EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS FOR THE YEAR 1880-81.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 743, 14 April 1881, Page 2

EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS FOR THE YEAR 1880-81.

ATTENDANCE. The attendance of scholars at the annual examination this year was 5,488, or an increase of 468 for the year. Last year the increase on the previous year was 901, and the year before 1023. The falling off in the rate of increase may partly be accounted for the restriction put upon infant departments in large schools during the year, children being no longer admitted under five years of age, Some of tho_ schools, however, show a decided falling off, as for example Featheraton and tho Upper Hutt. In these places the examination attendance, which is nearly always the best muster a school makes, fell off from 160 and 130, to 122 and 84 respectively. This was caused by the completion of railway works, and the consequent immigration of a portion of the population. The increase in the examination attendance at the oity schools is 574, exceeding that of the whole district, and thus proving that the country schools in themselves show no increased attendance for the year.

STANDAKD RESUITB, For the purpose of comparing Standard results, in my examination returns I shall retain the classification • of the schools initiated in my last report,' The schools may thus he classed :-8 City schools, each on an averagpfal tended by' 430 children—3439; 9, district town schools, each on an average attended by 192 children—l72s; 17 country schools, each on average attended by 61 obildren -862; 9 rural schools, each on an average attended by 27 Total 6266 children. - _ In the city schools 1934 were presented in Standards, of whom 82 per cent' passed—lsßo; district.town schools, 1008 presented, 75 -perj cent, passed—7o6 •' country soHodls, .492' presented, 73 per cent passed-360; rural schools, 161 Bented,,6s per cent; passed-104.'. In all; 3595- Presented; 76.6 'per' cent; passedl--7A^aß t' ye / r 3227 were preßentld'

best, results were this year obtained all Carterton and Greytown; and, with the exception of Standard IV. work, the . Masterton results were highly satisfactory.-- Taita shows a good classification, ana the 1 work generally wa» of a very satisfactory order, although the percentage of passes this m\ was not -bM. The present.condition of the Olaretolle School is far from: good, but I ctSlnot look upon.it as unsatisfactory when the difficulties which the'management- encountered are 'duly considered. The school has suffered from the withdrawal of the Assistmt Mistress.for the past three months; from the interruption for a further three months, to sohoolwork caused by the, building : •of 'additional accommodation; and from'tfie temporary closing of the school by the School. Committee pending the settlement of a local grierance. I shall,'.however, expect better results another year if the master be allowed a fair field. .The 1 Lower Hutt School, made fair passes, and the general condition is satisfactory. la the Greytown School the class presented in Standard.lV. .',by the assistant'mistress, J did remarkably well, 26 candidates ing out of 27. Many of the candid!; presented at the Upper Hutt, and Featherston failed; and very much of the work, in the first two sohooli was unsatisfactory. The work of the first assistants at Masterton and Featherston was deplorably weak in both cases. At Masterton six .candidates of good ages failed in Standard IV., who also failed last year in the same work under the same teacher. At Featherston the • assistant master presented 24 candidates for Standard 111, of whom 10 passed; and 14 for Standard IV;, : of whom only one passed. Many of the 14, Standard IV. pupils failed in three or four subjects, and everyone of them in arithmetic. My remarks on the management of the city schools apply with equal force to the District Town Schools. lam of opinion that much better work should ba expected from many of the assistant teachers.-. The teaching of the Infant Departments at Featherston, Carterton, Greytown and Masterton I found much improved in method and effectiveness. The reading at Masterton is still the best in'thi district for intonation, expression and fluency. Of the Standard VI. candidates all six obtained full marks for reading, Carterton reading is also fairly cultivated, but the reading at Kaiwarra, Upper Hutt and Olareville is almost devoid of expression. Writing was best taught at Carterton and Taita; and very badly neglected at the Upper Hutt and Kaiwarra. Spelling is a weak subject in the same subjects, and also at Featherston, where, however, • it, is improving in some clasw; •A'rrJiVirM. l io., TOB -weak, and presented in a very slovenly lfoem in the upper classes at Kaiwarra; it.wuTatfo"--badly taught in the two higher olasses at Featherston. In most of the other schools, and especially at Carterton, the arithmetical work was satisfactory.

_ In all the District Town Schools UM. ing in given in Borae subjects standards—Pair instruction in d'hwi* is given in all of them. Needlework is taken ap at.the Lower Hult, Maaterton, Clareville, Carterton,Greyt6wn, Featherston, and Kaiwara, the work at Carterton and Greytown being best presented, . Physical science was touched upon in five sohools with only moderate results. The Maaterton and Lower Hutt Schools are under new and effioieht management. Much of the very creditable work at Carterton must be attributed to the late Master, but the school appears in no danger of suffering from his promotion. (To.be continued,)

The following was the presentment of the District Town Schools in the Standards :— Standard, Presented. Passed. Failed. I. 241 184 57 II. 257 210 47 ' III. 211 146 65 IV. 194 121 73 V. 65 24 41 VI. 40 21 19 HSU