HAWKES BAY BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1188, 30 October 1882, Page 2

HAWKES BAY BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The follow ing is MrH. Hill’s (the Inspector of Schools) report on the Gisborne School. The dates of examination were September 28th and 29th, and October 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. The number of children present was 314, the number on the register being 214 boys and 126 girls, making a total of 340. In the report the title to the School house and grounds is stated to be by Crown grant; that there is a teacher’s residence attached, that the number of rooms was six, and the condition of the building was generally good, but that the central school room of the one used by the infants requires to be distempered. The grounds were too small for a large number of children, but the conveniences were satisfactory. He considered the registers and time-table also satisfactory, and the organisation and discipline were both very good. The neatness of the children was highly commendable, and the moral tone was satisfactory. The drill of the upper boys he considered very good, and he hoped that drill would be taught throughout the school. The singing in the upper standard was excellent, and the sawing very good. The apparatus was in good order and repair. Several urgent alterations Yverc needed for the infant standard. The ventilation, considering the crowded state of the school, wa» good. The teaching staff, consisting of Mu Morgan. Mr Bull, Miss Macintosh, and Miss Brown worked very satisfactorily. The library was small, considering the number of pupils, and he hoped it would be enlarged during the year. The drawing was generally good, accerding to the specimens of work shown in Freehand and Mapping. The copy and exercise books in Nos. 6,4, and 3 (boys), and those of the girls in No. 3 were highly satisfactory. He had seldom seen better * specimens of work than those shown in the upper standards. General Report. During the nnst vear this School has made most nonnnendable progress, It is now in admirable working unlcr, and the general excellence of all the standard work reflects great credit upon the Head Master and his earnest and efficient staff' of assistants and pupil teachers. From the examination tables herewith appended it will be seen that each standard has passed a very creditable examination, and only a single failure is recorded of the 183 children presented for the standard examination. A large number of children in the infants* department passed my first standard test, and acquitted themselves well, but I prefer, in the present instance, to make no recommendation, as the School is generally so well organised that the advancement of the little ones from a lower to a higher class may be safely left in the hands of the Head Master. Many of the exercise books in Standards 3,4, 5, and 6 were exceedingly well done, and received the highest mark, as did likewise a number of the advanced freehand drawingsand maps of the pupils in Standards 5 and 6. The singing continues to be admirably taught in the upper standards by Mr Bull, and I could wish that similar efficient instruction in this subject was given to every pupil attending the School. I hope Mr Morgan will be able to make arrangements during the current year whereby all the Standard children can he taught singing by note and by ear, under the care and instruction of Mr Bull. I wish to point out that throughout the upper standard greater attention should be paid to the setting down of figures in the exercise books. In most cases the figures, though nicely arranged, are cramped and badly formed. I now proceed to deal with each standard seriatim. Standard I. —Teacher: Miss Forbes. The pupils in this Standard have done exceedingly well in each subject examined by me. I have seldom mot with a better First Standard, and the teacher is to be commended for the very satisfactory results which have been obtained.

Standard ll.—Prepared by Miss Brown, ex Pupil Teacher. All the pupils in this Standard passed with a single exception. The writing in this Standard was generally excellent, more especially that done upon slates, in each subject examined a good per centagc of marks was obtained, and tew failures are recorded in any subject examined. ’J’he copy-books were in many instances well done, but I noticed that the exercise books, containing tl;e work prepared at home, were not so well done, and betrayed a want of care and supervision. I hope greater attention will be given to this important branch of school work during the year. Miss Brown bus already produced very creditable results in this Standard, and with an improvement in the direction indicated I antic ipate some excellent work at my next examination. Standard 111. Miss Morgan and Master J. Haughey, Pupil Teachers. All the pupils examined have passed a good examination. Several of the girls have obtained Cat'ellcu/ inarkn in cm li subjeetiUid they deserve special

mention for the ureal distinction Yviiich they > have attained. Their names arc Ellen Harris and Harriet Kennedy. Some of the boys who have passed in this Standard are very young, and great care will be needed during the year to prepare them for a higher Standard. On the whole capital marks have been gained by this Standard, and the Pupil teachers deserve credit lor the satisfactory results. i

Standard IV.- Mr Bull. Under Mr ! Bull's careful training this Standard has I again passed a very satisfactory examination, i Not a single failure is recorded, and the per j centage of marks obtained obtained is very ; high. I observe that Winifred Maher has I gained full marks in each subject. This is ! a high distinction, and I beg to recommend ' her to the notice of the Committee should any prizes be awarded for general excellence. ' The exercise books in most cases are exceed- i ingly well kept, but more attention should 1 be paid to the formation of figures. In every- j thing else this Standard is in a high state of I efficiency. Standards V. & Mr Morgan, Head j Master. The work done by the pupils pre- | sented in this Standard is of a very high 1 order, and Mr ?dorgan is to be commended j for the generally excellent results, As in Standard I\ . more attention should be given : to the formation of figures, The exercise ’ books, copy books, and drawing books affords evidence of careful training and supervision. Infants' Department. Miss Mackintosh Considering the crowded state of this department and the unsuitability of the schoolroom i and the apparatus for infant purposes, Miss Mackintosh deserves special credit for the . commendable progress which has been made • during the year. To me it is surprising how | any progress is made at all, The acoommo- ■ dation is barely sutliaient for half the numher of cliibb’en attending the school, and the little children are crowded together in a ! stifling atmosphere. Lt is absolutely necessarry that, increased accommodation should be procured Yvithout delay, as present attendance in such a limited area is very detrimental to the health of the little ones. H. Hill, 8.A., Inspector of Schools,