INSPECTOR’S REPORT.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume VI, Issue 1214, 1 April 1884, Page 3

INSPECTOR’S REPORT.

We make the following extracts from the leport to the Education Board by Mr Hodgson, the Inspector of the Marlborough schools,: — .vi “ I have examined twenty-six schools, . 1276 children being present on examination day; 1490 scholars were on the rolls of these schools, being an increase of 131 since my former examination. “ With the view of meeting the largely increasing demands on my time caused by the steady increase of the number of new schools—ll of which for the most part remote and difficult of access-have been opened since I undertook the inspection of this district I have obtained the Board’s permission to examine the bulk of the schools in February. So far as I cau judge no harm has resulted from the'change, which, on the other hand, has enabled me to devote much more time to the task of examining than was formerly possible. The unusual length of the interval between the two last examinations, which will not occur again, has after all done little more than compensate for the time lost through the indisposed and protracted sickness of last I vear, This is clearly shown by the record of attendance which in many schools was not equal, and taking the whole district does not exceed for the sixteen months the normal attendance for an ordinary school year. To prevent, however, any possible injury to the schools likely to be effected by harvest work, I have in all such cases offered the alternative of an examination m September. It is gratifying to be able to state that several of the defects of which I complained in my last report have, to a great extent, been remedied. . . . <«The result of my examinations, in wmen several schools have attained, and still more have closely approximated on the maximum percentage of passes has certainly not taken me by surprise. " I confess that I am not altogether satisfied with the outcome of my appeal to teachers in my last report, to try the experiment of largely reducing home lessons. That the burdens against which I protested have been much lightened in many cases withj the] happiest results. I have ample evidence, but it is not quite clear, that the reform has been so general and so completo as might be desired. There is a suspicious ring about the stereotyped answer—“ About an hour’s steady work every evening,” to my queries on the point. It is questionable indeed if the teacher exists who, with every desire to state the expet truth, can help unconsciously extending the tasks he exacts, and over estimating the working powers of some at least of his scholars. The evidence of parents, who know exactly where the shoe pinches, would be more satisfactory. This is a matter in which substantial help might ' be given by School Committees, if only they had the will, as they undoubtedly have the power summarily to put a stop to excessive impositions. An Inspector can do little more than remonstrate. “I am glad to find an opinion that I have for same time held as to the worthlessness, and even the harmfulness of prize giving in our public schools, confirmed by the successful example of the Borough Schools, where no such incentives to study are offered. Yet I have never seen scholars who showed a keener zest for their work, and who. took a livelier interest in the result of the examination than is habitually shown there. But the interest is of an altogether better and more generous sort than that which is so painfully promineut at most competitive examinations where the success of the individual is the sole aim. At the Borough Schools after a successful examination the predominent feeling is evidently that of pride that every scholar has done his duty, and that first the. class, and then the school has acquitted itself Whatever indeed tends to lessen the ever increasing strain of competitive examination—that bain of modern schoolboy life I count for good. I can only regret that no better way of selecting winners of scholarships has yet been devised than the fiery ordeal of atcompetition ; in the long preparation for which much valuable time must be wasted by diverting the energies of most promising scholars from their ordinary work, and, as the result of which after all, the prize may not fall to the candidate who really deserves it best. BLENHEIM BOROUGH SCHOOLS. Blenheim, boys (upper), Mr Lucas ; present 35, on roll 36. The wotk this year was in every respect equal to that done at the previous examination. The neatness, quickness, and accuracy with which the papers on every subject were finished left nothing to be desired. The work was regularly even, a difficult piece of dictation proved indeed somewhat beyond the powers of the eighteen boys who passed the sixth standard, but with this exception there was not even a partial failure of any scholar in any subject. Blenheim, boys (lower), Mr Burnham; assistant master, Mr] Bary ; present 89, on roll 89. There was a falling off fn this year’s performances, even when compared with the remarkably good work done at the IJ3S2 examination. The arithmetic was indeed rather better, two-thirds of the twentyfive hovswho passed in the 4th Standard working correctly every sum set. The papers were also neatly and quickly finished, those in geography and history being handed in long before the allotted time. Every scholar in this division obtained a pass. Blenheim, girls, Miss Harding ; assistant, Miss Lucas and a pupil teacher ; present 108, on roll 108. Although the bare record of passes fell slightly short of. the extraordinary high percentage obtained at the previous examination, the result of this year’s trial was most creditable in every cla'B3 and on every subject. The success of the scholars in arithmetic, which . was worked with a speed and accuracy, little, if at all, inferior to that of the boys, would tend to shake one’s faith in the commonly accepted theory of the comparative uncapacity of girls on this subject. When well taught they seem as good arithmeticians Juniors, Miss Treadwell and 3 pupil teachers; present 243, on roll 285. It is difficult to form a decided opinion as to the efficacy of a teaching staff where the school is so overcrowded and the attendance irregular as is the case was compelled to send a number oißeißholars out to play while one class win? being examined, fiuding it impossible k otherwise to get space enough, As to the attendance I found that no more than 2S of the 59 children preparing for the Ist Standard had made 2GO half-day attendances since the examination 16 months ago. Many, in fact, had averaged two days a week during that period. While, therefore, it is creditable to their teachers that 46 of the 52 recorded, succeeded in passing (as a large proportion of those had not made the minimum number of attendances) this division is fulfilling very indifferently its functions of feeder to the Upper Sehools. As the bad attendance may be taken in fact as the parents protest against overcrowding, I suggest that if means for adding to the building at once are not available, cither the children under 6 years old be excluded or a temporary schoolroom be erected for them. At the risk of being charged with ova

stepping the strict line of my duty I must e . nestly deprecate any material alteration i, the organisation of the Borough Schools. It would be difficult to improve—it would be easy to injure—an organisation which has stood successfully the test of several years trial, and which, as I understand the matter, while providing for the separation of the sexes and allowing ample liberty of action to the head of each department gives a right of general control and supervision to a responsible and thoroughly competent headmaster. Experience in another district has shown me the evils of allowing the heads of divisions in a group of schools to draft into a position of indifferent command. The process of disintegration is simple enough, but to re-unite subsequently the scattered fragments without removing the greater part of the teaching staff is found to be practically almost impossible. PICTON SCHOOL. Master, Mr Harris; Assistants, Mrs Robertson, Mr Jones, and a pupil teacher. Present, 134; on roll, 176. The scholars did better at this than at any previous examination. The arithmetic was so accurate that there was only one failure. The letter writing had also improved, mental arithmetic being as usual very ready. The lady examiner spoke favorably of. the needlework. The handwriting of the older scholars, though better than it was, still falls short of what I find in our best schools. Too much chattering at work is tolerate among the more advanced scholars, who in this respect might well take pattern from their juniors. HAVELOCK SCHOOL. Master, Mr Reynolds. Present, 103 ; on roll, 110. Havelock is now fairly abreast of the best schools in Marlborough. The work was well done throughout, only three of the sixty-six scholars presented failing to pass. In arithmetic, last year the weak point of the school, there was not a single failure, a large proportion of the scholars working correctly every sum given. The map drawing, handwriting, and composition were all of more than ordinary merit, especially the former. The organisation and discipline are all that could be desired. TUA MARINA SCHOOL. Master, Mr Peake ; assistant, Mrs Peake. Present, 44 ; on roll, 70. Although many of the oldest and best scholars were absent from the examination those who attended acquitted themselves creditably. The arithmetic, especially that of the higher classes, was better than it has been at any former examination. The spelling was rather uncertain. Science, drawing, and needlework are all carefully taught. It is apparently not easy to choose a time for examining this school at which all the scholars are likely to be present, a fifth of tho number of the roll being missing when I examined in September, ISS2. Excesses from absence are seldom wanting when the desire to be present is feeble. SPRING CREEK. Master, W. Squire ; present 28, on roll 29. The attendance at this school, as of former examinations of Spring Creek, fell short of the roll number. Those present acquitted themselves fairly well. I shall not oppose the evidence of my own eyes to the pleasant legend which accounts for the absentees by crediting them with being at work in the fields, but in this, as in the two or three other instances in which harvest work it alleged to have interfered with the attendance, I shall revert to examining in September. CROVETOWN SCHOOL. Master, Mr Ogilvie, and a pupil-teacher. P.vSent 68, on roll 78. I can only regret that the valuable services of the present master are so poorly appreciated by the parents that he had no more than 35 scholars to bring forward for the 4th, and Dot over one for the higher standards. The scholars who were preparing for the more advanced standards had left school for work during the year literally by shoals. Those who remained did well throughout, their discipline being perfect. This is one of the few Marlborough schools where the full programme laid down in the regulations is carried out, singing, drawing, and needlework being all included in the ordinary school course, RENWICK SCHOOL. Master, Mr Tissiman; assistant, Mrs Tosswell. Present, 4S; on roll, 90. The good understanding that evidently exists between the master and his present excellent assistant, together with the addition of fifteen months to the age of the very young children who tried and signally failed in the several standards at my former examination have again brought Renwick well to the front. The scholars in each class having now attained, with a few exceptions, the normal age for attempting the several staedards, the ground gained is not likely to be again lost. The strong points on this occasion were handwriting, composition, and spelling, the latter being exceptionally good. The paper work, though despatched very quickly, was remarkably neat. Needlework, drawing, and music are all effectively taught here. The absence of nearly half of the scholars from the examination was fully accounted for by the presence of sickness.