TEACHING GENERALLY GOOD

Evening Star, Issue 19290, 1 July 1926, Page 4

TEACHING GENERALLY GOOD

REPORT OF OTAGO INSPECTORS ATTENTION DIRECTED TO CHILDREN'S POSTURE An increase of about 10 per cent, in the schools of the “good” and “very good ” groups is reported by the inspectors of the Otago education district in theft annual report to the Minister of Education. They also report a decrease of about 6 per cent, in those of the group which may bo classed as below satisfactory. In spite of the short year, the general quality of the work did not suffer, in some subjects it was, of course impossible to cover as much ground as in a full year, _ but the general quality of the teaching fully made up for any deficiency in quantity. It is true that some teachers were inclined to concentrate a little too much on those subjects which they considered to be the more essential subjects, for among the “confidential suggestions” forwarded to teachers are to be found recommendations to' reduce the time given to arithmetic and grammar in order to give more time to some other subjects, such as history, geography, nature study, and composition, including oral expression. As in addresses given during the “refresher courses ” and in previous reports wo have dealt somewhat at length with the subjects of the syllabus, we do not purpose referring further to them here, except to call attention to a few points. We find some teachers in the lower classes frequently exceeding the syllabus in arithmetic, and in other classes we often have to recommend that more attention be paid to mental arithmetic. In writing, a general improvement is desirable both in neatness and in the sotting out of all written work. There is a tendency in the upper classes for writing to become too small. In all classes the use of short, blunt pencils, both in writing and drawing, should be forbidden. Writing of the type of the “Progressive Copy Hooks” has been recommended, more especially lor Standard V. and Standard VI. Attention is frequently called to the posture of children at all lessons as well as at writing lessons. In geography and nature study more provision should lie made for outdoor 'lessons, and more experimental work should be carried out to illustrate lessons in these subjects and also in elementary agriculture. In the teaching of history “ the main defect apears to he a failure to adopt .methods of presentation that capture the imagination and arouse the interest of the pupils.” More use of illustrated and dramatic methods recommended. An improvement is desirable in color drawing; instrumental drawing has been somewhat neglected. After a conference with the Head Masters’ Association and with the woodwork instructors, a suggested programme in instrumental drawing was drafted and forwarded to all schools. We beg again to draw the attention of teachers to this programme, and also to the suggestions of Mr Bonn, lecturer in drawing. Increased attention has been given to speech training, and a greater interest has been displayed by teachers in the study of phonetics. DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOLS. During the year two secondary departments were added to the nine district high schools already in operation. Mosgiel was recommissioned, and a department was opened in Cromwell. It was also decided that Roxburgh was to he opened as a district high school m 1926, and that the secondary department at Balclntha should be disestablished for the purpose of establishing a high school at the beginning of the following year. ,In these eleven departments the roll at the time of inspection was 201 boys and 239 girls—a total of 140.

Of eighty-four pupils wlm sat for matriculation in December fifty-eight obtained either a full or a partial pass, the percentage being 69—-a material increase on the result of the previous year (50 per cent.). Of 144 pupils who entered for the various intermediate examinations 108 passed, a percentage of 75 —also an increase on the result of the previous year (01 per cont.)_. 01 theso five obtained senior national scholarships and eleven passed the 'Public Service examination “with credit.” Thirty-eight pupils also passed in various subjects ior the teachers’ 11 examination, and seven of these completed the examination for that certificate. Three also passed in some subjects for the C certificate. PHYSICAL INSTRUCTION 1 . During the year the physical instructors paid -‘l5O visits and gave instruction in 235 schools. The work ol 447 teachers was reported on. _ Wherever possible theso reports are included m our reports to the hoard, and are taken into consideration when the teachers are graded. An analysis of tlie reports gives the following results: Excellent, 42; very good, 195; good, 178; very fair. 23; fair or unsatisfactory, 9. Those figures give the following percentages (last year s perceutages being in brackets) Excellent, 9.4 per cent. (8.4); very good, 43.6 per cent. (44); good, 40 per rent. (40) ; very fair, 5.1 per cent'. (,6.4); fair, „ per' cent. (1.5). These figures vary very little from those of the previous year. The shorter year may possibly account partly for a slight increase in the less efficient groups. With regard to these the instructors stale ;• —“ If'ortunatciv these two groups arc comparatively small, and in most cases where the.se markings have been given it has been found that it is not through lack of interest on the part of the teachers, hut through inexperience or inability to apply knowledge.”