45

E.—9

The Girls' High School. The lowest Form, a small class, did very good work in the initiatory rules. The second worked examples in money, weights, and measures, with fair accuracy, and has been excellently trained in mental arithmetic, but has not yet mastered arithmetical problems. During the year the Third Form has been engaged on vulgar and decimal fractions, and has acquired good knowledge of method, though rather deficient in readiness. The mental arithmetic in this class is again an admirable feature. The Upper School is, on the whole, characterized by great carefulness and neatness in execution, especially in the highest Form. The Fourth, when examined orally in algebra, worked with excellent precision. The algebra of the Sixth was particularly good, and, had they all taken trigonometry, the average would have stood much higher. In the two highest Forms not many attempted the deductions ; but, on the other hand, the text of Euclid was most minutely and faithfully reproduced. The following points require attention :In writing out Euclid, 111., 23, no reference was made to 111. 10. In alligation not more than two solutions of the question were given, instead of seven. In compound practice the great majority failed where the tables were fractional. The work allotted to each year seems quite sufficient. I have only to suggest that, instead of so much memory work in the Euclid of the upper Classes, more training in deductions and original work might with advantage be attempted. The subjoined tables give a succinct statement of results, showing the marks gained in each class for the three subjects of separate papers :— Arithmetic — Highest. Average. Lowest. Sixth (14) ... ... ... ... ... 93 66 16 Upper Fifth (17) ... ... ... ... 93 62 13 Lower Fifth (32) ... ... ... ... 100 57 0 Fourth (36) 77 47 0 Euclid — Sixth (First Division), (7) ... ... ... 66 56 40 Sixth (Second Division), (6) ... 76 53 33 Upper Fifth (First Division), (7) ... ... GO 46 21 Upper Fifth (Second Division), (7) ... ... 81 71 56 Lower Fifth (29) ... ... ... ... 94 63 5 Algebra and Trigonometry — Sixth (12) ... ... ... ... ... 91 69 41 Upper Fifth (15) ... ... ... ... 94 63 25 Lower Fifth (34) ... ... ... ... 94 64 33 The Boys' High School. The Lower School generally wrought with correctness and neatness, though somewhat slowly. The lowest Form in an especial manner distinguished itself for painstaking accuracy. The Second wrought examples in the compound rules and reduction with average correctness, and evinced much more than average skill in dealing with arithmetical problems. The Third consists of two divisions, in the lower of which examples in arithmetic as far as bills of parcels and practice were executed with due attention to form and method ; but greater speed would be attained by the use of decimals in extending the fractional parts in compound practice. The Upper Division went through their extensive programme with animation, and showed considerable acquaintance with problems. Some of the boys in this Form seemed to be of rather mature age. In the Upper School many of the boys did very well in all classes except the Euclid of IVc. In the Euclid of the Sixth especially many gained full marks, and, notwithstanding the fact that onehalf of the pupils have left recently, the average is good. There is, however, an inequality in the papers, which becomes more pronounced in the highest Forms. There is also much to complain of regarding want of neatness, particularly in the Fourth and Fifth. When the institution has received its new chief, it may not be unreasonable to hope that steps will be taken to secure more tasteful penmanship. As the subject of mathematics is usually most effective in revealing different capabilities, I would suggest that it be made the basis of classification throughout the school. The tables appended give the results :— Arithmetic — Highest. Average. Lowest. Sixth (12) ... ... ... ... 100 61 14 Fifth (20) ... ... ... ... 89 64 30 Fourth a (20) ... ... ... ... 90 68 32 Fourth b (22) ... ... ... ... 91 80 62 Fourth c (26) ... ... ... ... 100 72 36 Euclid — Sixth (10) ... ... ... ... 100 51 6 Fifth (19) ... ... ... ... 65 33 0 Fourth a (19) ... ... ... ... 78 56 15 Fourth b (21) ... ... ... ... 95 67 32 Fourth c (25) 75 23 0 Algebra and Trigonometry — Sixth (12) ... ... ... ... 100 66 15 Fifth (20) * ... ... ... ... 100 75 33 Fourth a (22) ... ... ... ... 100 75 30 Fourth b (20) ... ... ... ... 85 59 28 Fourth c (23) ... ... ... ... 84 51 13 I have, &c, The Chairman, Board of Governors, Otago High Schools. Joj-jn Stbang.