The Industrial School.

Otago Witness, Issue 1777, 12 December 1885, Page 22

The Industrial School.

The Industrial School at Look-out Point is doing, as has been the case for many years, a large amount of good work in an unostentatious and effective manner. From time to time we have given accounts of visits to this institution, and these accounts have necessarily been uni«form in character, since, though the visits have been quite unexpected on the part of the school authorities, and the inspection has extended throughout the whole of the buildings, we have at no time been able to discover anything calling for other than favourable comment. Our representative yesterday paid a visit to the institution, and was at once shown over the buildings and through the school by Mr Titcheneiythe master of the institution. It is almost needless to remark that the most thorough cleanliness was everywhere observable. The' dining-room, dormitories, laundry, sewingroom, kitchen, class-rooms, and passages were alike scrupulously clean, and ventilation attended to with such care that the atmosphere in every part of the building was fresh and pure. That such is the normal conditions of things at the Industrial School is proved by the good health the inmates enjoy. With the exception of one case of croup in May last, which terminated fatally, there has been no sickness in the institute. The children appear healthy and vigorous, and their general cheerfulness indicates that discipline is maintained without due severity. The dormitories look remarkably nice, everything being so bright and clean. They are not crowded with beds as 'they used to be. The walls are covered with pictures, which greatly interest and amuse the children, and in the rooms there are still to be seen treasured by the -little ones some of the toys which Sir Julius Vogel, some four years ago, sent from Home for the inmates of this school. Some of the dolls are mutilated, but they have more the semblance of dolls left still than is generally the case after similar toys have been in the hands of children for as many weeks or days, while some of the toy animals are in a capital state of preservation, showing that the children have been very successfully taught habits of carefulness. The institution is in a less crowded state than it was formerly. This is due to the fact that a considerable number of children have been placed in private families on the boarding-out system, inaugurated some three years since. There were in the school in ISB2 no less than 295 inmates; while the present mimber is only 165 — 101 boys and 64 girls. These figures, however, do not represent the number of children who are more or less under the care and control of Mr and Mrs Titcheqer. Sixty-three boys and 35 girls are at service under license from the school, 95 boys and 90 girls are boarded out, and there are licensed to parents or friends 50 ' boys and 33 girls. During the past year there has been a falling off in the number of children admitted to the Home, the admissions for the year being 70 boys and 40 girls, and these children have come from various parts of the Colony. As usual, there have been throughout the year visits of clergymen, who have attended on Thursdays for the purpose of imparting religious instruction to the scholars. Some of the Roman Catholic clergy have attended and giveu instruction to the children belonging to their denomination. The Rev. Mv Ronaldson has visited the school on behalf of the Church of England, and the other Protestant sects have been represented in turn by ministers of various denominations. One very good feature of this institution is that the inmates, when they are able to earn money, are not only allowed to do so, but are encouraged to save, and by so doing are enabled to put into Mr Titchener's hands money which is subsequently handed to them. During the present year there has been given, or repaid, from this source to 24 boys and girls, who have come of age or have married, £209, in sums varying from a few pounds to a sum of £35 12s 2d, and Mr Titchener has still in hand, on behalf of 140 boys and girls, something like £1300, representing their own savings. Musical instruction is still given with great success and material advantage in the school, providing as it does a means of entertainment and of mental discipline. The children learn quickly and easily, some very young children being able to read music readily and correctly, and to play or sing it with very, good effect. Of their proficiency in this accomplishment they will afford the public an opportunity of judging very soon, ns they are to give a concert in the Lyceum Hall on the 18th inst., for which they are now busily preparing. Of course, all the children who are able attend the day-school in connection with this institution. Since the fire a commodious building has been erected, which contains three large, well-lighted, and properly-ventilated classrooms. The school course is precisely similar to that followed In the district schools of the Colony, and the children show an average degree of proficiency. As we have already mentioned, there is in connection with the management and conduct of the institution nothing to find fault with and much to admire, and a visit to the school at Lookout Point will show that a very great deal can be done, and is done, to rightly train and well educate a very large number of children so that they may, become good and useful members of society.