OTAGO’S SCHOOLS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3773, 6 July 1926, Page 6

OTAGO’S SCHOOLS.

INSPECTORS’ ANNUAL REPORT. In their annual report to the Minister of Euucation the Otago Education Board’s inspectors of schools state, inter alia: There is an increase of about 10 per cent, in the schools of the "Good” and "Very Good” groups, and a decrease of about 6 per cent in those of the group which may be classed as below satisfactory. In spite of the short year, the general quality of the work did not suffer. In some subjects it was, of course, impossible to cover as much ground as in a full year, but the general quality of the teaching fully made up for any deficiency in quantity. It is true that some teachers were inclined to concentrate a little too much on those subjects which they considered to be the more essential subjects, for among the ‘confidential suggestions” forwarded to teachers are to be found recommendations to reduce the time given to arithmetic and grammar in order to give more time to some other subjects, such as history, geography, Nature study, and composition including oral expression. As in addresses given during the "refresher courses” and in previous reports we have dealt somewhat at length with the subjects of the syllabus, we do not purpose referring further to them here, except to call attention to a few points. We find Borne teachers in the lower classes frequently exceeding the syllabus in arithmetic, and in other classes we often have to recommend that more attention be paid to mental arithmetic. In writing, a general improvement is desirable both in neatness and in the setting-out of all written work There ie a tendency in the upper classes for writing to become too small. In all classes the use of short, blunt pencils, both in writing and drawing, should be forbidden. Writing of the type of the "Progressive Copy Books” has been recommended, more especially for Standard V arid Standard IV* Attention ia frequently called to the posture of children at all lessons as well as at writing lessons. In geography and Nature study more provision should be made for outdoor lessons, and more experimental work should be carried out to illustrate lessons in these subjects and also in elementary agriculture. In the teaching of history, “the main defect appears to be a failure to adopt methods of presentation that capture the imagination and arcuse the interest of the pupils.’’ More use of illustrated and dramatic methods is recommended. An improvement is desirable in colour-drawing; instrumental drawing has been somewhat neglected. Aftei a conference with the Head Masters* Association and with the woodwork instructors, a suggested programme in instrumental drawing was drafted and forwarded to all schools. Increased attention has been given to Bp*.ech-training, and a greater interest has been displayed by teachers Id the study of phonetics We regret very much to record the death of our colleague, Mr Kicolson. As an inspector he was earnest, industrious, and efficient, and the bieakdown in his health was partly due to his intense devotion to his work. He was a keen student of educational aims and methods, and we miss him very much, not only as a colleague whose cooperation in carrying on the work of the district was of great value, but also as an educati mist taking part m our conferences—one whose opinion on the problems we try to solve was held in high esteem by us all. DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOLS. During the year two secondary departments were added to the nine district high schools already in operation. Mosgiel was recommissioned, and a department was opened in Cromwell. It waß also decided that Roxburgh was to be opened as a district high school in 1926, and that the secondary department at Balclutha should be disestablished for the purpose of establishing a high school at the beginning of the following year. In these 11 departments the roll at the time of inspection was 201 boys and 239 girls—a total of 440. Of 84 pupils who sat for matriculation in December. 58 obtained either a full or a partial pass, the percentage beiug 63—a material Increase on the result of lie previous year (50 per cent.). Of 144 oupils who entered for the various intermediate examinations, 108 passed, a percentage of 75 also an increase on the result of the previous year (61 per cent.). Of these, live obtained senior national scholarships and 11 passed the public service examination “with credit.” Thirty-eight pupils also oasse-I in various subjects for the teachers’ D examination. and seven of these completed the examination for that certificate. Three also passed in some subjects tor the O certificate. PHYSICAL INSTRUCTION. During the year the physical instructors paid 350 visits and gave instruction in 235 schools. The work of 447 teachers was reported on. Wherever possible these reports are included in our reports to the board, and are taken into consideration when the teachers are graded. An analysis of the reports gives the following results: —Excellent 42; very good, 195; good, 178; very fair," 23; fair or unsatisfactory, 9. These figures give the following percentages (last year’s percentages being in bracsets) -Excellent, 9.4 per cent. (8.4) ;• very «.nod. 43.6 per cent. (44) ; good, 40 per *-.ent (40) ; very fair, 5.1 per cent. (6.4) ; fair, 2 per cent. (1.5). These figures vary very little from those of the previous year. The shorter year may possibly account partly tor a slight increase in the less efficient groups. WJ»h regard to these, the instructors siate. — “Fortunately, these two groups are comparatively small, and in most cases whero these markings have been given it n*s hjotj found that it Is not through lack of interest on the part of the teachers, but through inexperience or inability to apply knowledge.”