ST. MARY’S HIGH SCHOOL, GREY MOUTH

New Zealand Tablet, 22 July 1915, Page 27

ST. MARY’S HIGH SCHOOL, GREY MOUTH

The following is a copy of the report of the Government inspector (Mr. W. E. Spencer) on the secondary classes in St. Mary's High School, Greymouth, conducted by the Sisters of Mercy : 'Visited: 7th May, 1915. Staff: Sisters of Mercy (132 Ist section 8.A., CI, C 3). Roll: Boys, 14; girls, 26; total, 40. Present: Boys, 14; girls, 23; total, 37. Junior Free Place —, Senior Free Place — , Education Board Scholarships, 2 junior; National Scholarships, 1 junior. Ist year, 19 ; 2nd year, 15; 3rd year, 4 ; 4th year, 2. Pupils outside local school district— Brunner 6; Ngahere, 2; Runanga, 1 ; Blackball, 1 ; Kumar a, 1. ' Subjects of Instruction —English (grammar, literature, precis-writing), geography, English history, physiology and hygiene, elementary mathematics (arithmetic, algebra, geometry), pure mathematics (1), mechanics and hydrostatics (1), Latin, French (1), drawing (freehand and geometrical). Courses of Instruction —(a) General course comprising the above subjects. (b) Commercial course, including bookkeeping, hand, and typewriting. Instructors in Special Subjects—Cookery class (at technical school), 3 hours, Miss McDonald. Physical Instruction, etc. Physical instruction is regularly taken and the exercises are well performed. The school games include hockey and cricket. ' The secondary pupils are taught in one room, and the preparatory pupils in a separate room. Two of the pupils have passed matriculation and two have obtained partial success in the "D" examination. The courses are arranged with a view to overtaking the requirements of the Civil Service entrance examination 'and the intermediate in three years, matriculation and the "I)'' examination in three years, and the "C" and Public Service senior examinations in four years. For the Public Service senior examination five pupils are preparing. Latin is not compulsory, but with one exception all pupils are taking it. Five pupils are not taking mathematics. Six pupils are taking the commercial course. "Hygiene is taught by one of the Sisters, and the girls are instructed in cookery by the Education Board's instructor at the technical school. With the exception of one pupil who holds a certificate of competency in Standard VI., all the secondary pupils are holders of certificates of proficiency. In addition to the 40 regular pupils on the roll, five probationers from neighboring public schools are receiving instruction, including school management, on arranged days. The time devoted to secular subjects daily is from 9 to 12, and from 1.30 to 1. Religious instruction is taken for half an hour daily. In addition to this the classes meet for instruction on Saturdays from 9.30 to 3 p.m., with a midday recess. At, these sessions 13 teachers of various grades employed in public schools (in addition to the five probationers already referred to) receive instruction (including school management) for teachers' "D" and"C" certificates. It will thus be seen that the school holds a very unique position, for it has an unusually wide utility, and its energies arc directed to much more than secondary work as the term is usually understood in connection with secondary schools. ' Indeed, wherever there is a demand for instruction the authorities of the school are prepared to provide it if possible. By means of the instruction in cookery and hygiene the domestic needs of the girls are not overlooked. The objective of the boys is generally the Public Service, and that" of the girls the teaching profession. 'Themethods of instruction were well chosen, and I was much pleased with the manner in which they were

used. The treatment of the literature was, in particular, commendable, and the literary taste of the instructors was reflected in the intelligent appreciation and response of the pupils who were thoroughly interested in the work. The practical work in physiology and hygiene was of a very high character, and the lines of instruction were of a most approved type. Work seen in other subjects was marked by intelligence and skill on the part of the instructors, and by earnest effort on the part of the pupils. The teachers have a thorough mastery of the subjects taught, and are evidently students of the art of teaching. ■ Order and other evidences of good discipline seem to come as a matter of course, and the pupils were courteous on their demeanour and natural and free in their attitude to both the teachers and myself.'