A YEAR'S PROGRESS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 May 1906, Page 4

A YEAR'S PROGRESS.

MATTERS EDUCATIONAL. Inspector Smith’s annual report on educational matters is as follows : j “I have the honor to submit- a gen- j oval report on the schools of the Grey 1 Education District for the year 1905. ‘The number of public schools in j operation at the close of the year was 32. These, with the three Catholic j ; schools, were all visited during the , year, and many were inspected more than once. This was made possible by my relinquishing secretarial duties early in the year, a step which I fell sure has been for the benefit of school work generally. Besides having more time for inspection, I was able to as--1 semble tho teachers on Saturdays for ■ some months during the year, and to have talks with them on school work generally, and the new syllabus particularly. I much regret that owing to tho early resignation of my successor I have again been compelled to temporarily undertake office work, which has prevented mo from visiting tho schools early in the year. Tho following table gives information relating to the'annual examinations :

Totals 1589 1524 "While the average for the pupils of most classes has remained stationary or decreased, that for Standard 1 lias increased, and now reaches the high figure of 9 yrs 1 month. Pupils j who begin (heir school between the ages of 5 and 6, and most of them do, have to spend between 3 and 4 years before they are ready for promotion to 5.2. When it is remembered that the Syllabus for S.l is not. by any means difficult, children should be ready for promotion earlier than they arc. Nothing can bo gained by keeping pupils an inordinate length of time in the preparatory classes. "I am pleased to bo again able to state that tho attendance on the date of annual visit was extremely good, in standard classes only 18 being absent out of a roll number of 956. On many days (ho weather was very stormy; indeed, in some cases the Inspector was not expected, yet every child was present. This shows that interest in education on the part of tho parent is not wanting. “The ono great drawback to a steady advancement in the quality of work is the continual change of teachers. There are only live sellouts in the district. where there has not. been changes in the staff during the past three years. 'The amending Act of last year has improved matters in connection with teachers’ salaries, hut as long as payment depends upon average attendance teachers cannot be blamed of they seek a change as soon ns population tends to decrease. “The following is a classification of tho schools :—Good, 7 ; satisfactory, 13; fair, 8; weak, 4. This is a big improvement on tho classification of the previous year, and the work done throughout the schools is the best I have bad. In no subject is tins more noticeable than in Arithmetic; not that I lie mark gained in many schools is a high one, but in previous years it was very low. The mental tests which have been given in every standard were much better done, though there are still many teachers who do not fully realise the value of mental arithmetic. Where a teacher has a number of classes to manage, it is, I know, almost impossible to give a great deal of time to oral work to each standard, but the teacher should strive to give as much attention as he possibly can. To (plote tile Syllabus: ‘ Too much emphasis cannot be laid noon (lie fact that success in teaching arithmetic is proportional to the attention given by T teacher lo the oral work at every stage, but more especially in the early

sta;ros. "In ('lass I’ and Standard 1 , I cmiliin d my tests to oral work and tlio teacher-.' who had been giving only blackboard and slam work worn disappointed with tiro results obtained. "Of iho English subjects, reading shows the greatest improvement. As more practice lias been given through l(m year, this was to he expected. All standards now read at least two books and I hope the Board will soon be able to so its way clear to provide extra raiding matter for all schools. As 1 pointed out in my last report, the comprehension of the reading matter, and the use of words in the lessons, have much to ho desired. In the upper classes 1 should like to see all the pupils make preparatory study of the lesson for the day, and the teacher testing the study so made. There seems no reason why the elder pupils should not intelligently use a dictionary; yet how often do we find pupils without one. Teachers should remember that they aro training (heir pupils how to read and comprehend any book they may meet with later in life. "Spelling is generally well taught. "Writing shows improvement, in many schools, but there are still to be found teachers who (piito undervalue the proper way of holding the pen and appear to pay little or no attention to posture. Copy book writing lias almost crowded out exercise book work. When borne work was more extensively, we had more exorcise work. I am not urging that written work should ho given for homo lessons, but that more exercise work should bo given during the school hours. Once more I should like to point out that I disapprove of infants writing words with hard elements .after being a few weeks at school. Where this is done there is n lack of method, "Composition is the weakest of the English subjects, though there is improvement in the work of some of the classes. Oral work needs-considerable attention right through tho school course. There is an idea in tho minds of some teachers that grammar need not bo taught, but a study of the syllabus should quickly disabuse their minds on that point. We have done with a great deal of formal grammar out wherever it is necessary for tho purpose of training children in tho use of their mother tongue, there it must bo taught. Teachers are expected to study carefully tho directions and examples given in the syllabus. “Generally speaking, tho work in geography was well done. A full course of work was taken in nearly all schools. There is, however, a danger of tho teacher attempting too much. Ho must bo guided: by tho progress o his pupils; there musfc.be no hurry no rush. There was no subject of til syllabus which the teachers eutcret into more heartily than this. “In Nature study tlio work ; ' variet considerably. Where teachers hat tlieir hearts in their work it was dom splendidly. In many schools very lint collections have been made by tho pu pils, and I should like to seo tin Board encourage this kind of work b’ , providing suitably cupboards for tin specimens, which sto of all kinds. ] have nothing but praise for those tea chcrs who, though laboring undet 1 many disadvantages, not tho least o: which was tho wet and stormy woa thor, have suscceeded in interesting dieir pupils in gardening. “While not'wishing to underwaluo tin physical instruction lessons given weekly, I think it would bo a valuable addition if a few minutes were given each day to simple breathing exercises. The frequent use of singing as a change from the rnoro wearisome of school studies would bo ad- . vantageous. , “I am pleased to be able to report that my instructions given to teachers throughout tho year have been faithfully carried out.” THE CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENTTho Chairman (Mr J. Byrne) in his annual report says: “I have the honor to present tho report of tho Education Board of the District of Grey for the year ending tho 31st December, 1905. “Board.—Messrs John Byrne,. Jeremiah McCarthy, and Joseph Petrie, who retired in August, were re-elected by tho members of the School Committees, Tho Board has thus through-' out tho year consisted of Messrs John j Bymo, John Flynn, S. R. Harris, James Korr, W. R. Kettle, Jeremiah McCarthy, Joseph: Petrie, Frank White and the Hon. James Marshall. At the annual meeting Mr John Bymo was reflected Chairman and Mr Jas. Kerf was elected treasurer) Itt Fob; ruary Mr Wi rtt Kettle was rocketed

t as the board’s representative on then Greymouth High School Board, and ! in April Mr John.Byrne-.was re-elect- j. ed to. represent the Board as one of , tho School Commissioners of Wcstland. , ■ ' “Schools. —At tho beginiung of the year 33 schools were m operation, iarly in tho year owing to the removalof the cliildreu from the district Bed Jacks school had to bo closed, ihe schools were graded as .follows:—. Grade 0, 12 ; grade 1, 6; grade 2,1; grade 3, 5 ; grade 5,4; • grade 7,1, grade 8, 1; grade 9,1; grade 15, 1. The average attendance for the year was 1381, as compared with 1384 for tho previous year. Theife has been an increase in regularity during the year, the figures being 84.5 against «3i for the previous year. When it is remembered that the average for the colony for the year 1904 was 85.5, !it will bo seen that there is need I f o r the services of an energetic truant ' ° fl ‘“Uachcrs.—At tho end of tho year there was in the employ of tho Board '55 teachers —14 males and 41 females, including 8 head teachers, 24 sole teachers, lo assistant teachers and 7 pupil teachers. The number of uncertificated teachers continues to grow and for schools of grade 0 and grade 1 the Board is unable to obtain qualified teachers.

“Secondary Education.—Owing to change of teachers and other causes, the roll number of the Grey mouth D.H. School fell considerably during tho year. Tho attendance has now improved, and there are indications that tho work of this department will reach its: former standard. "Scholarships. —At the annual examination thirteen candidates presented themselves, five of whom qualified. The Junior National Scholarship was won by a boy from tho Greymouth D.TL School. “Drill.—Another cadet detachment was formed during tho year. The work done hy (lie cadets is of a most satisfactory nature. Physical drill is tan gilt in almost all tho schools and generally tho work is well done. Several schools, where tho instruction includes practice with wands, dumb hells or clubs, do excellent work. “Technical Instruction.— Saturday classes for teachers were established during the year, and a course of work in physical measurements was taken. In August the Board received authority to erect a woodwork and a cookery room as portion of a technical school building. Tenders wero called and tho rooms will ho ready shortly. Four schools took a branch of handwork as part of tho year’s syllabus. “Finance. —The balance sheet shows in the general account a debit balance of £3lB 11s 3d and in the building account. a debit balance of £IOO 2s 6d. The Boat'll found it absolutely necessary to re-build its office, the old insanitary wooden structure which had done duty for many years, being replaced by a small but substantial brick building. This expenditure is responsible for the debit balance.”

SUl. Average Age Class. Roll No. Present. Yrs. Mths. S.7 27 25 14 5 8.6 132 130 13 9 S.5 120 11? 13 0 S.4 195 194' 11 10 S.3 179 175 10 10 S.2 174 171 9 10 S.l 156 151 9 1 1'. 607 561 6 9