SCHOOL INSPECTORS.

Patea Mail, 21 December 1880, Page 2

SCHOOL INSPECTORS.

Havinc to look over the examination papers of the Patea School, some peculiarities in the Inspector’s notes on the standards induced ns to “inspect” the Inspector’s report. Now with what motive do w T c approach this subject ! The Inspector is a very pleasant gentleman, and whoever knows him must feel pleasure in his acquaintance. An Inspector’s business is to inspect, and if a local journalist observes errors in the local Inspector’s report, what is the journalist’s duty but to point them out ? Favoritism is pernicious in public affairs, and it shall not have place in the Mail, if wc know it.

In his notes on standard o, the Inspector says certain scholars “excelled in hand writting.” For that sentence 2 bad marks must be set down. Writing is usually spelt with one t ; and handwriting is not written as two W'ords by any authority. The Inspector writes it as tw’O words in every instance, and does not even make a compound of it. He says of the same standard that another scholar “ excelled in cnglish.” For writing a proper name without a capital, the Inspector sins against all authority, and lie docs it in three instances. In notes on standard 4, he uses “ neatest kept” as a compound adjective. It is structurally defensible as such, but an Inspector is expected to write elegant English, and “ neatest kept” is not passable. An exercise-book may be most neatly kept, but no teacher of composition would permit a pupil to write “ neatest kept exercise book.” In notes on standard G, the Inspector says one scholar “ cxcells in Writing, Geography and english history.” Of another, the Inspector says ho “ excells in Spelling, dictation and written Arithmetic.” Taking those sentences as examples, can we say that the Inspector “excells” in spelling, in his use of capitals, or in punctuation ? All the authorities write “ excclls ” with one I. The Inspector in one sentence puts initial capitals to Writing and Geography, but he does not put capitals to english and histon/. As these things are governed by rule for ensuring consistency, an Inspector might be expected to practise consistency by waiting all bis leading nouns in one sentence with

capitals or without. but there could be no excuse for writing English without a capital. Inspectors are supposed to know that proper names require initial capitals. The use of capitals to common nouns is governed by a less stringent rule, but there must be consistency within the same sentence. As to punctuation, the Inspector’s commas are put in or left out without any evidence of rule. This being so, what can bo expected from pupils? In a final note to his report, the Inspector says :—“ In the several Standards a fair start in drawing has been made. this branch is under the immediate superintendence of Mr Flood Ho deserves credit for what he has already accomplished.” Here are three sentences which need correcting in three particulars. The first ends with a period, as it ought; but the second does not begin with a capital, as it should. The third ought not to be a separate sentence, but only a clause of the second one. Instead of writing “ Mr Flood He,” &c., a scholar would be expected to write *’*' Mr Flood, who,” &c. The latter sentence would then read thus :—“Tin's branch is under the immediate superintendence of Mr Flood, who deserves credit for,” &c. \ct the model which the Inspector puts before us reads thus :—“ this branch is under the immediate superintendence of Mr Flood Ih deserves credit for what he has already accomplished.” Yes, Mr Flood is entitled to credit, but what can bo said of the Inspector ?