CALEDONIAN SOCIETY'S CLASSES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1244, 2 October 1875, Page 6

CALEDONIAN SOCIETY'S CLASSES.

The third session of the Caledonian Society's Classes broke up on the 24th instj, when the teachers read their various reports in the lower room of the Athenaeum, Mr Keith Ramsay, President of the Sooietyj being in the chair, and there being allo present— Dr Stuarfc, Mr Hislop, Secretary to the Education Board, and Mr Petrie, Inspector of Schools. There were also about 150 boys assembled.

Mr Macoregor, who is head of the teaching department, read the following report:—

In submitting my Third Annual Report of the Society's Evening Classes, I am glad to bo able to congratulate the Society on their continued success. In accordance with an opinion generally entertained, and strongly expressed at last year's meeting, the Education Com' mittee resolved that the length of the session should be limited to five months. Two reason* especially led to this decision. First, it was found that when the long fine Ootober evenings set in, the attendance greatly dwindled away j and secondly, it was deemed desirable that the Report of the Education Committee should We emoodied in the General Report of thfl Directors, which is given in at the. Sodetfn annual meeting in October. The classes opened on the 4th of May, and have been carried on continuously ever since. During the session, 175 pupils have \sem\ enrolled. Of these, 86 joined the North Duo*. djngjJwoLftnd, OJ, connected themplYf ? *ttfe

the Central Class, which met during the first month in the Drill Shed, and afterwards in Milton Hall, Stuart street Kegarding the North Dunedin Class, which I was able to visit only twice during the session, full and detailed information will be given you in the joint reiwrt of Messrs Lindsay and Scoular. The Central Classes were conducted by Mr Neish and myself, Mr Neish taking charge of the junior division, while I attended to the senior. Acting on the views so strongly expressed here by Dr btuart last year— views which my own lengthened experience fully corroborate, we resolved to ■allow the pupils to follow the bent of their own minds, and to study Avhatever they specially desired to learn. We found that a vast majority of them wished to devote their time to arithmetic and writing, and accordingly we arranged to set apart an hour each night for arithmetic and half an hour for writing. Instead of arithmetic four of the senior lads turned their attention mainly to algebra, and got over a very fair amount of ground in fractions and simple equations. Again, six or seven lads, instead of writing began and made considerable progress with a course of book-keeping. As there were a few who wished to learn English grammar, I devoted an occasional half -hour to that subject during the session, and encouraged them to write out exercises at home and bring them to me for correction. Such is a brief account of the nature of the work we have been doing in the senior division of the central classes ; and, considering the time and the disadvantages under which we laboured during the first iive weeks of the session, I have no hesitation in saying that the progress of the pupils has been satisfactory. In arithmetic — the chief branch of study — beginning with reduction, they have gone on through simple and compound proportion, practice, and interest, and a few of them still further. So much for their progress, and now a single word on the conduct of the boys. In regard to this, I am very happy indeed that I have only to speak in terms of praise. Of course, on joining the classes, all were distinctly informed that they must either conduct themselves properly or withdraw, and so those who were not disposed to work quietly and diligently withdrew. As for those who have continued to attend, then: behaviour has been quite exemplary, I come now to speak of the attendance- — the only point on which I cannot report favourably. Of the 95 that joined our classes, the largest number that ever was present was 72. During the first three months the average attendance was 58, during the last two it dwindled away to 39. Isowthe question arises, Where were the rest ? Making every allowance for necessarydetention, I could not help having my suspicions and fears that many who left their homes to attend our classes were roaming the streets, associating, perhaps, with the misguided and misguiding, who, by their larrikinism, are bringing reproach on us as a community. I think, therefore, some means must be ailopted in future whereby parents can be apprised, whether their sons are attending regularly or not.

I hare often wished that I could communicate with the parents of those lads who absented themselves night after night ; but the calls on my time were so numerous as to preclude the possibility of that. It will be for the Education Committee to devise some method whereby such thoughtless youths may be better looked after, and prevented from making these classes (instituted for their benefit) the means of securing opportunities for the indulgence of their own evil propensities. And now, in closing, and in resigning the position of Superintendent of these classes, to waich the Committee was pleased to appoint me two years ago, I desire to repeat my unaltered conviction of their importance and usefulness. They have done aud are doing, ' good, both directly and indirectly — directly, by bringiug the means of improve- | raent within the reach of all ; and, indirectly, by forming in those lads habits of Belf-improvement, and cultivating in them a taste for high and ennobling pursuits. And they are yet in then* infancy. Who knows whereunto these may grow ? I can see a fullyequipped School of Arts in embryo here. I trust, therefore, these evening classes will be maintained and supported more warmly than ever, and that the society that initiated them will receive a larger share of public patronage than ever.

Mr Welsh and Mr Scoullab also read reports, the former relating to the classes in Milton Hall, Stuart street, and the latter having reference to those conducted in the North iHineoin School, both of which embodied the ideas expressed in that of Mr Macgregoi'a, and threw out suggestions for future guidance.

Mr Pbtbie, in the absence of Mr Taylor, Assistant luspector of Schools, read a very flattering report upon the success of the classes.

Mr fll&LOP then read an exhaustive and valaable paper on the subject, and gave some wholesome advice to tne boys present. We frgrefc we cannot publish thu paper in extenso, &< it contained some very valuable sugges* tii>os, and would be of general interest. Dr STtJART expressed his gratification in listening to the papers submitted to them that evening. He *as sure the Caledonian ■Society, in instituting these classes, were conferring a very gr«at benefit upon the youth of the city. He was sorry to hear that some in these clafs-s were poorly prepared, indicating that they had scarcely had tbe advantages of elementary schools ; and during the last 18 months be had noticed froups of children in the streets, from six to 2 years of age, who did not go to school. Wheth* r it was poverty of the parents, or want of school accommodation — which he thought had something to do with it— or the high school fees, he did not know, bat rejoiced very much to find the Caledonian Society continued to benefit the community by keeping open these classes. There was a suggestion made in the report which he tho'igbt should be attended to, ihimh ly, to give the classes more publicity, as there were many families in Duoedin not aware of their existence, and he would only be happy to intimate monthly from hj« pulp-t if asked. He knew there was a fei ling abroad that they were xotnewhdt rowdy, and he wo* delighted that, on the c >iitrary, tbe boys were well behaved, rpspeetfuL and aasiduou* in their lessons Ho was pleased to hear of their prosperity, aud believed if publicity was given to the classes they would haVe treble. tie attendance next year. The Chairman expressed the gratification of the Directors of the Society at the saccess which had attended the classes established by them, and the teachers' reports ■bowed untnUtakftfcbiy that they were do ; ng *! large amount of g.-.od. He had to thank the teachers in the name of tbe Society for the attention they had displayed in the discharge of their onerous duties, and it was •attftly (9 ttoir diligence thf cluef ep ow«d

their success. He would like them to became a valuable institution in Dunedin ; and so long as he was a member of the Society he would do bis utmost to make them a benefit to the rising generation. He regretted very much that the gentleman who had taken the superintendence of these classes was about to leave them, but he rejoiced that he was going to occupy a higher sphere, -which there was no doubt he would adorn. He then presented the following boyH with certificates of merit, which entitled them to free admission to the Athenaeum for six months • —

Milton Hall, Stuart Street. — Henry Shepard (never absent), Thomas Blackly, Henry Youngman, Wm. Bethune, George Lindsay, Robert Wicks, Charles Beadle, John Paterson, Alexander Weir, Thomas Henderson.

North Dunedin. — William Adams, John Algie, William Davie, John Gow, Alexander Henry, James HMop, George Johnstone, John Thomas, Henry Brundell, John Aitkin.

The Chairman then said he had great pleasure in presenting Mr M'Gregor "with a gold pencil case, as a token of gratitude from his late scholars.

Mr M'Gkegor briefly responded. He remarked that he had his reward in his work, as the boys took a pleasure in their tasks.

The senior pupils presented Mr Neish with a gold locket, which was suitably acknowledged, and the Chairman intimated that the boys at the North Dunedin School intended to present Mr Lindsay with a similar expression of gratitude.

A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the proceedings.