WANGANUI EDUCATION BOARD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12587, 17 August 1910, Page 7

WANGANUI EDUCATION BOARD.

CHIEF INSPECTOR'S REPORT.

Tho following is the Chief Inspector's report submitted to the Education Board on Monday evening:—

I have the honour to present my report for the period commencing July 18th and ended August 13th.

PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Inspections. —48 reports are submitted. The Inspectors agree in describing tho work of the schools as being on the whole satisfactory, a specially good feature being the manner in which all tho classes read at sight. Discipline and tone are in every case 'Commented on in favourable terms and the manner in which tho strictly rural schools arc adapting themselves to their environment is commended. The outstanding defects observed.were: (1) Cases of unsatisfactory oral answering; flatness in this respect connotes unintelligent teaching. (2) Weakness in mental arithmetic, which has unquestionably becomo a feature of too many schools, and (3) an evident disinclination on the part of some teachers to tackle the subject of drawing in downright earnest. It is easy to understand that a want ot artistic capacity often stands between teachers and success, but it is not this lack that ia complained of; it is the want of a determination to do what is possible especially in connection with the mechanical parts of the subject. The Nasal Twang.—Mr. Strong reiterates his objections to the "nasal twang" which has become only too prevalent in our Primary Schools. If an antidote to this vocal disorder cannot be provided by our schools, it will hot be found anywhere, and the impurity will become a national characteristic, to ovr national detriment. It would be> well to invito tho co-operation of the teachers in an endeavour to eliminate the habit. . m Saturday Instruction Classes.—Ths Instructor's report favourably on the work and progress of the students. The classes on tho whole are well, attended, some of the teachers making no little sacrifice to participate in the benefits vhich they confer. Some are studying «ith a view to gaining their certificates, some with a view to immediate improvement in their school work, and Ecmo to meet and exchange views with their fellows and find needed relief from the week's (sointiines) monotonous toil. Instruction of Pupil-teachers.—The reports sent in would seem to indicate ibat the pupil-teachers,-without exception almost, are devoting themselves to their studies and school duties with commendable.--assiduity. MANUAL AND TECHNICAL. Manual—The reports c-f the visiting Instructors in woodwork, cookery, agriculture and dairying indicate that theclasses at the various centres are making satisfactory progress. Mr. Clark calls special attention to the excellent attendance and conduct of tho classes from tho District High and Queen's Park Schools. Such a report must bo resarcled as being indirectly an undoubted testimony to the tone of the schools themselves. Mr. Grant and Mr. Browne have something to say regarding their work at tho Primary Schools and also regarding the special course in agriculture at tho District High Schools. In the words of Mr. Browne the Instructors appear "to be getting into their stride" in the work of secondary instruction in agriculture. Technical.—Mr. Browne is well satisfled with the attendance and progress of the pupils at Haw-era. In the country centres there appears to be some slackening, due, ho thinks, to the unsatisfactory nature of the weather during the month. A new class, electricity, has been started at Hawera with an'excellent attendance. For the present, instruction in .bee-keeping has been discontinued but Mr. Browne states that the classes in this subject havo been a credit to the school. _ For tho purpose of increasing the efficiency of the Hawera school the A. and P. Association there has donated the sum of £10, tho Town Council the sum of £20. and the County Council the sum of £20. We may take it that these generous donations express on the part of ths donors an appreciation of the school's efforts to increase the productive capacity of the youth of the district. Mr. Watkin, -from his district states that the attendances at the schools continue to be satisfactory, but lie expresses at the same time regret that some of the trado classes are .so poorly attended. Young people naturally discount tho future, but the young fellow who pulls himself up with tho question, "How shall I stand with respect to my business in 10 or 20 years' time," will do nvoro for himself and society than ho who adopts a policy of "drift." Mr. Varney notes the continued well-being of the Wa.nganui and other schools in his district. A lecture given on woolclassing by a London buyer was well attended, and a class of about 30 pupils has been formed in Wanganui. The Martou Borough Council has donated tho .sum of £10 towards the funds of the Technical School, an act of appreciation which will do something to encourage- the committee to continue their somewhat uphill fight. Two remarks of a. general nature may perhaps be made: First, an examination of the subjects now taught, as compared with thoso taught four years ago, reveals the fact that the purely technical sido <;f the movement has gained insir.on&sly; .md. second, though one meets with, an nca'-irnial sceptic, the testimony that the instruction given in woolcla.ssing is jiroving beneficial, especially to the smaller farmers, is overwhelming. Tho iollk at the three 'centres are ns follows:—North, 355; centre, 1,6-jJ; south, 373,