REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 56, 28 June 1884, Page 9

REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS.

The following extracts from the report of the Inspector of Schools, Mr R. J. O'Sullivan, for the year ended 31st December, 1883, to the Chairman of the Board of Education, Auckland, will be toad with interest i — The following table shows the number of Priniary Schools in the Education I'Hstrict, an I tho attendance of pupils : 'Quarter ending March 31, 204 school?, jioll number, 8468 miles, 8023 females. Total, 1(5,491. Average, attendance : W>s6 males, 0104 females. Total, 12,820. Quarter ending June 30, 210 schools. 3 toll number: 8037 males, 8209 females Total, 16,84-6. Average attendance ; (574.J males, 6283 females. Total, 13,0*25. Quarter ending September 80, 213 schools. Roll number : 8671 m-des, 8290 females. Total, 16,961. Awr- j jige attendance \ 6781 males, 6341 females. Total. 13,122. Quarter ending DecenilW 31, 217 school -\ Roll nu'iiber : 8785 m dcs, *&)s') IV males Total, 17,120. Average Jatu-,id«a.co : 60-11 ukwes, 6107 females. Total, 1,1,348. It ill be seen that the number of irnpilo attending the schools is steadily ' increasing. - , t Twelve Scholarships were advertised for competition in December. Six of ! fyiese Scholarships were won by girls, who do not receive so large a money j allowance as boys. This enabled the Board to award four other Scholarships, Wking sixteen in all. The Board have decided to hold the examination for Scholarships in August, instead of December, of 1884. T.iis [will enable the winners to cuter the Secondary Schools at the beginning of \;heir first term instead of their secon 1 as hitherto. The teachers' examination will most likely take place in December, : and it is of advantage that the two examinations should not be held at the same time.

The Board's regulation that all pupils who have reached the age of eight years, aud had made 250 attendances or more |rom the date of the previous examination, should be presented for examination, came into force in January, 1883. This regulation has, of course, to some extent affected the percentage of passes. The percentage of passes is affected here by the number of small country Schools, for which it is almost impossible to find efficient teachers. This drawback is becoming gradually mitigated by the increase in the supply of youner Wained teachers, who can make a beginning in these schools. The converting of many of these schools into halftime schools, which will afford a better salary to the teacher, will also have a beneficial effect. The examinations are carefully made and the results decided without any consideration as to their effects on the percentage of passes. I consider that the discipline and efficiency of the schools have improved fco a satisfactory extent during the year. There are still some subjects not taught, ks a rule, in a satisfactory manner. The teaching of grammar, as distinguished from composition, is not so satisfactory as I could wish. No doubt, composition is the more important branch of this subject ; we have always laid great sties 3 on it here, with a very gratifying result. It by no means follows; however, because composition sliouid liave the first place, that grammar should _ have no place at all : yet a good many teacheis appear to assume this. I fear that in some schools sufficient pains are riot taken to make the pupils understand thoroughly the meaning of what they read. There are few more pernicious habits than that of speaking words arid sentences to which little or no meaning is attache.!. That this liabit should work evil to the intellect is evident," but that is not all ; it produces a habit of slurring which follows the person who has acquired it into everything he or she seeks to do, be it field vdrk or house work, the putting up of a fence, or the dusting 1 of a roo'n. Pain* are very generally taken to make pupils liuderstitrid t i;tt they conic to school not liierely to acquire knowledge, though iuat is a gr<\at deal," but to be trained in liabits which wilJ stick to them through Hfe whatever may be their calling — such as habits of accuracy, thoroughness, investigation, arid honest work. After refening to the progress made, and to the method of teaching 1 in other tranches of education, the report says :—: — A practice has been be^un in some places which' I feel bound to notice. Uomm'ittees, and, indeed, sometimes outsiders, occasionally undertake to examine the schools. Now, the law lays down what examinations shall be held, and by whom. To hold exnniinations o'herwise is to transgress the law. Besides, it is evident that amateur examiners will often set up a different standard of excellence from that set up by tWe authorised examiners. Thus confusion is produced 111 the minds of ihe pitpiU and teacher, and singleness of aim is destroyed. I have no doubt, Lowevei*. that tie Committees and otners deferred to are actuated by good intentions. A few years a^o, xv'.<ul 1 must call a AYurUitl feeling jb'ferva'iied £s to tue punish-

meat of child ron in public schools. Teachers were subjected to a sort of reign of terror. This tyranny, though by no means dead, has somewhat slumbered for some time back. It now shows signs of re-awakening. It may be well I should repeat the words I fell, obliged to use in my report for the yoMi 1879. But first, 1 would point out t'.at instances of undue seventy on tne part of teachers aiv very r.ire, an 1 are easily dealt with ; but that the doctrine of the divine right of children to Free-: <lorn fiom punishment is frauy.it with ; 1 anger to the State. ; " In my last report I called V'Q attention of the Board to the danger that: existed of the growth of a turbulent i law- defy nig element, from the encouragement given to insubordination by parents of pupils, arid others who oug.t to be more alive to the danger of , their couUiuet. This danger still exists. Often when a teacher indicts a wcll-deservod, and not immoderate punishment, ho is issailed by letters in the press. Ho is perhaps summoned to court, and num•ers of people, including the police, l»n^y themselves to procure his conviction. It' •ie escapes a direct line, he is most likely left to pay ln's own costs, amounting to some pounds. In fact, nothing can exceed the tenderness of all the world for the real culprit, who most likely did not get half his d \?erts, and their horrified indignation at the cruelty of a m:m who has not shrunk from .loing an unpleasant duty. Is it wonderful thai teachers shrink from inflicting punishment? Is it surp'-isirig that what is called larrikiriis n grows apace, where so nuuiy act as if it was their special vocation to encourage it? .... I feel that I should be neglecting niy luty if I did not speak wuat 1 know on this matter, — one of vital interest to the community."

itandard. I. ... IL ... 111. ... IV. ... Y. ... VI. ... Examined. 2513 ... 2266 ... 1796 ... 1026 ... 542 ... 184 ... Passed. 1851 , 1543 967 620 . 351 . 117 , Failed. 662 723 829 406 191 67 Total ... 8327 ... 5449 2878

Tlie following table shews the result of the Standard examinations for the toast year :—: —