The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 1866. REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 144, 21 August 1866, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 1866. REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

(From the Provincial Government Gazette, Aug. 13.) Town Boyd School, Ist division: Mr. Smith, Master. — "When I last had occasion to make reference to this school, it had fallen, fVom long continued mismanagement, far below the level of several of our 'country schools in point of discipline and attainment. The present master, who spares no pains to i/nprove hu school, has certainly gone far towards enacting a- reform in both of these respects. The boys are orderly, they read much betfer than they did, and show a fair general knowledge of grammar and geography, while- the iivbt class, at my la-si examination in J uue. stood a searching examination in arithmetic very well. In oae important branch, however, I can record but liiile progress. The handwriting is still feeble aud careless througliout'the'school.' On the whole, though much has undoubtedly been dons during the last two years, this school, cannot yet claim such an indisputable pre-eminence in every respect as it ought to possess over even the best of onr country schools. Toiou- Hoys School, 2nd division : Sir. Sadd, Master. — I have little to add to what I formerly stated, xi to the very efficient way in which this important school was btiug conducted. 1 see do falling oft' in any respect. I would su^ost, liowever, that the employment of an older and better paid assistant than the youth who now does duty as pupil teacher, would greatly lighten the master's work, and would enable him to give more time to explanation in such a subject as arithmetic, for instance, in which I have observed that the method pursued is somewhat dry and mechanical, from sheer lack of time on the part of the teacher to enter more fully into details. More time also seems to be recmired lor the due supervision of so many beginners in writing. Town Girls' 1 School, Ist division : Mrs. Sait, Mistress. — The girls here are at least as well taught, and as well conducted as they have been hitherto. I was particularly pleased with the reading of the first and second classes, when I last examined the;u. The younger children read fluently enough, but not very distinctly, and did not pay sufficient attention to their stops. The arithmetic, as I have frequently found' it in girls' schools, was slow, and not particularly accurate. The scholars throughput had a fair acquaintance ■with geography, grammar, and the outlines of history, and the handwriting was remarkably good. Town Girls' School, 2nd division: Miss Dakby, Mistress. — It. appears to me that too much has been sacrificed iii this school, for the sake of perfect order and almost absolute silence. I should have preferred seeing more animation and mental. ' activity amongst the scholars at the expense of a little noise. The reading of the first class especially was painfully low and indistinct, and the answers to such questions as I put were almost inaudible, making it very difficult for an examiner to ascertain how much the children really knew. '; Preparatory School : Mrs. Cook, Mistress. —Muck good" has resulted from the recent

appointment, of a very active and intelligent assistant to this school. The time of. the mistress is ho longer almost exclusively taken up in keeping order among the large masses of very young children who daily attend ; and the progress of the first class has been proportionately greater, thus enabling me to promote large drafts of boys- and girls to the Irgher toAvn schools Town Auxiliary School : Mr. J. Hodgson, Master. —^Repeated drafts have been sent from this school to the first divisions of the boys' and girls' school, which are thus kept constantly full. The children are very carefully and systematically prepared for promotion : the course of instruction being designedly kept within certain prescribed limits. The reading and writing seemed to me specially worthy of commendation. Clifton Terrace : Mr. Gilbert, Master. — The daily attendance at this school, formerly very irregular, has largely increased of late, which is, in itself, not a bad token of the estimation in which a teacher is held. My own observation also confirms the view tli at a considerable advance has taken place here during the last six months. The younger children have great pains bestowed upon them, a,nd the elder scholars read and write well. But the arithmetic, though rather better than it was, is still slow and uncertain. Rill side School : Mr. M'lntosh, Master. — The higli reputation that Hillside school has long held is .not likel} r to suffer 'in the hands of the present teacher. Beading. writing,' and more especially arithmetic, are thoroughly well taught, while the children are decidedly more orderly than they were. I have noticed, however, with some regret, that the study of grammar, geography, and history, in all of which the higher classes were unusually -well instructed by the late master. has been almost discontinued. Ido not forget that I have, more than once, expressed a strong opinion in favor of teaching a- few subjects well, but grammar certainly, and (with scholars already so well grounded) geography and something of history might, I' think, be added with advantage to the very limited range of subjects at present taught. I hope the nice that the exclusion of these branches is only temporary, as there can be no doubt o*' the ability of the present master to do justice to all of them.