BERESFORD STREET AND NAPIER STREET SCHOOLS

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 247, 18 October 1893, Page 5

BERESFORD STREET AND NAPIER STREET SCHOOLS

THE STANDARD FAILURES.

Al the usual meeting of tho City Schools Committee, held last) night, the Chairman, Mr J. Blades, read the report of the aubCommittee appointod, on the failures in the Berodford-street and Napier-street Schools, as followa:— Beresford-street.—We find : 1. That the headmaster took charge of this school on the Ist September, 1892. The first assistant D 2 took charge of Standard VI. together with Standard VII on the Ist October, 1892, and baa remained in charge erer Bince. Standard IV. was in charge of Bi, male assistant, assisted by a pupil teacher until within a month of the examination, when through illnesa ho was absent, and this standard waa then in charge of four different teachers. Standard 11. was in charge of an E3 assistant, assisted by a pupil teacher until April last, then in charge of a third year pupil teacher until tho examination. 2. That this Bchool was examined in August, 1892, in three and ahalf days. Seven hundred and eighty-eight children were presented, and the inspector's report thereon was furnished to the Committee four days thereafter. 3. Thab the headmaster, after having been in charge of this school for a monbh, found the children in the standards which have now failed, quite unfit to apprehend the work expected of them, and some even of the work of the standards thoy had left, though holding certificates of having passed. 4. That a few of the children who failed in those standards wereirrogularinattondance, while the large majority who failed were very regular, especially tho pupils of Standard VI. 5. Thab the school was closed 12 working days ab the end of May last on account of tho measles epidemic. 6. That in » large number of instances those children tbab were absent immediately prior to and subsequent to the closing of the school as aforesaid, passed their standards. 7. Thab the headmaster assisted in the work of these standards at stated intervals during each week. 8. That the examination schedules of each standard kept by the headmaster are not filled up in accorddance with the directions given at the heads thereof. 9. That the headmaster ia not aware of the subjocts each child in each subject has been failed in by the inspector. We conclude :—l. Thab tho recent measles epidemic had very little to do with the failures in these standards, as tho records show the contrary. 2. Thab there was no such change in the teachers of these standards to warrant such a number of failures, 3. That the inspector's remarks endorsed upon tho reporb of tho examination of this school, viz., " tlioso results aro satisfactory," are misleading, and not in harmony with the facts; for the report shows thab 16 only passed oub of 35 presented in Standard VI., 27 only pasßed oub of 91 presented in Standard IV., and in Standard 11. 58 passed oub of 109 presented, a standard in which the percentage of failures should not exceed above 7 or 8 per cent. 4. That if the columns 5t012 in tho examination schedules were filled in, parents of pupils would then bo able to ascertain the subjects in which failures took place, and the teacher could give special attention to those subjects. 5. That the present mode of examination is unsatisfactory, by reason of there nob being a recognised uniformity from year to year. 6. That the failure of so many children in Standards 11., IV. ; and VI. was caused to a great extent by reason of these children being advancod from tho next lower standards in the examination of the school in 1892.

Napier-street.—Wo find—l. That the headmaster took charge of this school on the lHt September, 1892. Tho VI. Standard was then in charge of a Dl firat assistant, and remained as such until Novembor, then for aboub a month in charge of a C 4 assistant. Prom the beginning of the yoar until the examination in charge of a D 2 male assistant. Standard V. has been in charge of a 1)1 assistant; tho wholo year. Standard IV. has beon for the whole year in charge of an E2 assistant. 2. That pome of the children who failed in the above standards were irregular in attendance, whilo tho large majority who failed were very regular. 3. That this school was closed twelve working days at the end of May last, on account of the measles epidemic. 4, That in a large number of instances those children that were absent immediately prior to and subsequent to tho closing of tho school aa aforesaid, passed their standards. In fact, in sotno standard?, almost all that were absent, as aforesaid, passed their examination. 5. That the headmaster examined tho children of those standards by written work; at stated intervals, but left the work to be done under tho supervision of the teacher of the standard. (3. That the discipline in Standard V, was very weak. 7. That the examination schedules of each standard, kepb by tho hoadmaster, are not filled up in accordance with the directions given ab the heada thereof. 8. That the headmaster is nob aware of tho eubjocta each child in each standard has boon failed in by the inspector. We conclude :— 1. Thab the recent measles epidemic had nothing whatever to do with tho recent failure, through irregular sttendauco, for the records provo the contrary. 2. Thab there was no change of teachers to warrant such failures; in fact, in two of the standards complained of there ivas no change whatever during the year. 5. Thab the failures in Standard IV. were caused through the assistant in charge being over-weighted in her work. 4. Thab the discipline in Standard V. being weak during the year no doubt militated against the succosa of the children in this standard. 5. That tho mode of examination adopted by the hoad-maeter to prove the work and capabilities of the children cannot be deemed satisfactory. 6. Thab if the columns 5 to 12 in tho examination schedules were tilled in, paronta of pnpils would then be able to ascertain the subjects in which failures took place, and tho teacher could then give spocial attention to those Bubjecta. 7. Thab the present mode of examination is unsatisfactory by reason of there not being a recognised uniformity from year to year. We recommend :—l. That for the future all schools within your Committee's district be examined by one inspector in each year co as to secure uniformity. 2. That improvements might be made in the supervision of the childron at examination time. ?,. Thab for the future tho columns 5 to 12 in the examination schedules retained by tho headmasters be filled in, for his guidance and information, and rlbo of paronta and Committee. 4. That the headmasters in their confidential reports, stato more fully She work and capabilities of each individual member of the staff; 5. _ That the hoadmastors exercise more care in utilising the teaching capacities of their staff. The Chairman moved that the report be adopbed. This was seconded by Mr Burnß. Dr. McArthur said the sub-Committee had treated the wholo matter as mildly as possible. The measles was not the cause of the failures, nor was there any ground thab the fuiluros wero due to change of teachers. Aa a professional man he did nob agree wibh the inspector's reports that fcho rosulta were satisfactory. The jiubCommittoo found thab in the three standards complained of tho attendance had boon the best in the schools, and ib was those who attended who failed. Mr Farrell remarked thab the inspectors and teachers jumped to conclusions witnout due consideration in preparing the reports, and in attributing the failures to measles. Ho also spoke in favour of a universal system of inspection,

Mr Adams spoke in favour of the reporb. He thought that the sub-committee had pub their fingers on the weak spots. The Chairman said the reasons given for the failures were paltry in tho extreme. The report was then adopted. On the motion of Mr Fairs, a vote of thanks was tendered to the sub-coiumitteo, coupled specially with the name of Mr Bladea, for the able manner in which they had gone into the matter. Mr Blades acknowledged the compliment. Ho then moved, "That a copy of the reporb be forwarded bo the Board of Education for its information and thab tho Board be respectfully asked to take into consideration the recommendations therein made." This waß agreed to. A letter from Mr Carter, of Napier-street School, in explanation of the cause of the failures waa then read, and on the motion of the Chairman was received.