WANGANUI EDUCATION DISTRICT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8113, 19 October 1906, Page 8

WANGANUI EDUCATION DISTRICT.

CHIEF INSPECTOR'S REPORT

At Wednesday's meeting of the Education Board the following report was presented by the Chief Inspector, Mr Geo. 1). Braik: —

I have the honour to present my report for the period commencing September 17th and ended October l0th " INSPECTORS' REPORTS.

Thirty-six reports on annual visits are presented. It will he seen that with one doubtful exception the work in none of tlio scbdools talis below a passable standard, whilst in some it is very creditable. As in the case of last month's budget of reports the subjects reported on in unfavourable or neutral terms are chiefly observational geography, drawing and English, by which is mainly_ meant a. knowledge of the construction of sentences. MANUAL AND TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION. In his report Mr Varney comments, inter alia, on the absence of a creditable exhibition in cardboard modelling at the Palmerston Exhibition, and suggests that instruction in this subject might bo given at the training centres next year. Seeing that the Board now commands the services of a teacher so highly trained in this subject as Mr Clark, I think the director's suggestion is a good one. Manual and technical reports are to hand from Feilding, Eltham, Hawera, Mangatoki, Taihape, Marton. and Managaweka, and as the director says, the chief feature of the reports is "the optimistic tone regarding the posibilities of the future." A GRICULTUR AL TRAIN ING. Mr Grant reports visiting various, schools and giving address ? at various centres in the interests cf agricultural training. The c ass at the Technical School, Wanganui, is well attended, as is also the teachers' class at Palmerston. Mr Grant har "discovered" some very promising material at each of these classes, and hopes to divert it into ciianneN , i will secure the interests of the oauscthat he represents. INSTRUCTORS' REPORTS The reports from the Sai-vrdn. Training Centres indicate that nearly all the pupil teachers have been regular in their attendance and a t tenti , .-e to their studies. QUARTERLY REPORTS ON STAFF. Seventy-five staff reports ut-m presented. From these it ap .c.ya that the great majority of subordinate teachers are giving every sat;-, faction to their principals. The reports are adverse in nine cases, which should be looked into. The number of head teachers failing to report has been reduced to five; for two of these there is some excuse, for the others none whatever. EXHIBITION OF SCHOOL WORK. An exhibition was held at Palmerston on Thursday and Friday last . It was in every respect a great success. The Inspector-General, who was present, expressed himself in very favourable terms regarding what he saw. The schools contributing exhibits are to be congratulated on the excellence of the work. It is to these schools that the district is indebted for the fine selection of exhibits to be forwarded to Christchurch. The thanks of the Board are due to Mr Galland and the Palmerston head teachers for the excellence of the local arrangements. After consultation with the chairman and my colleagues, I determined to abandon the idea of repeating the exhibition at Wanganui and Hawera. This was done not without regret, as many of the pupils in executing their work had doubtles been inspired by the hope of seeing it on exhibition. The great demand on the time of the Board's officers, however, and the fact that each reproduction of the exhibition wuuld interfere very seriously with the work of the pupils, teachers and inspectors, especially in the case of schools not yet examined, clearly indicated that the interests of the Board would be best served by staying further proceedings. On every consideration it would be but fair to the northern end of the district to have the next school exhibition at Hawera. INSTRUCTION OF VISITING TEACHERS AT THE TRAINING COLLEGE. Principal . Gray's suggestion that sole teachers might pay a brief visit to the Training College for the purpose of observation and instruction is admirable, and I do not think it would be difficult to make arrange- \ ments enabling teachers to take advantage of their offer. The details of an arrangement having this end in view will be presented to the Board in good time. I would suggest that the Board express to the Wellington Board its appreciation of the Principal's proposal. OBSERVATIONAL GEOGRAPHY. With the approval of the Board, I propose sending to teachers a circular to the following effect: —"The inspectors regret that it is the practice of some teachers to put into the hands of their pupils an unauthorised book in Course A Geography, and to present parts of this book in lieu of a scheme of work having definite reference to the school and its environment. This proceeding is subversive of the spirit and intention of the syllabus, and the hope is here expressed that this reference to it will be sufficient to secure its abandonment." DAIRYING INSTRUCTION. This matter has not been overlooked. What the Board neds is an experienced teacher who has had a training in scientific method, and who has in some degree mastered the chemistry of milk and the principles of bacteriology. The Board will be able, I believe, to secure the services of such a man by the beginning of next year. ADDITIONS TO BOARD'S BUILDINGS. I would respectfully bring under the Board's notice the desirability of expediting the building of an addition to the present suite of buildings, which are quite inadequate to meet present requirements. The Board decided to express appreciation of the proposal made by the Principal of the Training College ; to adopt the proposal re geography; that the suggestions re additions to office buildings be left to the Chairman and Chief Inspector to have plans prepared and submitted to the Board; that, with regard to dairying instruction, the Chief Inspector should make arrangements for the appointment of an instructor at £250 per annum and travelling expenses.