REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 701, 23 August 1870, Page 2

REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

The Nelson Government " Gazette," of August 4th, containes a report, forwarded by Mr W. C. Hodgson, Inspector of schools, to the Chairman of the Central Board of Education. We extract portions of the report having reference to the educational establishments in the West Coast districts : WESTrOET. Mr amd Mrs Fraser.—l regret to have to report that this large and important school has actually retrograded during the last twelvemonths, the present Ist class being barely as good as last year's 2nd, and so on throughout. Though 64 scholars were preseut when I last examined the school, I did not find a single child whom I could enter as a good reader, or as haying a tolerable knowledge of arithmetic, while the penmanship was' without exception, execrable. It is only fair to add, in part explanation of

this very unsatisfactory state of things, that out of the 143 who have attended during the year, only 31 have attained their 9th, and 7 their 12th year. But, after making every allowance for this drawback, it appears to me that a reformation isjurgently needed. CHARLESTON. Mr Mitchell, assisted by Miss Mitchell.—This is one of the two schools at Charleston subsidised by the Central Board, and partly supported by school fees, as at Addison's Flat. Very few of the children remain at school until they are 12 years old, the average age of the Ist class being only ten and a half when I last inspected the school. I found both the writing and the arithmetic indifferent, but the reading of the upper classes was quite up to the average standard of merit, and the meanings of the more difficult words were exceedingly well explained. Order was also fairly preserved, though the schoolroom was small and ill-arranged. Me Mooee.—The first class, the majority of whom have not yet attained their twelfth year, read very well, and can give a good account of what they are reading. The arithmetic is moderately good, the writing with two or three exceptions, indifferent. The schoolroom is large and lofty, and the children are remarkably well disciplined. One serious defect in the management ought not to pass unnoticed. The girls and boys, instead of coming up together, as is the practice in our mixed schools, are taught in separate classes, whereby much time is lost, especially where the school has only one teacher, as is the case here. Were the scholars more numerous, it would be impossible to carry out this system of teaching. addison's plat. Mes Duffy.—This, which is one of the subsidised schools on the West Coast not included in any education district, has not been opened many months, and has hitherto labored under great difficulties from want of proper books and school appliances. The children have almost everything to learn, but I feel assured that, under the energetic management of the present mistress, who evidently has the gift of teaching, the school will improve rapidly. BBIGHTON. Mbs. "West. The few children who attend this school are carefully taught, and forward for their age, but only 7 put in an appearance at my examination, and the daily attendance for the last year only averages 9, the average of the last quarter being 6. I fear this is one of those cases in which the assistance of the Board has been given rather prematurely, and that the nuhaidy aug&b not to bo ton. tinued. BRUNNERTON. Me. A. Young.—This school has only been opened since the March quarter, and was urgently needed, 34 children being present when I visited the school, which was built by the inhabitants, who at that time were receiving no help whatever from the Board. The children, though backward, were being carefully taught, and the master appears to possess the con. fidence of the parents. COBDEN. Mr Eay. Considerable progress has been made here during the past year; the present 2nd and 3rd classes being now equal in every respect to 1 the Ist and 2nd classes of 1869. Though I was sorry to see, on my last visit, how small a proportion the i children above twelve years old bore to the total number on the roll—6 out 1 of 77,1 was able to record a considerable number of good* readers. The 1 handwriting was also neat throughout, the gradation of classes carefully pre--1 served, and the order excellent. COLLINGWOOD. Me. O'Sullivan.—The daily attent dance at this school has almost doubled, during the past year; the number of good readers having increased in a still greater ratio. But in other branches the scholars still fall Bhorfc of the average standard of our country schools. The teacher is thoroughly up to his work, and the children are . remarkably orderly.