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Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 193, 2 December 1876, Page 2

unmistakeable terms of the conduct of the North School, and the report reveals a state of thing 3 very far from satisfactory. | What strikes one as particularly distres- ! sing is the fact that in those mo3t useful branches of education, or what is gene- . rally known as the three R's, the greatestdeficiency has be'-n exhibited. In speaking of tho3e examined in Standard 11., the Inspector reports :—" Reading: Almost fair ; often low and indistinct, and without any natural grouping of words. —Spelling: Inferior ; pupils should be accustomed to pronounce words distinctly in syllables previous to spelling them.— Writing in books, moderate. The slatewriting was often inferior, and almost illegible. I have seldom seen worse writing, even in an infants, room. The slates should be suitably ruled on one side, and good carefully-formed writing should be expected in all writing exercises.—Arithmetic : Most inaccurate. I think I never met worse results than this class showed. | The marked backwardness in this subject I should certainly have been pointed out to |me beforehand. As this was not done, I i am almost led to believe that none of the I staff had any idea of the condition of the | class in this subject." In fact, throughout | the different Standards the results of the | exam'nation have not at all beon credi- | table, but it is just possible a solui tion of the state of affairs may be arrived at by noting the summarised remarks at the conclusion of the report. Mr. Petrie says :—'' On the whole the condition of the School is far from satisfactory. There is a very marked want of intelligence in all the classes and in all the subjects. The work seems to have been done in a perfunctory and routine way in the second room, and to some extent in the highest one also." Mr. Fleming in his explanation to the Committee last night spoke in strong language of the great difficulties against which he had to contend during the past quarter, and further stated that in future he would not be responsible for the efficiency of the School ttnless those difficulties were removed. As a Committee was specially appointed to inquire into the complaints made by the Head Master, we do not feel at liberty to express an opinion either pro or con as to their justness until a report is returned ; but in justice to that gentleman it must not be forgotten that hitherto the School has been most highly reported upon. Another cause which was urged last night upon the Committee both by the Rector and Mr. Fleming, and certainly with very good.grounds, is the lamentable deficiency in teaching power, a want which is most seriously felt in the Higher as well as the Lower School. As was stated by the Rector, it is almost an absolute impossibility that efficiency can be arrived at in classes numbering four score chil- —. The report of Mr. Petrie is one j • 11 for prompt measures 11 .