PLEASANT VALLEY SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1293, 22 January 1885, Page 3

PLEASANT VALLEY SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

A meeting of this Committee was held on Friday evening last. Present—Messrs W. Guilford (Chairman), A. Lysaght, J. Gregan, D. Qregan, and J. Mulvahill. MINUTES. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. The following correspondence was read ; From the South Canterbury Board of Education, enclosing forms of abstract of the school fund account for the year ended December 31st, 1884, and requesting the Committee to fill in the same and return to the Education Office, together with the Committee’s annual report. From the Education Board, in reference to the election of two members to serve on the Board,—Left to the incoming Committee. From the same, enclosing notices of the annual election of School Committees, and asking the Committee to distribute the same. From tiie same, forwarding the Inspector’s report on the school, and asking the Committee to comment thereon. inspector’s report. The following Is the report : “I have the honor to report that I examined the Pleasant Valley School for the annual Standard classification on the 9th of December, 1884. The results are shown in the accompanying schedules and tabular statement. The ' orderly' conduct of the children, the attractive appearance of the schoolroom, and the good tone observable throughout impressed me most favorably. For this reason I deeply regret that the results of examination are so unsatisfactory. How far the great irregularity of the attendance between the middle of August and the end of November may be regarded as the cause, I am scarcely in a position to judge ; but I am disposed to think that this is not sufficient to account for the defects observable. The remarks that fallow refer for the most p.4ft jo the actual attainments of the pupils, and must be interpreted in the light of a more intimate local knowledge. The infant department, which is unusually large, is in an unsatisfactory state. I fail to find ip the highest division g proper neuclous of a future Standard 1. The attainments of the .children are very uneven in every subject,

jin evidence under ordinary circumstances of bad classification or bad teaching. From tiro next lower division little or nothi im* could be drawn but a little counting. Standard I. is much too small for the roll number of ibo school. Subject to the qualification implied in this remark, this class shows satisfactory proficiency except in writing, which is barely sufficient to secure a pass. The arithmetic is specially commendable. The unevenness which is so prominent in Standard 11. ought not to appear in a well taught class, especially in the lower Standards, In Standard 111. the attainments are unfortunately too even. The spelling, geography, grammar and history show only one pass mark, and the arithmetic only two. The writing is very creditable. In Standard IV. the arithmetic and history are again very defective, only two passes being gained in the former, which is both incomplete and inaccurate, and three in the latter. Adbove Standard IV. there are no promotions made, all the pupils being examined in a Standard already passed. Three who in the ordinary course would be preparing for Standard Yf. were examined in Standard Y. work, and only one of these showed himself lit to pass the same Standard again. Two pupils preening for Standard V. were examined in IV. work, and only one again shows a fair proficiency in the work in which they were promoted,” Under the head of extra subjects, sawing deserves special commomhion, being remarkably good in the lower Standards. — lam, etc., W. F. Anderson, Inspector,’* leaching Staff—Head Master, Mr George C. Manning; Sewing Mistress, Mrs Manning ; Pupil Teacher, 2nd year, Miss Louise Manning. No, of children enrolled -Boys, 33 ; Girls, 40 ; total, 73. Presented in Standard IV. : 11, passed o ; Standard 111. : presented 8, passed 0 ; Standard 11. : presented 9, passed 6 ; Standard I. : presented C, passed 5. Percentage of passes. 37.2; percentage of those who have made 250 attendances since lust examination, 41.3. Classification after examination- Preparing for Standard VI., 3 ; Standard V., 7 ; Standard IV, 8 ; Standard 111., 15 ; Standard 11,, 9; Standard 1., 8; infants, 22; totid, 72. Observations Needlework, very good, especially in lower Standards ; repetition, satisfactory ; knowledge of subject matter of reading lessons, not examined ; object lessons, sufficient in Standard 11. ; science, singing, drawing, and scholarship holders, none; disciplinary exercise and school drill, not examined ; order and discipline, very good ; records, satisfactory ; pupil teacher, one ; general condition, unsatisfactory, The Inspector’s Report on the Examination being read, a reply was drawn up with reference to the Inspector’s remarks regarding the great irregularity of Hie attendance cf the pupils from the middle of August to the of November, the Committee being of opinion that many of the f>uumerous failures resulted therefrom, and deop'y regretted them. MISCELLANEOUS. The abstracts of the School Fond accunts were read, showing that the balance to the credit of the School Committee at the Bank of New Zealand, Geraldine, agreed with the pass book as made up and balanced by the Bank’s officials. The cash book and vouchers were duly examined and ordered to bo sent to Timaru to be audited. The business before the meeting having concluded, the Committee adjourned.