BOARD OF EDUCATION.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 4909, 18 January 1889, Page 4

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

THE SCHOIAESHIP EXAMINATIONS. The Eev. G. Barclay, as convenor of the Scholarship Committee for the year, reported as follows: — “ The examination commenced on December 26th, 1888, and closed on December 29th, the supervision having bean performed by the Inspector. The examiners were the Inspector, Mr M. Gray, Dr Barclay, and the Eevs. Archibald, Barclay, Smyth, and White, The candidates for the board’s scholarships were 17 in number. In addition one pupil was examined as a candidate under the regulations of Waimate High School Board of Governors. The schools represented were only 8, out of a total of 50 schools. “ The examiner in history reports as follows :— ‘ The history this year has been tolerably well done in the junior section, ranging from some lower percentages to 89, and in the senior section to 92 per cent. In some cases very great confusion seems to exist in the minds of the children as to the nature, order, relations, and chronology of certain important events. Any questions relating to the history of New Zealand do not seem to be answered with any great accuracy or fullness.’

“ The examiner in geography reports : ‘ The geography this year does not show any great advance on that of former years. The highest percentage is in the junior geography, 72; while that in the senior is 71. Very great mistakes occur in answers relating to population, distances, and areas; only one candidate answered the question relating to the latitude and longitude of New Zealand.’ “ The examiner in grammar reports as follows: In looking over the papers of the candidates, I find some questions, though easy and within the subject, wholly passed over. The parsing and analysis seem to be what the candidates are best trained in. The questions affecting literature and some ‘ outline facts in literature ’ are very lightly dealt with. The highest percentage in the junior department is 73, and.in the senior department 76. Subject to these remarks, the papers were on the whole fairly well done.’ “The examiner in arithmetic remarks :

‘ Most of the candidates know something of the different questions presented for solution, but do not seem to have spent sufficient time (at school) on the different rules,’' “ The examiner for Euclid and Algebra reports : —‘ Both subjects seem to be well taught, and intelligently understood by the candidates. In Euclid Maggie Miller, a candidate for Waimate High School scholarship examination only, does a faultless paper with great neatness and care. In most of the others what is attempted is generally done well, but the writing and method of expression is untidy. In algebra the papers are done well, but as in Euclid, neater writing would make the work more intelligible.’ “ The examiner for Latin remarks : —* With the exception of Mathews the other candidates appear to be well grounded. Maggie Miller’s paper is exceptionally good. She made very few mistakes, hut omitted some verbs in

* construing. The other candidates made mistakes in giving the genders of nouns and their declensions, questions which I think they ought to have answered correctly.’ “In reporting on science the examiner says :—‘ The papers set in the science subjects of your syllabus this year have been well answered, showing an improvement, I think,-on former years, taking into account the fact that no optional questions were allowed in the papers. The questions have been answered to the point, and the answers are shortly and succinctly stated, showing a better grasp of the subject than was apparent in former years. In many cases those who have written the shortest papers have obtained the most marks. The three candidates who took the, senior papers made satisfactory percentages. The juniors show a more marked improvement. James Gore, Ned Harris, Robert Wood, and James Jefcoate all did good papers, while Elizabeth Cormaok (11 years) did a very satisfactory paper, and Agnes Balfour answered well the questions she attempted. The average for the seniors for the past three years stands thus: — Eor 1887, 70 per cent; for 1888, 54 ; for 1889 (no optional questions allowed) 54. The average of the juniors similarly stands thus : 1887, 43 ; 1888, 38; 1889 (no optional questions), 45. Thus, apart from the special merits of the best candidates, a general improvement in the science teaching is apparent.’ “Only one candidate (Maud Lawrell) was examined in French, and in this case the examiner says t —‘ Except in translating English into French this candidate has passed a very good examination.’ “ The examiner in reading, writing, spelling, and drawing, says : ‘ The reading of all the candidates was fluent and fairly expressive, but a few marks were deducted in nearly every case for indistinct articulation, and for inability on the part of candidates to give the meaning in their own words of phrases from the passage read. The majority of candidates did well in spelling. A few of the specimens of writing are deserving of special notice, conspicuous among them being Emma Thompson’s and Margaret Miller’s. The freehand drawing is the heat I have received at a scholarship examination. In geometrical drawing, two of the junior boys acquitted | themselves well, but the senior boys did badly. The candidates who elected to take model drawing went very far astray in a simple exercise for want of some knowledge of the first principles of perspective. Margaret Miller’s perspective exercise was correct.’ “Full tables are appended showing the names of candidates, the number of marks assigned in each subject, &c,” From the tables we give the names and totals of marks, by request omitting names of candidates who failed to obtain half the total marks, or one-fourth for any one subject. Seniors (total marks 1150). Scholar. School. Marks. Maud Lawrell Timaru 795 C. Meredith Temuka 662 Pleasant Point 587 Maggie Miller was examined under the same conditions as the above, as a candidate for the Waimate High School Board’s Scholarship, arid gained 635 marks.

The number of scholarships to be given depend, to some extent, upon the residence of the scholars, and as inquiries have to be made on this point, the scholarships cannot be allotted till next meeting.

JTJNI0H8 (total marks, 800). Scholar. School. Marks E. T. Wood ... Timaru 573 W, J. E. Gore ... Geraldine 572 T. McEenzie ... Timaru 512 Jessie McLeod ... Orari 8. 473 Emma Thompson ... Pleasant Point,. 460 P. Harris ... Woodbury 448 .Agnes Balfour ... Totara Valley .. 421 Lilian Brown ... Temuka 418 — ... Pareora 391 — ... Woodbury 377 — ... Geraldine 360 — ... Geraldine 355 — ... Temuka 350 — ... Geraldine 326