REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 11, Issue 855, 2 July 1867, Page 3

REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS

Napier, Juno 10, 1867. Sir, — I have the honor to report for your information that the following Schools liave been inspected since thb Ist January last :— 1. St. Mary's School, Napier.— This is the Roman Catholic institution for boys. I (was led to expect, from the report of last inspection, that this school would not pass a very creditable examination, and I am happy to state that, on the whole, it was very fair. Mr. Carrick, who has lately taken over the dntics of master, seems a very painstaking and efficient teacher. The daily average attendance last quarter was 33 26-46, and the number on the books 37. 2. St. Joseph's School is the Roman Catholic institution for girls, and is one of the most creditable that I have inspected. The cleanliness and order observed is most praiseworthy, and the intelligence displayed most creditable. The daily average for last quarter was 35 42-55, and the number on the books 50. 3. St. John's School, Napier, was only established in [December last, and is conducted by Mr. Hudson, who deserves great credit for the attention he bestows on the children. They always appeared orderly and well behaved, and generally very intelligent. Having frequently visited the school, I had sufficient opportunities of judging. The daily average for last quarter was 28 14-50, and the number on the books 32. L Napier Giuls' School is conducted by Miss CaldwcU, who' appears exceedingly well qualified for the instruction of her ywmg pnpibi tho most of Triiom are bo- i tween 5 and 10 yeai\s of age. The daily average for last quarter was loij, and the number on the books 23. o. Pukktapu School. The master complained of the very irregular attendance of the children, raid gave this as a reason for some of them being very backward. This was evidently the case, I having noticed a marked difference in those who attended regularly. Mr. Flardie is most zealous in his duties, and I feel satisfied no blame can be attached to him if the children do not improve. Tho daily average for last quarter was 14 7-47, and the number on the books 19. 6. Meanee School (No. 2), has only been established since the first of January, arid has supplied a want much felt by the families settled on tho now township of Mcanee. It is conducted by Mrs. Oarr, who, I think, spares no trouble or exertion. This school is carried on in a house for which she pays £26 a year rent. The children are very .young, and most of them, although they have only received a few months tuition, can read tolerably well, and write exceedingly well on slates. The daily average for the quarter ending 31st March, was 9 ; and the number on the books, 10. 7. Clive School is conducted by Mr. Maclde, a worthy and zealous teacher. His pupils arc very young and some of them rather backward for their ages, which was explained by their irregular attendance ; this complaint is very prevalent at most of the schools, and I .fear there is no means of working a beneficial change until, the parents themselves see its disadvantage. 8. Clyde School has the smallest daily average attendance in the Province, being only 9 3-49 for last quarter, with 19 on

(;he books, mid tills is caused by the very irregular attendance;, no blame- whatever can bo attached to Mr, Thompson, the ' master, who is most ellicient. This school \ pa.yi'tnl as ei-edik&b\& an examination a? auy [ in thxs Province. I 9. llavelocx School Las a very sm&lY \ attendance considering the number of children in the village ; the average for the quai'tor ending 3l«t March was 6 % 45-59 duel only the. limited munbey of 3 o» tko books. The pupils passed a very fair examination. Mr. Bissel, tlio master, complained of the books in use, the reading "books being by three different authors, which is very objectionable, and entails extra work on himself. 10. Waipawa School is one of the best regulated in the Province ; it is conducted by Mr. Drover, who was educated in India. The children -were clean and orderly, and their books excessively neat ; everything in the school seemed to be carried out in a very systematic manner. The children were quick in their answers, and more advanced (generally), in comparison to their ages, than any school except St. Joseph's, Napier. The daily average at- j tendance for the quarter ending 31st March was 22 39-54, and the number on the books 25. Another small school has been started within a few miles of Waipawa, without government aid, which Mr. Drover attends every evening, after closing the government school. 11. Hampden School. There -were only seven children present, and none of them seemed as intelligent as might have been expected. Mr. Patterson, the master, who appears a most zealous teacher, informed me that some of the most advanced pupils were absent ; he also complained of the irregular attendance of some children. This, of course, would in some measure account for their not having passed a better examination. The daily average attendance was 11 9-51. I cannot form an opinion as to whether there is any improvement since last inspection, there being no records from which I could ascertain the names of the children present, or the subjects of examination. 12. Petane School. The attendance at this school is very small ; the daily average attendance for last quarter- Avas only 5 2-50, and the number now on the books is 6. The- children are well informed, and the school well conducted. The house is out of repair and very much requires a new chimney and window frame. Mr. El win, the master, states that there is a block of 80 acres attached which might bo productive of some good if fenced in, but it is useless in its present state. 13. Napieb Gtrasimah School has been established since 1864, but has .only received Government aid from the commencement of the present quarter. It was inspected by me on the 6th and 7th instant. The scholars passed a most creditable examination in Geography, English Grammar, History, Algebra, Latin, French, and, particularly, Arithmetic. The number on the books is 44, and the daily average attendance 40. The constitution of this establishment, the superior system of management adopted, as well as the subjects taught, is in character totally distinct from the ordinary Provincial schools. It is divided into an upper and lower, and is no doubt the foundation of an institution much required to prepare boys for a college education ; and, with the additional assistance of so superior a teacher as Mr. Stables, it must in my opinion steadily improve. 14. Meaxee Flat School (No, 1). — The children present at the examination did not appear to be sufficiently for advanced for their ages; but Mr. rlonan, the master, accounted for this by the irregular attendance of some of the children. 1 was hero at a loss also, to ascertain. the degrees of efficiency attained by the pupils since last examination, not having auy documents or data upon which to ground an opinion. The daily average attendance for the quarter ending 31st March was II 27-43, and the number on the books was 19. 15. Poet School, .Napier. — This is another new school, and is under the superintendence of Miss Mitchell. The children arc very young, and could not attend the schools in town owing to the distance ; therefore a want much felt at the Eastern Spit has thus been provided for. The number on the books is 24, and the daily average attendance is about 20. The total number of children on the books in the schools of the province- last quarter was 290, and the daily average attendance for the same period 224 15-5.7 . Added to which there will be, for the present quarter — Daily average of Napier Grammar School 40 Number on the books 44 Daily average of Port School „ , 20 Number on the books 24 There is a serious inconvenience felt at many of the schools from the want of material and books, as also maps. Some of the parents complain that they cannot afford to supply their children with copybooks at the present expensive rate. I would suggest that a limited supply of everything to meet the wants of all the schools should be obtained from Melbourne or .England half-yearly, to be supplied to the masters on their requisitions, who would have to account to Government for the same every quarter, prior to receiving their allowance, and show the prices charged to the children. This arrangement might be carried out without any expense to Government ; at the same time it would prove a great boon to the parents. I regret to report that the last annual grant in aid of schools was insufficient to moot tlio in Groused wants of the province, and the only reason that can be given for ibis is the largo increase of scholars and the additional number of schools. I would beg most respectfully to sugges that some kind of educational rate b | .leviod by the Provincial Council similar to that in force in. Nelson and in many colonies. At present there is no means of ascertaining the degrees of efficiency attained by scholars in the several schools, and I would suggest that masters and mistresses should hold' monthly examinations and keep a record of the same for reference ; a simple form for this purpose could be mado on a sheet- of paper, showing the names, subject of examination, position of each child in tlio different classes, &c, and the copy books o? at least two months should always remain in. the school for inspection. Some of the school houses are very much out of repair, but I conceive this is more the duty of the trustees, and therefore do not enter into any detail. Having some suggestions to oiTer in reference to a more extended system of education, I shall do myself the honor of addressing you separately on this subject. I have &c, Edwahd !■». Gbeen, Inspector of Schools. His Honor the Superintendent, . Napier.