INSPECTION OF SCHOOLS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2341, 24 June 1868, Page 3

INSPECTION OF SCHOOLS.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE LTTTELTON TIMES. Sir,—l exceedingly regret to observe the unjustifiable attacks which have been made by one or two disappointed individuals on Borne of the statements made by the Inspector of Schools in the annual report of the Board of Education.

As much has been attempted to be made of imaginary hurried journeys, and consequent flying examinations of several schools on March 10, let me refer "Preceptor" and " Thursby " to that annual report; and if they will exercise a little more careful observation, they will see that the order of dates in the Inspector's reports of schools visited, is consecutive, and that Avonside and Kaiapoi, standing under March 10, are followed by St. Luke's, March 5, and that again, by Ashley Bank, March 10 j and then other schools, March 11,12,13,16, &c, &c.; shewing an evident misprint in the date

assigned to Avonside and Kaiapoi schools, which were probably visited on the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th of March.

The Inspector is too well known, and too highly valued, for any of these groundless complaints to injure him in the least. In the schools in my parish, his visits are regarded with pleasure both by teachers and scholars; and for five years and a-half that I have been present at nearly every examination held in the chief school, which sometimes numbers 110 scholars present, I have never seen the Inspector otherwise than courteous to the teachers (who do their work well), and kind, skilful, and fair, in dealing with the children, who meet him, not with furtive glances, but with sparkling eyes; and my conviction is.that there is no one in the province so well qualified in every respect to discharge the difficult —sometimes unpleasant—and always onerous duties of his office. There is not a mote useful or valuable body of persons in the colony than our school teachers ; and where they are carrying on their work conscientiously before God—as many of them I believe do-they have the respect and esteem qf all around them, and thus possess that true independence which enables them to regard the Inspector of Schools as a friend, and his visits highly beneficial to their schools.

Your obedient servant, INCUMBENT. June 19,1868. [We have received several letters on the same subject, deprecating the attacks made upon the Inspector. All travel over the same ground, and, as our space is limited, we must decline to insert them.—Ed. L. T. ■ .