E.—IB

32

Object-lessons are given in nearly every school, and with considerable effect in some; but in the majority of cases they do not receive that amount of attention they merit. Their purpose does not always seem to be understood. Their main object should be to train the pupils to think and reason, and not merely to cram them with a number of facts. A plan of every lesson to be given ought to be thought out by the teacher, and he should so introduce it to the notice of his pupils, by making calls on what knowledge they already possess, that they may be led to discover new facts for themselves. Books on object-lessons are numerous, and many of them give excellent hints and present good models; but the plan of a lesson must be arranged in, and take as it were the shape of, the teacher's own mind, before he is likely to present it to his pupils in a sufficiently interesting form to attract their attention. A lesson that fails to command attention and arouse the interest of a class ought to be reckoned more or less a failure. Composition shows very fair progress indeed. In several schools good specimens are produced. Still, much requires to be done before this subject reaches the degree of excellence to be desired. But, as more attention is being directed to the subject, and greater facilities afforded for the acquirement of the art, higher results may reasonably be expected. I have, &c, "William Taylor, The Secretary, Otago Education Board. Inspector of Schools.

3.—Mr. Petrie's Report on District High Schools. Sib,— Education Office, Dunedin, 31st March, 1882. I have the honor to submit my report on the District High Schools for the year 1881. Only two of the four District High Schools were examined, viz., those at Milton and Lawrence. The Oamaru District High School had closed for the annual holidays before I could overtake its examination. The rector has, however, supplied me with a statement of the extra branches, and of the work done in each, which I embody in this report. About the middle of the year the rector of the Port Chalmers District High School resigned, and temporary arrangements were made for carrying on the work to the end of the year. The extra branches were then allowed to fall into abeyance, and at the end of the year it was not thought necessary to hold any special examination.

Tokomairiro District High School. —Examined December, 1881.

Lawrence District High School. —Examined December, 1881.

Subject. Class. No. No. Taught. 'Examined. Work done. jatin I. 6 4 Virgil, Book I.; Sallust's Catiline; Easy Translation into Latin ; Grammar. Virgil, Book I.; Grammar. Principia Latina, Part I., 75 pages. ,, „ Part I., 49 pages. Ann's First Reader, 79 pages ; Grammaire des G-ram-maires, 136 pages. Ann's First Course, 89 pages. Richard II., in Nelson's Series; Dr. Smith's Grammar ; History from 1714 to present time. Euclid, Books I., II., III., IV., and VI. „ I., II., and III. Todhunter's for Beginners, and Hamblin Smith's. To end of Quadratics. Simple Rules and Factoring. Todhunter's for Beginners, and Hamblin Smith's. Todhunter's for Beginners, first six chapters, and the Solution of Triangles. French II. III. IV. I. 2 4 9 G 2 4 9 5 Inglish II. I. 12 22 11 20 Geometry . ... ilgebra I. II. III. I. II. III. I. II. 3 11 8 12 10 9 12 10 2 LO 8 10 10 9 10 10 'rigonometry...

iatin Vench Inglish I. II. III. I. II. III. I. 2 6 8 5 1 9 10 2 6 8 5 1 8 9 Cffisar, in S.S.B.A. Series; Grammar; and Principia Latina, Part IV., 47 pages. Principia Latina, Part II., Fables and Anecdotes; and Part I., 97 pages. Principia Latina, Part I., 36 pages. Aim's Second Course, to Exercise 100; De Jardin's Eeader, to page 198. Ahn's Erst Course. Aim's First Course, to Exercise 70. Richard II., in Nelson's Series ; and English Language, its History and Structure, in ditto. Euclid, Books I., II,, III., and IV., with Easy Exercises on Book I. Euclid, Books I. and II. Euclid, Book I. Todhunter's for Beginners, 229 pages. „ „ 120 pages. „ „ 41 pages. Jeoinetry I. 3 3 Jgebra II. III. I. II. III. 2 10 2 9 24 2 9 2 9 24