E.—l2.

REPORT UPON STATE EDUCATION.

Inspection and Examination. solely dependent on an Inspector's report. 1 Inspectors have also other important functions— e.g., to approve time tables ; 3 and to report to the department on (a) the necessity of schools contemplated or in existence, 3 (b) that premises are in every way fit, 4 (c) on teachers and the necessity for them, 5 (d) on fees/ and (e) on application for pensions,7 &c. Indeed, except where Statutes otherwise provide (as in religious teaching matters), 8 Inspectors are virtually omnipotent in administrative concerns. It would seem to be one of the chief defects in the administration both in England and Scotland that local Boards have little real power; and therefore feel little responsibility. The district Inspector is, as a rule, felt by teachers and Boards to be the only person whose views are deemed worthy of consideration. The regulations 9 respecting casual inspections and examinations call for no special remark, except in respect of the presentation of scholars for examination; and that individual examination has been dispensed with in Scotland in the first two Standards. 10 But the general instructions to Inspectors, especially respecting home lessons and punishments, should not be overlooked. 11 It is noticeable that a much larger percentage of scholars is presented for examination in England than in the Colony. 12 For training colleges 13 special Inspectors are appointed by the department, and "no grant is made to a training college unless the department is satisfied with the premises, management, and staff." There are two classes of examinations held there —viz., those for • admission and for certificates ; u and here again Inspectors' functions are most important. The examinations of evening scholars take place once a year by an Inspector, or by an • assistant approved by the department, on the periodic requests of the managers of the school, provided— (a) It has met forty-five times since the date of the last examination ; 15 and (b) That there are at least twenty scholars presented for examination; for, if there be not twenty scholars presented, the scholars can only be examined at a collective examination, or at the same time with day scholars. There are various restrictions relative to presentation of evening scholars for examination. In addition to a fixed grant, a sum of 2s. for each subject in which a scholar passes is dependent upon the Inspector's report. 10 Inspectors are not changed from district to district except from some special cause. Whilst witnessing an examination by Mr. Faber in one of the London schools, he pointed out the convenience of numbering the pupils by means of tickets. There is provision in the Act for the examination and inspection, including examination in religious subjects, of voluntary schools by other than a Government Inspector. 17 The papers read by Mr. Fitch and others at the conference in 1884, and the discussions thereon upon the subject of inspection, will be found in the reports herewith. 18 The following points, therefore, seem noteworthy : — (1.) Inspectors— (a) Solely appointed and controlled by the department,

Larger percentP^ente'd for" examination an in o ony. Bpectors for training colleges,

Examination of evening scholars.

Inspector of disunles^cxce^Kin 3 ally. Ticketing of pupils during examination.

Summary of points relative to inspection, &c.

l (a) Code, Arts. 106 and 109. (b) E. Act, 1870, s. 97. (c) Revised Instructions, 1884 and 1886. (d) " N.C.," Nov., 1884, Art. by Mr. Buxton. Compare money powers and function of Boards, Eng. Act, 1870, s. 53, N.Z. Act, 1877, s. 35. ' See Arts. 90 and 4, and Revised Instructions, 18S4 and 1886, s. 56. ' E. Act, 1870, s. 98. * Art. 96, and Revised Instructions, 1884. « Arts. 75, 82, and 84, Code. 6 Art. 90, Code, and Revised Instructions, 1886, Arts. 69 and 70. 1 Art. 134, Code. 8 See E. Act, 1870, sec. 7, ss. 4, and compare with N.Z. 1877 Act, ss. 84 and 97. 8 Code, Arts. 20, 21, and 24, Revised Instructions, 1884 and 1886, and espec. Art. 07, 1884, and compare with N.Z. 1877 Act, sec. 84, ss. 5, and sec. 97, and Gazetted, 1878, and regs. of 16 June, 1885. 10 See also Dr. (now Sir) C. Brown's rep., p. 51, Mr. Fitch's mem. pp. 67 and 68, and G.R., Scot., 1885-86, p. xxix., and Scotch Code, 1886, Art. 19, B. 3 " Revised Instructions to Inspectors, 1886, Arts. 57 and 58. See also on Home Lessons— (a) Sir J. Fayrer's remarks, Daily Neivs, 4 Arg. 1884 ; (1) Dr. (now Sir) C. Brown's rep., pp. 5 and 6.

13 Compare G.li., 1885-1886, p. xi., withN.Z. 1886 report, p. vi., and see regs. of 16 Juno, 1885, relating to " Standards of Education and Inspection of Schools ;" and of 17 June, 1884. " See G.R., 1883-84, pp. 483 and 505-594, and Code, Arts. 117 and 128-133, and compare with N.Z. Gazette 92, 1878, and local regs. " For details see Code, Arts. 118 and 123; G.R., 1885-86, p. iv. ; 1883-84, pp. xxiii.-xxvi., 494, 495, 505-594, 496-504 ; and compare with N.Z. 188G report, p. xv., and appendix, pp. 71, and 83-88, and Gazette 92,1878, and local regs. ™ See Code, Arts. 25-29, and G.R., 1885-86, p. iv. '8 See Code, Art. 113. 17 See E. Act, 1870, s. 76, and see n. 1, p. 12, supra, for new regulation made for London Board Schools. '8 1.E.C., vol. xiii., p. 230, and set}. See also R.C., vol. iii., 3085-3700 and 3071-3679. Also note Mr. Pitch's mem. See also "On the Inspection of Schools," paper read by M. Fitzgerald, A.8., T.C.D., Head Inspector of Nat. Schools in Ireland, before Nat. Soc. Sc. Assoc, Dublin, 1881, Trans, p. 466. "He would send Inspectors to examine schools which {sic) would perform their duty in a quiet and unostentatious manner."—Address by C. Dawson, M.P., p. 411.

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