PORT CHALMERS DISTRICT HIGH SOHOOL.

Evening Star, Issue 8772, 12 March 1892, Page 2

PORT CHALMERS DISTRICT HIGH SOHOOL.

The monthly meeting of the School Committee was held yesterday evening; present—Messrs Morgan (chairman), Thomson, Mitchell, Allen, Stevenson, and Dr Drysdale. The Rector reported that since the reopening of the school 73 new pupils had been admitted, and the number now on the roll is 676. The aveiage daily attendance for the last four weeks has been 596. Miss Violet Dencb, who was recently appointed sixth assistant, commenced duty immediately. In connection with the question of sewing, he recommended that the Committee should appoint three or four ladieß to examine the sewing and report upon it annually, or oftener if thought desirable. The Rector also forwarded the k spec tore' report on the "extra subjects" taught in the school last year, which would have been submitted to the Committee at their last meeting but for his unavoidable absence. The following is the inspector's report : " English : The higher class showed a very satisfactory knowledge of the brief extracts from 'Juliuß The principles and examples in Abbott's little book have been very thoroughly worked up. An essay on a short scene from ' Juliuß Creiar' was fairly done by all, and well by a few. Clasß 2 has been studying this subject for only a short time, and the work is still rather beyond their powers. Latin: In olass 1 the translation was on the whole well done, and the pupils showed a good knowledge of accidence and elementary syntax. English into Latin was well done by one, and moderately by the others. Such a class as this should gain a thorough knowledge of a more advanced Latin grammar. Class 2 translated the Latin set very well, and answered accurately in accidence, and fairly in every case. Syntax: English into Latin was moderately done. French classes 1 and 2: The work set was fairly done by two pupils, and very well by the others. In class 3 the girls did well, and the boys fairly. Geometry: Three pupils gained full marks, two 75 to 50 per cent., and one less than 50 per cent, of the marks, The proofs were very clearly Bet out, and the figures well drawn. Algebra: In class 1 about half the olaas gained half marks; the rest did not do bo well. In olass 2 there were seven very good papers, and most of the others were fair. In some of the district high schools the predominance of mathematics, to which we drew attention a year or two ago, is still maintained. It seems unreasonable that so much attention should bo given to this branoh of study, while in Latin there is not time to study and work up a fairly oomplete elementary Latin grammar. Pupils who read Cseiar, Livy, and Virgil should certainly be thoroughly familiar with the acoidence and syntax of suoh a grammar aB Dr Smith's smaller Latin grammar." The following were the successes gained by pupil-teachers and pupils of the sohool at the last examination:--Six pupU-teaohera passed their annual examination, Mr Strachan was placed first in order of merit of the first-class pupil-teachers; Miss Ada Downea Erst of the third-olaßß. The others were also high up in their respective olasseß, Miss V. Dench and Mr D. Strachan (pupil-teaohers) and Miss A. Bauchop (pupil) passed the matriculation examination of the New Zealand University. Mr D. Strachan qualified for the full D certificate, gaining speoial mention for excellence in Bcience and sohool management. Misß V. Denoh qualified for the D certificate in all subjects except science. Miss A. Bauchop, Miss E. Fletoher, Robert Pullarton, W, Kempthorne. and W. Tait passed the junior Civil Service examination. The reotor also stated that James Smith and Arohie Purdie, two former pupils, who passed the junior examination while at the school, now hold positions in Auokland and Wellington respectively, having passed the senior Civil Servioe examination!. Messrs A. Thomson and Stevenson were appointed visiting oommittse for the ensuing month.