EDUCATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 284, 1 December 1898, Page 8 (Supplement)

EDUCATION.

HE New Zealander is as fortunately situated as regards education, whether primary, secondary or uni•versity, as the resident of any part of the world. Any cleverbb y or girl among the very poorest classeshas" tlie chance of not only obtaining a sound education, but a degree which is ranked by the universities of Oxford and Cambridge as equal to the distinctions conferred by those universities. This may be done absolutely without cost, owing to the existence in the colony of a complete system of scholarships instituted in such a way that free education is not only provided throughout, but bare living expenses. In practice it is found that the-pupil-capable of taking the junior scholarship from the sixth standard of a public school has a very good chance with close application of' securing the- whole series, and carrying.on his or her education as the case may be free of cost. Of course this is only applicable to the boy or girl who is either naturally g-ifted or very studious. The comparatively poor—we have no class which can justly be cal- )' led extremely poor—carry on their | education, no matter what may be the * advantages of the system, under serious drawbacks as regards home surroundings, so that it requires great determination and original inclination to bring' studies under such circumstances to a successful issue. The curriculum of the public schools includes grammar, arithmetic, English, geography, history, -writing-, singing, and drawing, while special attention is given the first three subjects with a view of affording a thorough ground-work either for further study or to enable the pupil to take up some means of earning a livelihood other than simply manual labour. The position of primary education in the Auckland Province is well showm by the report of the Auckland Education Board. It may be as well to state here that New Zealand, for the purpose of the local administration of the money provided by the Government for primary education under the Act, is divided into thirteen districts, the affairs of the schools of each district being under the management of .a Board elected by the School committees. These school committees are elected by the householders of the various districts, and come into direct contact with the one or two schools in the district over which they exercise control. The scope of the committee is in the management of the internal details of the schools, and in financial matters they have no power other than that of making recommendations to the Board. The. figures of the annual statement of^lie , Auckland Board of Education, " which has under .it-'-by far the greatest number of "~~" schools, scholars,-and teachers in the colony, for the year ending December 31st, 1897, show that the number of schools open at the end of the year was 338, and the mean average'attendance for the province was 66.9, giving an average attendance of 22,613. The total number of pupils on the rolls at the end of the year was 27,683. The number of teachers in connection with these schools was 792, so the average number of pupils for each teacher was 28.6. In 1897 there were 9,433 children in preparatory classes, from which they arc passed on by the class teachers. In the Standard classes, that is I. to VI. inclusive, 17,657 pupils were examined and 14,790 obtained pass certificates. The average age of the children attending the Auckland schools is 11 years 9 months, and the average age in the various standards as follows: 1., 9 years; .11., 10 years 2 months; 111 11 years 3 months; IV., 12 years 5 months; V., 13 years 2 months; VI., 14 years 2 months. The total cost of maintaining this system of primary education, the ramifications of which extend to all corners of the province, was in 1897 no less a sum than £103,694 11/3. The principal component items, in this sum were teachers' salaries and allowances, £71,033 9/9; buildings, £13,125 7/1; and' incidental expenses of schools and classes, £9,032 5/5. The roll number of pupils, winch is referred to above, is only partly inclusive of the native and half-caste children, those attending the native primary schools not being included. Such is the system of primary education in Auckland, and that it is thoroughly effective there can be no doubt, when the roll number of close on 28 000 is taken into account, and considered in its bearing to the total population of the province.

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SECONDARY EDUCATION. There are few centres so well endowed' with facilities for secondary education; and the greatly increasing number who have of late years availed themselves of the opportunities provided is surprising, ami is a tribute to the wider recognition ot the value of educational knowledge beyond the course of instruction of the primary schools. TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION. One of the most valuable branches of education from the point of view of utility is that connected with technical instruction. This has in New Zealand been receiving a considerable amount of attention' during the past few years " In Auckland, in 1895, a school was opened in Rutland-street by Sir Q M. O'Rorke, president. The classes, for* which "there are about a dozen instructors, are held principally in the evening, those attending being for the most part at work during the day, though there are ladies' afternoon el asses in wood carving, cookery, and dressmaking. The subjects of the evening classes are freehand and geometrical drawing, mechanical and machine construction, architectural drawing and building construction, carpentery and joinery, wood carving, plumbing, graining and marbling, algebra and geometry, shorthand, cookery and dressmaking. The Auckland Technical School is affiliated with the Science and Art Department, South Kensington, and the City and Guilds of London Institutes for the advancement ot .technical education. On behalf of these institutions examinations are held locally atmually, and the certificates to which- attaches considerable value awarded successful candidates.

A feature of colonial administration has always been the attention paid to the subject of education; in Auckland, as far back as 1850, the initial steps were taken to found a good secondary school. The outcome was the Auckland College and Grammar School of to-day, which, judged on the reliable data of the successes its

erstwhile pupils of both sexes have attained, will bear very favourable comparison with any similar institution south of the line. THE SCHOOL'S HISTORY. To Sir George Grey is due the credit of having, during his first governorship, made provision for establishing a College and Grammar School in Auckland. This was effected by four Crown grants made during the years 1850-53. Nothing was done towards utilising these endowments for several years; but in the year 185G the General Assembly passed an Act vesting them in the Superintendent of the Province of Auckland. The site in Symonds-street, on which the

school stands, was granted by the Auckland Provincial Legislature in 1871. In 186S the Provincial Council passed the 'Grammar-school Appropriation Act,' by which the sum of £1.304 was set apart for establishing and maintaining a grammar school; and under the same Bill a Board of .Management was appointed consisting of the Superintendent, the Executive Council, the Speaker of the Provincial Council, and three members to be appointed by the Judge of the Supreme Court at Auckland. The first Board of Governors was composed of the following gentlemen: Mr John Williamson (Superintendent), Mr G. M. O'Rorke (Speaker of the Provincial Council), Messrs R. J. Creighton, R. W. Wynn, and P. Dignan (members of the Executive Council), and the Hon. Lieut.-Colonel S. P. Peacoeke

(M.L.C.), Judge Fenton, and Mr Archibald Clark (M.H.R.), nominated by the Chief Justice, Sir G. A. Arney. In the same session (1868) the Council set apart the Immigration Barracks in Howe-street, and the three acres on which they stood, as grammar school buildings and playground. The school was opened in these premises on May 16th, 1569, by H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh, in the presence of Governor Sir George Bowen and Lady Bowen. The first headmaster was the Rev. Robert Kidd, 8.A., LL.D. The school remained in Howe-street for two years, and on May Ist, 1871, was transferred to the Albert Barracks, Mr Farquhar Macrae then becoming headmaster. Thence it migrated on June 13th, 1878, to the building in. Eden-street, at that time known as the District Court—it is now the Physical and Chemical Laboratory of the University College. The school soon outgrew the small accommodation of this building, and

Sir George Grey, who was then Premier, secured the passing of a Parliamentary grant of £5,000 (which was supplemented by £ 3000 out of the school funds) for the erection of the present school premises, which were opened with an inaugural address from Sir George Grey on February sth, 1880. On the abolition of the Provincial Council an alteration of the Board of Management of the school was rendered necessary. This was effected under an Act of Parliament entitled 'The Auckland Grammar School Act, 1877,' which was amended by an Act of the Parliamentary session of three years later. THE GOVERNING BOARD. Under the above measures, the Board, as it is to-day constituted, holds office. It consists of ten members, three, from the Auckland Education Board, three from the Senate of the New Zealand University, three elected by the members of the General Assembly resident in Auckland, the tenth being the Mayor of Auckland, ex officio. The members of the Board so constituted hold office for three years, with, of course, the exception of the Mayor, whose occupation of a seat is dependent upon his continuance in the office which forms his qualification.

AUCKLAND COLLEGE AND GRAMMAR SCHOOL

ONE OF NEW ZEALAND'S LEADING SCHOOLS.

The Board of Governors at the present time consists of the following gentlemen: Sir G. Al. O'Rorke (Speaker of the House of Representatives), chairman; Professor F. D. Brown, M.A., B.Sc., vice-chairman; Mr P. Dignan (Mayor of Auckland), Messrs Theo. Cooper, R. Udy, S. Luke, W. J. Speight, Rev. Canon Nel-

son, the Hon. J. A. Tole. and Dr. E. Roberton. The Secretary is Mr YV. AY. Kidd, Victoria Arcade, and the Treasurer Mr 0. Mays, Palmerston Buildings. THE STAFF. In ISSB the Government discontinued the annual grant to the Girls' High School, and the Board of Education, under whose control it had existed, determined to sever its connection with Hie school. Negotiations were entered into with the Auckland Grammar School Board to take over the school, with Ihe result that the Girls' High School was incorporated with the Grammar School on September 23rd. 1888. The staff, which has been strengthened from time to lime, is now as follows: — Head Master: .7. YV. Tihbs, M.A., Keble College, Oxford, sometime Tasmanian Scholar. Assistant Masters: W. J. Morrell, M.A., sometime Scholar of Balliol College. Oxford, Chief Classical Master; J. F. Sloman, 8.A., Sydney; A. T. Harrison, M.A., Trinity' College, Cambridge; J. G. Trevithick, Drawing and Writing Master, Instructor in the Workshop; P. Marshall, M.A., B.Sc.,

F.G.S., formerly Senior Scholar of the University of New Zealand, Science Master; the Rev. J. King D.'ivis, M.A., formerly Senior Scholar of the University of New Zealand; J. H. Turner, M.A., formerly Senior Scholar of the University of New Zealand; J. Hight, M.A., formerly Senior Scholar of the University of New Zealand, French and German Master; H. J. D. Mahon, 8.A., University of New Zealand; R. A. McCullough, M. A., formerly Junior Scholar of the University of New Zealand. Assistant Mistresses: Miss E. G. Wallace, Miss Hau'ltain, Miss B. Blades, Miss A. C; Morrison,. M.A., formerly Junior Scholar of the Uni-,'' versify'"of New ' Zealand; Miss W. - Picken, M.A., formerly Junior Scholar of the University of New Zealand. Visiting Master: K. Watkjns,"' Drawing Master (Girls' Side). Instructor.in Drill and Gymnastics: W. M. Carrollo. ' THE COURSE OF INSTRUCTION. The ordinary course of instruction

lis so modelled as. to serve ;ah an-in-ttrbductiori7.to. liigher studies at - the 7Uniyersity7,Colege in the ease of those 'who desire .16 to that institution,/ and to "equip those who a';re completing -their education at; the school, with' the foundation of knowledge requisite for a successful business or professional career. It comprises the usual English subjects and "mathematics, Latin, French, and natural science. The school has what is known as a modern side, .in which the study, of Latin is eliminated, and such subjects •as book-keeping, commercial arithmetic, mensuration, shorthand, mechanical drawing, extended study of French, botany, and so on, are substituted. German is an optional subject for the more advanced pupils. In the study of natural and technical science the school offers special advantages, the upper forms having ; the use of a well-equipped chemical : laboratory. The science subjects for : the lowest, forms are elementary chemistry and physics, while in the hig-liest forms on the boys' side the subjects taken are chemistry (in-

eluding qualitative analysis), and electricity and magnetism: in the highest form on the girls' side botany and mechanics. The course in mechanical drawing includes plane and solid geometry, followed by working drawings from actual machinery. Freehand drawing includes outline from the flat and from model shading; ditto, drawing and shading from tlie antique; and for advanced pupils still life in oil or water colour. A practical side to the boys' instruction is tlie teaching given* in the school workshop in carpentering, joinery, and turning, classes being held during the dinner hour and after school. No charge is made beyond the absolute cost of the timber used. On the girls' side the cookery lessons given during the second term of the year stand in somewhat the same, relation to the ordinary school course as does the boys' workshop. Arrangements can also be made for girls to obtain music lessons in the building outside of school hours. FEES AND BOARDERS. The school year is divided into three terms, the first commencing

early in February and extending over fourteen weeks, the second being thirteen weeks in duration, and the third thirteen weeks. Between the first and second terms there is a vacation of two weeks, and between the second and third of three weeks, while the Christmas holidays have a duration of approximately seven weeks. Up to the age of 13 the fees for pupils are £2 16s a term, and over that age £3 10s per term. An exception to this rule is when there are two members of a family who are over thirteen years old attending the school, when the term fee is three guineas each. No extras of any kind whatever are charged. Arrangements with regard to boarders are a necessity in connection with a big secondary school, and in the case of the Grammar School country children requiring to board in town have been placed with various masters. The system under

which boarders are taken was recently discussed by the Board of' Governors, who eventually decided on the. establishment of a boarding-house at Parnell for boys attending, the school, to be carried onfunder the supervision of Mr and Mrs A. T. Harrison. The house, which was formerly known as the . Church .of England Grammar School, is healthily situated on the outskirts of the Domain, and contains an extensive playground. Mr Harrison, M.A., one of the assistant masters, has had considerable experience in the management of boarders in two important schools in England. Miss Wallace, one of the assistant mistresses, undertakes the boarding of girls at a house well adapted for the purpose, close to the school in Symonds-street. The arrangements are such as to prove eminently satisfactory to parents. SCHOLARSHIPS AND FREE EDUCATION.. Ihe scholarships offered by the Board of Education are tenable at the Grammar School, and the Board of Governors also grant free education at the school to a few of those

who, at the scholarships examination?, while failing to obtain a scholarship are awarded certificates of proficiency. Outside these and the granting of free education to pureblooded Maoris under certain conditions, the Grammar School Board offers annually several scholarships called respectively Junior and Senior Foundation Scholarships. THE SUCCESSES ACHIEVED BY PUPILS OF THE SCHOOL. The most reliable data as to the efficiency of the course of instruction of the school are. perhaps those furnished by the successes achieved in the scholastic world by pupils who have received the ground work of their secondary education at the institution. It would take up more space than we have at our disposal to enumerate all the successes gained by erstwhile pupils of the Auckland College and Grammar School so we will content ourselves with mentioning some of the more recent and most important. A large number of the school pupils annually pass the Matriculation Examination of the New Zealand University, and the Junior and Senior Civil Service Examinations. No fewer than

twent}"- - seven Junior University Scholarships have been won since the establishment of this scholarship by the Senate of the New Zealand University, the names of the successful candidates being as follows: —1885, H. J. Carter, H. Shrewsbury; 1886, F. J. Carter; ISB7, R. C. Maclaurin, D. H. Jackson; ISBB, W. S. LaTrobe, Miss A. C. Morrison; ISS9, J. Boyle, B. N. Tebbs; 1890, J. Drummond, Miss W. Picken, R. A. McCullough; 1891, VV. J. Barclay; 1892, P. Drummond; 1893, P. Hf. Watts; 1894. Miss A. E. MePherson, R.. W. Allen, Miss C. S. Smith; 1895, Miss A. M. D. Dinneen, H. D. BamforfiL C. Stewart, J. C. Dromgool, E. B. R. PVideauxjviß97, M. A. Hunter; 189S, Miss S^Bv^ickmere, M. Walker, Miss F. PatW"s€n. Miss M. D. Dinneen and Mr J. CTTJroingool, the present holders of j tlie Sinclair and Gillies Science Scholarships at the Auckland University Cjillege, are both old Grammar School! pupils. Coming to University successes of

old scholars, among the most noticeable, perhaps, are:—D.; H. Jackson, winner Of the scholarship given by the Commissioners of the Exhibition of 1851. Ph. D, Heidelberg, Demonstrator in Chemistry a!t University College, Bristol. R. C. Maclaurin, Scholar of St. John's College, Cambridge, 12th Wrangler; first class in; Part 11. of Mathematical Tripos; Smith's Prizeman; Law Scholar of St, John's College. W. S. LaTrobe, scholar of St. John's College, Cambridge; first class in Parts I. and 11. of Mechanical Science Tripos; Assistant Demonstrator in Engineering in St. John's College. B. N. Tebbs, scholar of Queen's College, Cambridge; first class in Parts I. and 11. of Natural

Science. Tripos. :: .T. E. Bavin, LL.B. .: (Sydney), with first class and gold medal/: W. J. Barclay, Vans Dunlop Scholar in the of J_.dinburgh- Gold Medallist in Anatomy and Materia Mediqa; Assistant Demonstrator in Anatomy.. Miss A. W. Whitelaw second class in Mathematical Tripos at Cambridge. W. H. Goldie, MB. and CM.; with' distinction, 'University of Edinburgh; Gold Medallist in Physiology and Midwifery; Assistant Professor in the Maternity Ward,. Edinburgh. / -. ' -. ' ■" .•' The Grammar, School Buildings, of which an illustration, is given -on, this page, are centrally situated in Lower Symonds-street, at the corner of Wel-lesley-street. ,7 ;• .;■„.-;