The Wairarapa Daily FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 1890. Mr Lee's Annual Report.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3453, 7 March 1890, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 1890. Mr Lee's Annual Report.

We have before ob the annual report of. the Inspector of Schools for the Wellington district;' I'or sixteen years Mr Lee has labored'amongst ub in his present vocation, and year by year ho has been able to place on record a steady and progressive development of education.' Ho has now under his charge seventy-two schools, at which ten thousand four hundred children are taught, and daring the year under roWew a higher pb'reontage;of passes were made than on any previous period, indicating that the standard of classification is rising fast throughout tho district, In 1889 a larger of number of schools' 'were in 8 progressive condition than in. 1888, and a very much'smaller number wero retrograding, .Among recont additions to the syllabus, chemistry, physiology, physics, and botany are named, besidos modelling in clay by classes in the Mount Cook infant school,. Geometrical drawing has also been made a pass subject in Standard IV, As a partial set off against some of these higher flights, the Inspector delicately hints that id some schools writing is illegible, that, mental arithmetic is neglected, and that children in the city infant schools are not'always well grounded in reading. The Inspector concludes liw report by a fow valuable hints in the direction of making school work enjoyable and attractive, and • among tin obstacles to this which he deprecates wo;are pleased to notice that he includes that : senseless fad of some indifferent teachers which is known as "home work." He also 'sagely points out that gbbd'teachingcouimands good atlondancos on tho part of pupils. In'tho final paragnpb, ho points out that oneniancan no longer j'overtake the work of inspection in the- 'district, and asks for the services of an.'assistant. MrWs elaiw for 1 such aid is not likely to be disputed on aiiy side, and probably tbo only question that will arise in connection with it will,be that,of ways and means," Upward aud onward seenißj to.be bis motto, but "upwardand onward" costs money, and there is a disposition on the part of the House and the country to curtail tho annua! voto for education," Boards havo existed, however, in a condition ot financial apprehension for several years < past, and have, nevertheless, able to curry out a progressive policy. It: is, perhaps,- unwise for them, in the present..circumstances of the colony, to attempt 100. much-by giving almost'n higher education to all the children of tho colony. Btill tho pound, shilling) and 'pernio' view of the education ( question i* not one that is strictly within tho province of an inspector, Wo liko to sco an officer -in Mr Leo's position 'an enthusiast in his work, mid endeavoring, in season and out oi season, to raise the status of education within his.district, und to extend it in ovory possible,! direction, He is,doing Jus duty, mid it;'M for 'others jo'fix the limit 'wliioh'Now Jjcnlahd'can pru-. dently a'ffordfor expenditure year, by year,on'-ifSpiiblioschools.' '• ; .?. •'<•:.•

Tuv, luystery of Vtho) in ee tin g * con--vened in Jhp/jcfjoplrooir), fljist.ovei]ing is,now apparent,;, ,it, was, eyi.llentiv.p ; pp/ilical move, intendelrj, on tlie eve'of a .gen'eral election , to injii/e the sitting' m'sjhllßr fdrtß'Masterton' district,; 'Mr Georgi> B?et|iara, who is 'nqw"-supposed jb boon lib road biuill r'o tlio colpnj'i is quito capable of-.taking himself, and wo can safely

leavo to his hands the task of replying to tha attack mado upon him by lii'b old opponent, Mr A, W. Hogg. Tbo wonder is that tlio comliined efforts of the liberal association and the doublei nirifele lax society could not bring togetbor moic than n dozen householder to luck up the demonstration! It would be childish to review tbo proceedings of the ■ meeting, either in the intcresta of the Education Board or of our own scbool, as those were clearly subordinated to the necessities of a political faction. Tho dozen houseliolderswhojcontrollcdtliegatlierins; passed some extraordinary resolutions, but the twenty-four dozen householders who deliberately stopped away, and who perhaps are wont to absent themselves from any assemblage instigated by Messrs Hogg and Ronall, will be highly amused by the fireworks lot' off on this. oocasion. Still, had it been known that at such j a meeting an attack would have boon i made on an absent man in the position of Mr George Beetham, there would havo been,.an attendance of parents which would havo prevented Mr Hogg carrying a single' resolution; but the real object and scope of tho gathering was carefully suppressed, and not the slightest intimation given to any , friend of Mrßceiham'alhatan adverse resolution would be proposed against that gentleman, This was smart from a tactical point of view, but it was dastardly I . .