Hawera.

Patea Mail, 28 March 1882, Page 3

Hawera.

Inspected on 21st and 22nd December, 1881. Under a master, an assistant, and two pupil teachers. 4 ; - M - Irregularity : of attendance, and 'con- 4 tinually shifting attendance, are the two greatest obstacles to the efficiency of a school. Casuals operate to swell the average attendance, hut they contribute nothing to the efficiency of tbe school. During the year a large number of children passed through tbe school, leaving no footprints of their connection with it, except a month’s attendance dropped upon the attendance register. Meantime, the masterdias succeeded, bj| ah'teej hard work, in raising to a successful pass 97.1 per cent, on the actual number presented. Concerning the infant department, I am sorry that I cannot speak of it in such favorable terms as I hadAhe pleasure pf doing in ray former report. There seems to he a natural inaptitude in Miss Comfoqt’jS,; successor to the work -of infant-* teaching, which no training will surmount. Miss Yerdon has charge of the Ist stand, aid children, and I am pleased to report that they all rose to a successful pass, which showed that the teaching was sound. The excellent results of this year’s examination show that the school is altogether in a very satisfactory state, and affords a striking instance of the natural effect of .influential and judicious supervision; - The 1 chairman and othe r members of the school committee were

present examination/ 5 | |

Whakamara.

Inspected on 20th Pec, 1881. Under a mistress.

This school is indebted for its success as much to the care and vigilance of the school committee de to (he regularity and ability with which it is taught. I was much struck with the spirit, energy, and success with which the schoolmistress is qanying on her little school. A better class-room is an urgent desideratum. 1 The chainnan, along, wi th; several merabers of the school committee; was present af the examination.

1 Manutahi.' Inspected on 19th December,,, 1881. Under a mistress.

The examination this year being somewhat more stringent and exacting than heretpfoi;e, demands .a, greater, amount of care, accuracy, and ..vigilance on the part of the teacher, if. good results are to be got. But I did not find so much progress had been made as I should have expected, though the cent, per cent, “ goal " of excellence has been reached. The passes oscillated, on the border line, between pass and failure. A few of. the elder girls showed considerable intelligence, and pleased me with their answers, but a lively interest in their work was awanting. The needle-work was good. The commissioners and others were present during the examination.

Woodville, * Inspected on the ,16th December, 1881. Under a master.

The children here have only been in the school for nine months. This explains the want of accuracy and stamina which I noticed in their knowledge of almost all the elementary subjects irrespective of standards. It is to be hoped that another year’s drilling will yield better results than the nine months during which the school lias been open. This will mainly depend upon the ability, the energy, and the devotion of , the master. At present ho is hampered, for school places. The school committee w’as represented at the examination. ; ■ ■

KakarameaInspected on the 14th December, 1881. Under a master. I was glad to find this school improved. There are more signs of life in it than I noticed at previous examinations. The discipline is much more healthy than heretofore. The influence of the master is more powerful, and much better results have been got than for the last throe years. The organisation needs further attention. It appears to me that, in good organisation, every class should be under direct tuition, and that their work should be made interesting to them. It ; is no doubt difficult, if not impossible, to do all this where one man teaches everything to everbody. The chairman and. a member of the school committee witnessed the examination. b

, Patea. r Under a master and two assistants (1 male and 1 female). Judging from the results detailed in Table I, the instructions given appear to be of a valuable kind. I was more exacting in my demands upon the examinees than in the previous examination. In my standard and examination, as regards definite standard work, the same or an equal test-was most strictly and. impartially; applied here, ’as in every school under inspection in my district! This school may now be compared without disadvantage, with the ! best schools in my district. Intelligence,’ good sense, fair knowledge' of methods, and unwearied perseverance, have combined to secure a place among those distinguished for efficiency and success. It affords me pleasure to speak in such favorable terms of the tact, the zeal,and the Success of theteachers. The chairman and other friends of ed ucntioh favored me with their presence during the examination.

Whenuakura. Inspected oh; ; 15th December, 1881. Under a master. I ; was sorry to find so little advancement in the school's efficiency. JThe teacher does hot seem to lack ability, hut the. state of the school is .confessedly not what it ought to be. The numbers are thinned and the vitality diminished. Mr D. ? Colitis 'and others were in attendance while the .examination proceeded.

, : Kohi. Inspected on the 9th December, 1881. Under a mistress. I found a new mistress at this school, who had been in charge of it for four months at the lime of the examination. The results show that the children not only : came to school, but learnt at school, and gave proof of having learnt at school, Meantime, its state is not as satisfactory as I expect another year’s work will make it." The of the school committee was present throughout the examination.

Waverley. Inspected on 7th and ‘Bth December, 1881. Under a master and four pupil teachers; (2 male and 2 female).

In my former report I had occasion to complain of loose and desultory teaching in the junior classes. The tuition in these is now. ; well conducted, affording.a pleasing instance ,of what can be gradually accomplished by the assiduity of able and studious, and well trained pupil-teachers. The instruction imparted; appears tp have been generally vigorous and. minute, and productive of excellent results. The upper classes are conducted with adroitness and intelligence, and are in very good Working order. Satisfactory progress has been made during the year in the definite standard subjects, and most of the methods are'judicious and. effective. The children are kept busy with work in which they can take an intelligent interest, which is the essential element in good school management. The needlework was very creditable. The chairman and members of the school committee favored me with their' presence during the examination;

. Waitotara. Inspected on 6th December, 1881. Under a mistress. I have little to say of this school beyond the,,fact has. been spread pretty fairly over all the definite, standard subjects, but greatest perhaps in arithmetic, and least in geography. The discipline is excellent. A spirit of order that bears strain, and a spirit of honour that resents temptation, are its leading features. The needlework is very good. The chairman and a member of the school committee were present during the examination.

WANGANUI SCHOOLS. Four dayß were occupied in tlio inspection of the Girls District High School nt Wanganui, which is under a mistress, two assistants, and three pupil teachers. “ The only fault to bo found with this excellent school is that it hardly contains sufficient school places tor the numbers who are anxious.to attend it.” Instruction (including needle-work of all sorts and knitting), and discipline of the scholars highly satisfactory, while the moral influence exercised is powerful, and its effects are displayed in the whole character and deportment of the girls.

Four days were occupied in the inspection of the Boys’ District High School at Wanganui, which is under a first, second, and third master, and three pupil teachers. The school is in every respect in a satisfactory condition. The Wanganui Infant School is under a mistress, an assistant, and five pupil teachers. The Inspector reports : “I, cannot too highly extol the manner in which Mrs Hoey, and her devoted band of helpers, conduct this large and pleasing infant school. The organisation is as perfect as the contracted accommodation will admit of, and the system of tuition pursued is simple, and practically beneficial. Such instruction is the foundation of success in all other branches of education.”