PRIMARY EDUCATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XII, Issue 31, 6 February 1891, Page 4

PRIMARY EDUCATION.

REPORT BY AUCKLAND INSPECTORS. ' The annual report of the Inspectors of the Auckland Board of Education presented this afternoon states that 260 schools ha--e been examined in standards, and 254 inspected. The percentage of passes in standards is 45-2, the percentage of failures is i 9-7. These numbers are almost identical with those of last year. Forty-two schools have been reported as "unsatisfactory," " poor,'' or " bad," as against thirteen so reported in 1889, Hence it appears that aboub 80 per cent, of the scholars who ought to have passed from a lower to a higher standard did so pass, and that about 81 per cent, of the schools examined are in a state varying from satisfactory to excellent. The Inspectors add, " We attribute the poor results in some of the schools reported as ' unsatisfactory' to the frequent change of teachers. While this is perhaps, unavoidable, we cannot refrain from expressing our opinion that ib militates greatly against the success of a school, as shown at tho annua! examination. In estimating the work of any school, wo have nob relied altogether on percentage of failures, passes, or marks. Our judgment in this matter has been modified to a considerable extent by the character of the work done in the several classes, the degree of proliciency in the higher us well as in the lower classes, and the general tone and discipline of the school. We tind the methods of teaching in mest cases satisfactory, though sometimes marred in the application. We have no desire to impose a stereotyped style of teaching on teachers ; we expect no one to work in chains. Ab the same time, we shall certainly continue to exercise an undoubted right of criticising those methods which we beliovo to be faulty. Teachers may be assured that any originality on their parb, which tends to cultivate the minds of their pupils end to foster in bhem a taste for knowledge, will meet with our mosb cordial approval. In our lasb report we remarked on the success with which the small country schools were taught when under the charge of fsmale teachers. We are glad to_.ee that- others are of tho same opinion. Tho Otago Inspectors in their report for 1889 say ' the practice of appointing females as" head teachers in many of bhe smaller rural schools is working well. Femalo teachers do not move frcm school to school so frequently as males, and, on the whole, they conduct schools of this class decidedly better than mosb of the male teachers who fi'-l such positions.' We have had on several occasions to report on the want cf care with which the school records required by tho Education Department are kept. It is necessary to remind teachers that neglect in " this matter is deserving of the mosb severe censure." Afber going through the subjects taught in detail the report concludes : "The schools in the Auckland district continue to merit favourable mention for discipline, general tone and behaviour of the scholars." The bestknown schools were reported upon as follows: — , ~_ , Mount Eden : Presented, 465 : passed, 213 Epsom: Presented, 117; passed, 61. Richmond Road: Presented, 103; P£ poinb Chevalier: Presented, 68 ; passed,

12 Bayfield, presented 123, passed 74. Kauaeranga Boys, presented 440, passed 228 Kauaeranga Girls, presented 302, passed 135. Parawai presented 116, passed 61. Avondale presented 179, passed ,4. Waiotahi Creek presented 164, passed 61. Waiokaraka presented 388, passed Ibl. Pukekohe East presented 175, passed 119. Tuakau presented 75, passed 50. Tararu presented 195, passed 70. Newmarket presented 265, passed 129. Onehunga presented 59-, passed 300. Remuera presented 332 passed 194 Napi-r-sfcieet presented 550, passed 274. Beresford-streo. presented 747, passed

s Nelson-street presented 469, passed 176. Wellesley - street presented 907, passed 565 Ponsonby presented 547, passedMT. Grafton Road presented 596 passed 246. Parnell presented 525, passed 222. Newton East presented 681, passed 366. Newton West presented 572, passed 237. Albert-street presented 15/, _»«•■*«.. Helensville presented 20/, passed 80. Huntly presented 150. passed 53. Northcote presented 125, passed 26. Hamilton East presented 125, passed 01. Hamilton West presented 148, passed 55. Devonport presented 460, passed 206 Mount Albert presented 203, passed 93. Whangarei presented 182, passed 110. Kamo presented 127, passed U. Cambridge presented 204, passed 95. Cambridge West presented BS, passed Paeroa presented 143, passed 57.