West Coast Times. TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 1880.

West Coast Times, Issue 3412, 9 March 1880, Page 2

West Coast Times. TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 1880.

The Schoel Inspector's report for the year ended 31st of December last, is a docHtnent worthy of the careful persual of the Board of Education, of the members of local committees throughout the district, and of every teacher iv Westland. Mr Smith's reports have ! always denoted that much care has i been bestowed upon them, and that he thoroughly understands the subjects dwelt upon by him. In the report j just published, he prefaces, by informing the Board that all the schools, ! except those in the southern part of the district, have been visited at least twice during the year, one visit haying been made without notice, for the purpose of observing the work of the school under ordinary conditions, and the other, of which due notice was given, for the purpose of holding the Annual Result Examination. Mr Smith has also, in the course of the past year, made prolonged visits to several schools to assist teachers iv improving their organisation and methods of teaching. He also had to take charge of one important school for several weeks, in order that it might not fee closed during the interval between the departure of one head teacher and the arrival of his successor. The remainder of the Inspector's time has been employed in preparing examination papers for, and supervising, the first scholarship examination j in supervising, at the request of the Inspector General, the examination of teachers in March last ; in preparing papers for the examination of schools according to the Hew standards ; and papers for the pupil teachers' examiuation ; in examining and marking the work of scholars and pupil teachers, preparing and tabulating tbe result of both, and in rendering assistance occasionally to the secretary. Mr Smith points out that tho past year has been one of severe trial for the cause of education in this district, and referring to the effect of the changes the Board was compelled to wake at the close of the preceding year, he shows that twelve teachers, who were then in the service of the Board, have since left the district, and have obtaiaed more profitable situations in other parts of the Colony. Many of these teachers, we are told by Mr Smith, were among the most efficient in the district, and "even assuming that their successors are persons ef equal ability, the occurrence of so many changes in the school staffs, each change being attended by a longer or shorter interregnum, cannot but have had a retarding effect upon the general progress of schools bo affected." The experiment of half-time schools, it appeari by (he report, has completely failed, the parents having in these districts, after six months' trial, elected to take advantage of the 88th clause of tho Act, and thereby establish full-time schools, though the progress as yet made in these schools is not very favorably reported upon. Taking into consideration the great difficulty of retaining the services of efficient male teachers for such schools, the Inspector advises the Board to build small cottages, and as vacancies arise to invite applications from female teachers, who, he thinks, might be induced to accept such appointments if suitable residences were provided ; but we oannet concur in the suggestion that " possibly thoso schools might supply an outlet for the pupil teachers, who, at the expiration of the present year, will have completed their term of service," The trained pupil teachers, if they be deserving of promotion at all, after their long service, should have something better offered them than an appointment to a school under the 88th clause. The Inspector has entered opposite each school, under the heading of " Remarkt," ' a statement of any circumstances that have come to his knowledge, which have acted unfavorably upon the school's progress. Taking a. general view of 'the' present condition oFelementftry education in Wostland, Mr Smith express himself, satisfied

' that, on the whole, there is much that is gratifying in the prospeqt, and says, f c notwithstanding the departure of many excellent teachers, and the temporary arrest of progress which every change of teachers necessarily involves, the majority of the schools have done remarkably well at the recent examination. In nearly all cases where the results are unsatisfactory, it; can be shown that the want of efficiency is mainly due to circumstances beyond the control of the present teachers." After furnishing some useful hints respecting the needlework classes, the Inspector remarks that tho order and discipline of nearly all the schools are quifce as good as can be expected, or perhaps desired. Military drill has been attempted at only four schools in the district, namely, Greymoutb, Ross, Kanieri and Kumara. At Greymoash, the boys in the three upper classes are taught company drill, and Mr Smith says that they execute their movements with admirable precision. At Ross,. the boys and girls, in separate squads, are taught squad drill, and are reported as acquitting themselves very creditably. Besides the ordinary subjects of the programme, particular mention is made ef thirty pupils who were presented at the Hokitika School for examination in Human Anatomy and Physiology, nearly all of wkom showed considerable knowledge of the subject. Twenty scholars who were presented for examination in Elementary Astronemy at the Kumara School, are also mentioned, though only three successfully passed. Attention is directed to the fact of the Board having procured a supply of the necessary text books, and the Inspector suggests that all schools, having two or more adult teachers, should be required to take up »3me branch of elementary scien«e during the ensuing year, The report speaks highly of the success achieved in the teaching of vocal music, at Ross and Hokitika, but it would appear that the teaching ©f vocal music is not very popular with the parents, and, particularly is this noticeable at Kumara, where the parents are unwilling to provide their children with the- needful books. In the face ef that feeling, the propriety of the Board acting upon the suggestions of the Inspector, iv regard to offering a bonus, or incurring expense for coach fares for teachers and pupil teachers to attend singing classes, is somewhat questionable. In regard to the teacher's naoral influence over his scholars, the Inspector throws out some very sensible suggestions, based upon his own lengthened experience. He lucidly points out, that however well the mental powers may be trained and developed, the outcoino will, assuredly, bo disappointing, unless the moral perceptions are also brought into activity, and honorable feelings implanted and fostered. As the Inspector rightly says, it will be a matter of little moment to the community, twenty or thirty years hence whether a school passes 50 or 100 per cent of its scholars, "but it is iv the highest degree important that tbe risiug generation should be trained to the exercise of truthfulness, forbearance, self denial &c," Other subjects dealt with in the report, including corporal punishment, promotion in standards, uniformity of examinations, pupil teachers, &c, wo will notice iv au early issue.