The Schools of the District.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume II, Issue 108, 7 February 1894, Page 3

The Schools of the District.

ManfaUinoka. Few achoola in ibii diainct. or indeed in am part of a colony which haa naturally afforded oma striking instance* of rapidity of growuh of aeholaatic inatitut ton*, can equal, in the degree of their development, the pubhc school at Manga tainoka It it aearcely four lean ago uncr th# request of a few people then re anting at Mangaintnok* that a school might be established in their rnidat met with a refuaal on the ground that there war# not sufficient children to warrant euch a step. At the present time the aehool haa on it* register the names of between 300 and 800 pupils, with an average attendance extending well into 300 ; while it# examination result* have been corrwapondmgly surcesslnl. Yesterday a representative of lha Hr Rat r usttail the aehool with a view ol aaeortaining, if poaaible, what peculiar mode of unparung mat ruction had oontri bated to much eu.-ceaaful result*. It ia a pleasant Sight which meets the eye of the visitor on entering the largest ol three clast rooms, with tu rows of bright, in lalllgent. healthy looking children, all alert, expectant and eager, and all showing unmaataacahly that aehool tneana to them not a drudgery ol grinding, but a place where pleasantly unparted matructiou makes study attractive —and. tttixfsMxf, w# may remark that herein lies the secret of the success achieved by tbe Manga tainoka he bool. Mr 11. Wilaon. the headmaster, la a believer more in moral than in physical force, and ia naturally very proud of the fact that since the openmg of the school this year be hasuot once had reoourse to corporal punishment. He scarcely eveu finds It necetaary to apeak to the' children Th* discipline ia remarkably good, and a look, a gesture, ia suffieiant at one# to aulorre th* wishes of the teacher#. Mr Wilson graeiouely al

slowed our representative to witness a conaiderahle portion of the ordinary school work, which, in tareating enough al all tunes, is mad* more so whan one »ee# the children enuring #o heartily into the apinu of their Instructor#. The singing—chcruae* and part song* —is correct, tuneful and clear, and displays evidence of cars and thoroughness on the part of lbs tear hare. Arithmetic—on* of the Initapanaafaf# " three K'a"—seems to be a rare Strang point, and even tba children in th* lower classes add up long column, of figure* with a rapidity and correctness that would delight th* heart fvan of a tieorgs Bidder. Amongst the amarteet

pupils in this particular course era esvaral Mil* Maori bora who speedily proved themselves to be equal, if not superior, to their while brethren in aptitude and ability. Th* writing ol the whole school ia dutiacttie. the importance of keeping every stroke parallel being impressed on every scholar with gratifying reauita. In th* reel unions there waa a total absence Df the " sing song" style wliich too frequently characterises aehool childrens efforts tn this direction. Tbe same order and dtacipiui* ware maintained in the lower division*, and hare. too. th* work waa equally pleasing No effort is spared to Interest th* pupils in tbair studies A small tnuasum occupies a place in the school, and contains anaxaellanl collection of mass la. etc., calculated to prove of real .y-iff m familiarising the children with tbs .peeie* of the winged world around them. Great interest is taken in the outdoor sports of the scholars, and an organised swimming school ia one of the after-hour extra* which flourish*# under tb* care of th* teachers. Our represent* thro waa able to accompany the children on a visit to the river and was surprised to find that even the very small fry could swim almost aa wall as their elder*. In horizontal bar exercise* th* boys are trained by Mr Frank WUaon. and really do tbair instructor great credit. The .■aching -tafl of th* school consist# at Mr H. Wilson fhaadmasisr). Mu* Godfrey. Miss Wilson, and Maaara J. Cowl*# and F. W!l*ou. Tb* Mangatainoka people hav* every reason to be proud of their -.*##l and of the *ucc##* achieved by the teaching staff.