THE THAMES SCHOOL.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2151, 25 November 1875, Page 2

THE THAMES SCHOOL.

Under the Education Act of 1872, both in number and discipline, this wai the most successful school established. It was originally a private school taught by Mr Robertson. Since then it has undergone many changes, and as a matter of course the attendance at the school has varied accordingly. By such, changes I mean that different masters have had control of it. When the present head master, Mr Moore, took charge of it the number in attendance was only about 70 pupils, comprising both sexes, as the school is a mixed one, i.e., for male and female children. However, since he took charge the number in attendance has - been continually increasing, so that when I visited the school recently, the number on the roll was 260, and the daily average 193; I Comparing those numbers with that attending when Mr Moore took charge, the result bears ample testimony, to the zeal, attention, and energy he has shown in the discharge, of his dutie* in the interests of the school. • ;

You will observe that fchii number/ of children requires a large staff of teachers to attend to them. Consequently besides the head master there are three assistants, and I must state that from what I noticed another assistant ii nufch required. It may be necessary to rejafrk that the headmaster has a first-class certificate from the Education Board in Auckland, and all the other assistants hare also the requisite licenses of qualification , | for their departments in the school. The principal assistant —who in so large a school a person would imagine should be a male—?is not so here, but a female— Miss Bowen. The reason why this is so is because Mr Moore thought it was but simple justice to consider the interests of the female as well as the male portion of his pupils, therefore, as in this, class a great, if not the greater number, are advanced females, and Miss Bowen having the most necessary qualification required, namely, an extensive knowledge' of arithmetic 0 rendered her very eligible for that purpose; besides she has had a good deal of experience in teaching schools, both private and public ones, in some of the neighboring colonies.

The junior assistant, Miss Clarke, has but recently undertaken her duties in that department,. aud so far has given full satisfaction to the head master* in performing them. The pupil teacher, Miss Hamilton, it seemed to me has far too much work to" do in her position, seeing the large number of small children under her control. J. asked her how many in her class or classes, she said 78, but that Miss Clarke sometimes assists her in teaching, them. There can be no doubt that this number is far too large for anyone in her

position to teach, I "cannot blame. the headmaster, for I believe he does for the school the best it is possible to do, and if he applied as he should do, for another assistant, the Board would cause to be made such, inquisitional proceedings in reference to it that masters in general prefer doing extra work.themselres than become subject to such a questionable process of inquiry. I certainly approve of the Board being exact in its dealings with schools, and school committees, but, unfortunately, as in many other instances of public nature, where, it should be inquisitive and accurate in its proceedings often the reverse is the case, and to this I may add that where no such reason for such conduct existsi the action of the Board inrariably^is vice versa. Haring so far digressed from my subject I must again return to it. The order and discipline in the school seemed very good. The principal thing that, struck my mind was the inequality in,, the number of advanced boys in comparison with the large number in attendance! and also the .inequality of the number daily attending to the number on the role. For this latter fault most certainly the parents of the children are -most to blame. Of course it is impossible for the master to Temedy either of those j evils; ifanely, to compel a larger number of grown up boys to attend, or to compel to attend regular children whose parents will take no interest in mating them go to school every day as they should do if they expect to derive any benefit from it. In these two instances the Education Act is • complete failure, because it leaves them in the same position as they wereirTbeforethe Act was passed, the children of parents, who do, not pare .whether their children are; or are not educated. The Thames School is furnished with globes, mapsj black-boards, and other requisites necessary for such a public institution. Th« building itself, though commodious,, j ia, not very conspicuous for its beauty; adjoining it there is, for the girls, a playground fenced in, but the boys have none, j I must say it is a shame to the people of the ! Thames; Besides it would be very bene- i ficial to the boys in a moral point of; view, as during recreation hours they would be under the immediate tiew of the master who could correct and reprpve th»m when they transgressed during play hours ; in j their relations towards each other.

I forget to mention that during tiaj visit the sewing mistress, Mrs Tregoning, was performing her interesting duties—, teaching the lemale children to sew and knit, and also to do such other wizard or witcfiery tricks, as will be necessary for th«m to know in that branch of business ■;' she kindly shewed me some of the plain sewing which some of the small children had. done, and I must say for their years, as far as I am/competent to judge; it was very creditable both to her and them. • The headmaster told me that before the breaking up of the school for the Christmas holidays he would have a public examination of his pupils, and that he expected they would acquit themselves creditably. Here 1 may draw the parents' attention to an incident, that would.do themselves much credit, namely,, to provide, means to get prizes for the pupils, and to take steps that their distribution shall be according to a fair and impartial examination of the pupils. Viator

Thames, Nov. 24fh, 1875: