OTAGO HIGH SCHOOLS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13858, 22 March 1907, Page 7

OTAGO HIGH SCHOOLS.

•Tho following report wns read from Mr AV. J. Anderson, assistant inspector-general of schools, Wellington, at, yesterday's meeting of the Otago High Schools Board of Governors: — Otago Bots 1 High School. _ 'On tho 27th and 28th September last 1 inspected tho Otago Boys' High School, Dunedin, I tenet that the timo at my disposal permitted, in some respects, only a nioro or less cursory inspection o[ an institution of so much importance. The acquaintance thus formed with the personnel of the staff and the methods pursued I trust nn oarly opportunity will be afforded me of ex- . tending materially. Tho Echoo! is efficiently organised, and possesses o capable, if limited, staff, the members of which in their method? and practice show in general a good appreciation of the tendency of modern methods. The time-iabio provides a good distribution of the Bcvcral subjects, nnd the educational welfare of tho boys—mental, moral, and physicalappears to bo well provided tor. A good lone evidently pervades he school, the ideals of scholarship aro high, and generally tho industry of teachers aitd pupils alike may fairly bo expected to sustain the high reputation the school has" already gained, more particularly on the literary sido. In any improvements which the governors may contemplate, os their funds permit, the replacing of tho present seating accommodation by deskH better adapted to the application of suitablo methods, together with the extension of the facilities at present existing for individual work in scienco subjects, may lie coinmomled to. favourable ' notice. Tho one great improvement neoded is. however, in tho numlwr. of, teachers employed. Exclusive of the head inastor, tho staff at tho time of (he inspection visit provided only one master for (approximately) every 40 pupils on tho roll, a proportion which can scarcely be expected to secure n fair measure of jimtico to tho lower forms, where of necessity the classes must greatly exceed the average in number of attendants. Some classes at present exceed GO in number, and tho 'average generally is • obviously ko high for the best work. A reasonable ideal of 25 to 30 pupils for each number of tho statf the finances may find it difficult to secure, hut at whatever sacrifice closer approximation to tho limit specified must bo regarded as imperative, In reference to the admission of new pupils, a reccinsideraton of the present practice, by which tho organisation of the school is materially interfered with by the udtiilHHi'on of a large class of free-place claimants at tho beginning of the third term, may also .be conmiendcd to tho favourable notice of tho governing'''body, It does not appear that, in the interests of the pupils themselves, admission at such a time of tho year is desirable, since they are thus required to con> pleto in 15 months » course of study which pupils, of nveiag'o ability must find quite enough for the full two.year's of tl)e free-place tcniiro contemplated. By making use of tho department's sptcial freo place examination in December, no deserving pupil need under A .diflfjrent arrangement ever bo excluded.

Otaoo Girls' High School. • • Visits of inspection wero mode to tho Otago Girls' High School on tho 4th and sth October last. Tho free-place system has evidently olfoctcd r much greater change hero in the class ot attendants than is to be observed in the Boys' School. Many, it is understood, entertaining no University College aspiration, 'and presumably not intending to spend a long timo at school, now seek exemption from Latin and French as subjects of study. The Indy principal is in conecquoncc desirous of giving a prominent plsco in the curriculum to such features as cookery and drossraaking, and asks that these subjects be rccognisod among tho grounds of qualification for the continuation of free-place privileges. I>V principle thero does not appear to exist any serious objection to the adoption of such ft courso,' but it must lie evident that More attendance at properly-equipped classcs of the kind would not.afford the required security ot individual progress and promise, and somv> difficulty may bo found in providing a snitnhlo test.! Tho school is suitably organised, arid the industry with which tho studies nro pursued appeals generally commendable. The rcicnce (botany) and Latin of the upper forms are in eapablo hands; the methods in French, whatever their outcome, show duo appreciation of the value of conversational practice; and literature (Knglish), under tho lady principal personally, awakens a pleasing respones.

In connection with tho reference in tho Boys' High School portion of the report, to tho effect that onn great, improvement needed was in Iho number of tcacliens employed, it might, be slated that an extra teacher lias sinco been appointed Rp.fcTenco is also mado to Iho admission of freo piipila during the third term, bv which the organisation of tho school is'materially interfered with. That praclico has eiiico discontinued.

'—There w a rcinarltablo proviso to a bequest by iho lale Mr Harry Coiven Ooiey, of llislmp'a Storfford. Money is conditionally left to the Royal National Lifeboat Instil us ion lor the equipment of a modern lifeboat station, but the deceased's wife or any child of his "shall lie at liberty to enter upon, row, or sail in the said boat at. any timo when sho is afloat, hi Ihe weather fair or foul, so long as their doing so or their preeenco there shall not. hinder the life-saving efforts of the Mew."