DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 1, Issue 34, 11 October 1912, Page 1

DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL.

How the Work is Progressing Inspectors' Report. In August last Messrs E. K. Mulgan and J. Grierson inspected the Pukekohe District High School. Their report was read at the last meeting of the Committee when it was decided, on the motion of Mr Perkins, to write to the teachers congratulating them upon the inspectors' satisfactory report. The Inspectors stated: —

Primary School. " The discretion displayed in grouping the classes and classifying the pupils, and in organising the tchool in othir respects, was satisfactory. Registers were carefully kept, while the attendance was generally satisfactory. Time-tables were suitable. " Order and discipline, and the tone of the school with respect to diligence, alacrity, obedience and honour:— " Very satisfactory; during the visit the pupils were attentive and diligeut." _ , " Supervision in recess was provided for. Tho pupils were wellmannered and well-behaved. Rooms and preui ses were cleau and tidy. Llie attendance, latterly, had been somewhat seriously affected owing to sickness prevalent among the scholars. " A gratifying improvement in the management has taken placo- during the past year with advantage to the general efficiency of the school. Comprehensive and suitable schemes of work are in use. The teaching is earnest and vigorous. Methods are in many respects satisfactory. The most serious defects are the comparative failure to enable the pupils to give ready, clear and intelligent expression to their knowledge in response to oral teachiug and questioning. the meagreness of the matter in written composition exercises, and the weakness in the comprehension of the language of rea ling lessons. The appearance made by tho_ pupils of the Preparatory Department was in general satisfactory. Several lines of weakness were disclosed during tho progress of the visit. The pupils were under good control, however, well mannered, and well behaved, so that there should bo little difficulty in remedying the defects noted. It is but fair to add that this department has suffered considerably owing to lack of accommodation and that the attendance of some of the pupils has been irregular.

SE< '< >X I>A KY I )EPAUTM EXT. " There is undoubted evidence, in this Department, of systematic and continuous effort and of a genuine desire to do justice to tho duties pertaining to an important trust. " Since the beginning of the year the continuity of the work to some oxtent has been interfered with by a change of teachers and by the gradual Introduction of the rural course, whilst the lack of facilities for doing full justice to several of the essential subjects of the course has helped to retard progress. "If this department is to be the means of enabling pupils to obtain such a training, through the medium of the rural course, as will enable them the better to undertake the duties .awaiting years of adulthood, a resolute and determined effort is needed to raise the standard of attainments, and so to direct the courses of study and the energies of pupils, as to secure the acquisition of necessary knowledge and the development of those faculties which make for useful citizenship. "It is to be hoped that all concerned will realise tho importance of the issue at stake, and the need for the strenuous application of those principles which bear more directly on tho work of this Department."