-ssnoss and perlunc%torine?s that hamrs over an inxciior senool, and tlie ordinary absence there ol any 'r ■ sufficient stimulus to the activity ol cither ■pupil or teacher. For-the elementary • school. at Edinburgh," thgt known os Gil!c.--nic’s,tlK' rr.tb.ori ties have been fortunate enough to secure ailcnd Master (Mr lAf;o:s)vvbo possesses remarkable powers of organization and a natural aptitude for comprehending and dealing with • children. 'The school day there commences with a muster-of J2OO urchins, between the ages of five and fifteen, in the playground, where they-arc brigaded into divisions, headed-by their respective iii i -itcrsi' At the word of command, each <I; vision marches i u double file, and perfect silence, to its own class-room. Absolute phnetradhy is insisted on from all, and is scciwed by punishments that, without being cnufl or tyrannical, arc ingeniously i^c ism ut and rigidly just. A teacher who \ies u minute late would herself incur a penally-, and would, have to halt at the head of iter class while all others marched .past giid took precedence of'her. In school, the work is curried on in rooms of mod or i, be size, each with two entrances, through which .the übiquitous Head • Master constantly passes and repasses, observing, cv.oryilung- that is done.. The : • very young children arc taught upon the found floor, the next upon the first floor, o seniors upon the second floor; so ,jhat tho little linos are spared the labour "of ascending slabs. It is an absolute regulation that there shall be no boobies mi.! no bud chiU'-eu. Mr Fouiis regards dull or vicious children as, in the main, , artificial pioductions. ...Those who are backward or who have been neglected, are taken to a room where they receive special alien lion ; and are not permitted . to be made buighing-stocks -by more : -tadvaiicod classmates. Those who show evil propensities have the good that is in ’ them ear.'full} 1 sought for and developed, am! their belter feelings sot in antagonism to those that are. -worse. ; The last resource with a -hadly-condactcd ■ child would be expulsion, and for any one expelled there.would be a-'hundred eagerclaimants for the vacancy. It is much to say ihat this penalty lias never once been required among 1200 children taken almost at random,many utterly untrained, many mischievous -’and idle. Short of expulsion, the most severe penalty .enforced'is fcb march (he culprit through •llall tho class-rooms'and to announce his fault in, each, it is Mr Foul is’ constant endeavour to maintain among Ids little a high- strain of public opinion, and to im.lm . hern judges in any matter by which this opinion ■is offended. ,A boy was detected' stealing a pumpkin, and the owner brought Ids accusation to .the School. '• iA .solemn assembly of the " children yras. culled and the case'/duly stated, if-ich one Icljt (hat, the, honour of the whole School lull been 'wounded, and cvqry yoiegwns; given lor/expulsion. Mr Fouiis saidthat ho could fhul no fault-with the decision, and if the children .so wished he would confirm it. “ Bat,” : he added, “ only yesterday I saw this boy do a bra-re ami manly thing,. which jj, Ihavo not me a tioued before.. A batcher’s !r .'hid—bigger and stronger than. he—was beating a little fellow, and this boy went to 'the rescue, And.boat tho butcher’s boy and drove him away.- I think, this was a very nobh- act, and that tho hoy who diejj. it must have milch .-good ’in him, although''lie has now done what is so wrong 1‘ shouid like you nil’ to think ’ whether you can forgive his fault for the sake of his merit pund when •, you‘.have determined 1 will do what you say.” The result of tills appeal was- a commutation of .sentence, “ and since then, ’ saydtMr Fouiis, “ I have had no better boy in the School;” ' At dismissal of tie desses, tiie same discipline is enforced as on entering, the children marching in silence out of the building, so that ihere is no rushing ahonr, pushing, shouting, or disorderly behaviour. For the purpose facilitating these arrangement*, a drill sergeant is- engaged to teach simple movements, and ail is done with military precision.”