GISBORNE SCHOOL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6542, 8 December 1892, Page 3

GISBORNE SCHOOL.

Tin? School Committee met last night, and dealt with a quantity of routine work. The report of the Inspector on the school was as follows : —

Standard VII in reality constitutes the upper department of the school, which is in charge of Mr E. H. Mann, B.A. Highly satisfactory work is being done by the pupils, the results in the matriculation examination of the University of New Zealand showing that the department is able to hold its own with the best secondary schools of the colony. The preparatory classes are under careful instruction, but the change in the staff that has taken place since the last examination has caused the introduction of new methods, but they have not had time to produce their full effect on the school work. There is every promise, however, that the old standard of efficiency will be maintained under the guidance of the present mistress. The main room is understaffed, and further aid is demanded. Three large classes containing 123 pupils cannot be effectively taught by two pupil teachers.

Head-master —Mr J. H. Bull, certificate D. Number belonging to the school, including the upper department— 666. Number presented in Standards— 43o, exolusire of Standard VII.

Number passed — 363, or 56 "2 per cent, of the whole number attending. Class marks— B3*7s per cent on four subjects examined.

Additional marks — 86 out of a possible 100 on five subjects.

The following remarks have reference to the examination work only, and should be read as a continuation of my inspection report which was sent to the committee in March last.

Standard .VI. — Teacher in charge, Mr Cuthbart, 2nd master, Classed C. Mr F. C. Faram assists here. Number examined, 37 ; passed, 34. This is, on the whole, a very strong class, and much of the work is of a high order of merit. The style is excellent, and the progress throughout is very satisfactory.

Standard V. — Teacher in charge, headmaster, with Mr A. N. Scotter, 4th year pupil teacher. Number examined, 44 ; passed, 37. The results in this Standard are very good. A few pupils broke down in arithmetic, but otherwise all the work shows careful preparation. The style in some of the papers is somewhat defective, it being a remnant of the same pupils when in Standard IT. In class and additional subjects the olass passed a very creditable examination.

Standard IV. — Teacher in charge, Mr J. Haughey, with Miss Bouillon, ex-pupil teacher. Number examined, 94 ; passed, 64. This is an uneven Standard, and there are an unusual number of failures. The reading lacks intelligence, and there are many failures in arithmetic. Some of the compositions also fall below fair. In other respects the results are good. In future more attention should be paid to style. The thoroughness which has characterised the work of Standard IV. at this school in former years has hardly been maintained, and I trust the master in charge will give more careful attention to the preparation of the work during the coming year. Standard lll,— Teacher in charge, Miss Evans ; with Miss Faram, ex-pupil teacher, to assist. Number examined, 73 ; passed, 68. This is a well prepared standard, and the pupils have passed a very satisfactory examination. In all the pass work good marks were gained, and the class and additional sxibjects gave evidence of careful preparation. The tone of the class is very good. The exercise books and drawing books are well done, bnt the copy books are somewhat below the old standard. The supervision should be a little more effective during the writing lessons. Standard II. — Teacher in charge, Miss Satherland, 3rd mistress. Number examined, 97 ; passed 83. The results in reading, spelling, writing, and drawing are very good, but the failures in arithmetic are somewhat unusual at this school. Generally the style •f the work is satisfactory, and as a whole the class has passed a very creditable examination. In the class and additional subjects, the children acquitted themselves well. In addition to this large standard, Miss Sutherland instructs Standard 111 in singing, with very fair success. Standard I. — Teacher in charge, Miss Matheson, Ist mistress. Number examined, 84 ; passed, 77. The standard has passed a good examination, but greater thoroughness is desirable in reading and writing, in which subjects the falling off in efficiency is marked since my examination a year ago. Excellence in each of the pass subjects should bo demanded. The copy books in too many instances show poor work. Throughout the dasß the same kind of book should be used, and the same copy should be taught at each writing lesson. General. — On the whole the school continues in admirable working order. The tone is excellent, the results very commendable, and the staff effective and earnest. All the school records have been kept according to departmental requirements. I have to thank the members of the Committee for their attendance at the school during the progress of the examination. H. Hill, 8.A., T.G.S., Inspector of Schools. It was decided that the holidays commence from to-morrow.

The Board having granted a sum of £15 it was resolved that this be expended in painting the picket fence, and that tenders be called. It was also agreed to tar the playground as far as funds will allow during the holidays.

Miss Faram was appointed extra pupil teacher for an additional twelvemonths, and Miss Steele's services as pupil teacher were also retained for another year.