WAIOTAHI CREEK SCHOOL.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1822, 4 November 1874, Page 2

WAIOTAHI CREEK SCHOOL.

Mr. R. J. O'Sullivan, Inspector of Sgliools, and several gentlemen interested in education, members of school committees, &c, visited the Waiotahi Creek School to-day. The able teacher, the Key. Mr. Brown, put his scholars through various exercises, in the whole of which the admirable system which he has adopted for imparting instruction was noticeable. As mentioned the. other day in our columns, the school building was originally, intended to accommodate sixty children, and the daily average attendance is now more than double that number. The consequence of this state of things is that the schoolroom is crowded, and the proper working of the school impaired. The District Engineer, it may bo mentioned, is about to have certain alterations made in the ventilation of the building, the want of which would otherwise have seriously undermined the health of the pupils during the hot weather. It is evident to a casual observer that Mr. Brown has a capital system of teaching and discipline. The children seemed never to have their eyes off him, and if one spoke or shuffled his feet, on the teacher demanding to know which little one offended, a small hand held out at arm's length indicated the offender. Mr. Brown varies his lessons, and even relieves the monotony of any lesson by a recourse to calisthenics. If any of the pupils during the progress of a lesson show signs of weariness or languor a smart exercise of." hands up " " down" "front." &c, rouses them and prepares them for giving renewed attention to their business. In imparting a knowledge of music under the tonic solfa system Mr. Brown would appear to have been pre-eminently successful. The little' ones to-day gave ample evidence of this. They sang pieces at sight; sounded different notes by "blocks," (divisions of the school) with rapid changes; and sang together a number of pieces in a manner which showed that their interest had been awakened in their lessons. We believe that Mr. O'Sullivan expressed himself much pleased with the result of this visit, and we can say that the other visitors were both surprised and delighted. It seems a pity that there should be any difficulty' in the way of extending the school, becauso tho accommodation is totally inadequate to the attendance, and Mr. Brown's system is one which will admit of a larger attendance than tho ordinary means adopted to impart knowledge to young children. The Waiotahi Creek School 13 certainly attaining a high place amongst the common' schools of the district. The efforts of Mr. Brown in teaching appear to be ably seconded by Mrs. Skeen and Miss Hamilton.