8.—13.

5

Rangiora High School. Sir,— Rangiora, 30th July, 1895. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your circular of the 24th instant, and, in reply to Query 1, I have to state that two boys and four girls have not reached Standard VI. subjects. Query 2 The instruction of children who have passed the Sixth Standard is regulated by the requirements for the matriculation, &c. Second term, twenty-seven pupils. I have, &c, Wm. Jas. Habens, Esq., Wellington. Geo. John Leech, Chairman.

Akaroa School. Sir,— Akaroa, 26th July, 1895. Your circular for return to Order of the House of Representatives having been handed to me for reply, I beg to state, in answer to question 1, that, in my opinion, the work and attainments of seven pupils are not up to that required to pass the Sixth Standard, and, in answer to question 2, that lam myself the sole instructor in all subjects. Trusting that these answers are such as you require. I have, &c, J. B. Harbison, M.A., The Rev W J Habens. Headmaster, Akaroa High School.

Ashburton High School. (Memorandum.) Ashburton, 30th August, 1895. Re return required by Inspector-General of Schools as per circular dated 24th July, 1895. Question I. —How many of your pupils are unable to pass the Sixth Standard?— There are at present in attendance forty pupils. Of these, twenty have passed the Sixth Standard. Of the others, eight would probably pass if presented, nine would probably fail, and three are on the borderline between passing and failing. Of course I have no means of determining who would pass or fail, but, in my judgment, the results would be somewhat as above. Some of those who I think would fail could be prepared to pass the examination in a short time. Question 2. —What arrangements are made in your school for the instruction of children who have passed the Sixth Standard ? —ln our school the classes are arranged according to subjects, not according to forms—that is, the same subject is going on through the whole school at the same time. On entering, a new pupil is at once put into the class in each subject most suitable for his attainments. Children who have passed the Sixth Standard on entering are at once put into Latin, French, euclid, and algebra, besides continuing their primary school work m arithmetic,, English, geography, history, and writing. Charles Braddell, Secretary

Timahu High School. Sir,— Timaru, 6th August, 1895. I have the honour by direction to acknowledge the receipt of your memorandum of the 24th ultimo, and in reply to state : — 1. That the number of pupils probably unable to pass the Sixth Standard of the public schools is—-out of a roll-number at present of fifty-six boys and forty-three girls—seven boys and seven girls. 2. There is no special arrangement necessary for pupils who have passed the Sixth Standard, seeing that every subject has a separate classification, each pupil being placed for each subject according to his or her attainments therein. 3. The headmaster adds "I would respectfully point out that, as the Sixth Standard is the culminating point for those who would be leaving school at fourteen or fifteen, when presumably their scholastic education has been made in some sense complete, it is not desirable that those who go on until sixteen or seventeen should remain to pass the Sixth Standard at the public schools instead of beginning their secondary work proper Some years of experience of both primary and secondary education in New Zealand have convinced me of the error on the one hand of supposing that the secondary schools should begin where the primary schools leave off, and on the other of the great necessity for the proper co-ordination of the two classes of schools. Quite a large proportion of our pupils benefit to only a slight extent by our instruction, because they come to us too late to allow time for doing the higher work thoroughly, and therefore profitably " I have, &c, J H. Bamfield, Secretary To the Secretary, Department of Education, Wellington.

Boys' High School, Oamaru Sir, — Boys' High School, Oamaru. With reference to your circular (date, the 24th July, 1895), I beg to inform you that in the Waitaki Boys' High School out of forty boys there are two who, probably, could not pass the Sixth Standard. Of these, one has passed the Fifth Standard, the other the Fourth Standard. The whole of the school work is arranged to suit the needs of Sixth Standard pupils, who are admitted at a reduced charge of £4 10s. per annum. Nearly all our pupils have passed through the primary schools. I have, &c, John Harkness, Rector