REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS, 1879.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 120, 28 March 1879, Page 2

REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS, 1879.

(From the New Zealand Times,)

Mount Cook Infant Sciioou

This school was opened in January, 1878, I and at the date of my last report was for the first time being thoroughly organised by Mrs Francis, who had then been but a very short time in charge. The building is large, lofty, and well suited for its purpose. It consists of a milin-room with galleries, paraeol desks and largo draft space, two class rooms with dual desks, and a babies' room with galleries. I examined the school at the end of September, spending nearly a week in the work. The attendance during the summer mont hs lias'since very largely increased, and the building is now fully occupied. The school is admirably managed and thoroughly well taught. As an iustitutionin connection with graded boys, and girls' schools, its value cannot be over-estimated. The pleasant awakeningof the mental faculties by the Kindergarten system of teaching, the cheerfulness inculcated by the singing lessons and object lessons, the habits of discipline and order engendered by the marching and action songs, and the ordinary easy routine of the school work, cannot fall to mould better material for our graded schools, and save much of the Avcarißomc clrudgcry of Al3 C work. The children who are nearly all under seven y«ars of age, are taught to read from wooden blocks, reading sheets, and books—one upper class of about 50 being able to read monosyllabic narrative. The same class writes easy dictation in very good form. Eleven children passed Standard I. last September and twen-ty-three others very recently. Writing is taught on the Mulhiiuser system by analysis of letters. Multiplication tables are known to the end of five times, and the oral instructions is systematic and ably imparted to largo gallery-classes chiefly by the headmistress. Perhaps'the most striking feature in the school is the accurate singing from notes taught by the use of the modulator. Theehildreneansingoverthirtysongs. Much credit is to Mrs Francis forthepains she takes to instruct her assistants,' several of whom are fast becoming efficient infant teachers,

MOUNT COOK OIRLS 1 SUIMOL

I am pleased to report that this large girls' school ns a separate institution is a success, and that the education imparted is quite satisfactory, The division of the school into upper and lower with a responsible teacher in each' room has tended to increased efficiency. The teaching power is above the average of large schools. Although in some respects the management does not compare favorably with that of the best ordered mixed schools, the adinirab.e tone which obtains throughout the whole is a good set off against any want of masculine organization. During the seven days of the examination I was much impressed withthequict manners, with the gentle and respectful bearing of the older girls, and with the happy faces of tile whole school, Nothing in the management of the school appeared harsh or distasteful to the pupils, The work was sound and showed marked progress during the year, This was especially noticeable in the lower school under Miss Depereux, as that portion of' the school last year was the least satisfactory division of the school, The reading of this school deserves especial mention, The

excellent style and refined enunciation oi the pupils in the higher class showed' TCry • fill and very able teaching on the!'put of Mrs Tarn.. The arithmetic of the lower jjehool ' was particularly good; and -the .workgenerally, throughout the whole school was more than satisfactory, except tlmt the oral tticliing, [as to the word meaning an'd-'-subject matter of the readers, will require more attention next year. Tje school 'is now well arranged in two large loomß with two class rooms. Parallel desks are used throughout' the school. Needlework is taught throughout. There was room for more accurate classification, and the head mistress, should he a' little better acquainted with all the "classes, There is an increase of G2 girls on the books (luring the year. Tlicre arc nearly threo times as many gifls classed in Standard work this year aslast year. ' MOUNT COOK BOYS' SCHOOL. This large school, consisting of two main rooms G2 feet by 22 each and six class rooms, was erected a year ago in the heart of this | rapidly increasing part of tne city. • During the past year the school has fairly filled, showing an average attendance of 540 ; but many of the new comers, alfjiougji of good school age, had received very littlo previous instruction. Tho inevitable result is that the present actual standard of tlieSfchiol is low. It has been a work of no inconsiderable labor : to classify, organize, and drill into,'habits'of discipline such large numbers, with a teaching staff for the most part untrained, There lias also been much experimental change in the methods' adopted, in the time tables, and in the the disposition of the teaching power. It can thou hardly be wondered at that the head master at present is not so well acquainted with his .classes as I could have wished, insoinucli;tiiatin6oinecasescandidatosforthreedif. Jerent standard's came up from the same class. Thehead master has a Herculean task ■to perform. He is energetic, and has shown himself a'thoroughly efficient master of a moderately sized ■school, 1-liave full confidence in his ability, if ho can succeed in carrying with him the sympathy of his teachers. The reading at present shows little expression, but the writing, arithmetic, and dictation arc already generally good. The oral instruction, especially in geography and word knowledge, was frequently deficient. This is the only school in which the system of teaching leading by monitors on the plan of the British and foreign Society is adopted. The boys are well drilled to form line and march, and elemcntry drawing and singing are taught. Considering the fact that this , school has increased from 2G2 to 518, during the year, the condition is satisfactory, and promises improved results next year, as the school has not been classed too high, Twofifths of the pupils are bolow Standard I„ but over 400 have been in school less than one year, The examination occupied eight days,

TERRACE SCHOOL. Tho number on the hooks has increased from 201 to 2/1). The building which consists of two large rooms and two class rooms, with suitable cap. rooms and lavatories, is very convenient, and the school is particularly well appointed in its interior and exterior appliances. This is a mixed school taught by a very efficient staff of teachers, working with true sympathy and singleness of aim. The results are highly satisfactory as evidenced by the fact, that there are 200 children of age for Stan-', dard work, and 20G have actually obtained classification, half that number being classed higher than Standard 11. Tho excellent reading and grammatical knowledge of Standards IV.. V., and VI, deserves special commendation, The painstaking teaching of Miss Beresford, in the lower department, and the even and effective teaching of Mrs Young and Mr Watson in the middle of the school, tokl well in the results, I was lint able to pass the writing of certain Standard V. candidates without a caution, nor was the spelling and Geography of Standard 111, candidates all that could be desired. During the six examination days I noticed that there was much life in the school, that kind and good influences were brought to bear in the teaching, that the manners and general bearing of the scholars were-commendable, and that a wholesome atmosphere appeared to surroundflie whole work. The intelligence of tho children is thoroughly awakened" and a strong spirit of emulation is manifest, Drawing, physiology', and physical science are taught, special attention being given bv Mr Young to the teaching of elementary science. I consider this school in a high state of efficiency, and exceedingly well managed,