43

E.—lb

Standards 111. and IV. It should be noted that in any comparison of class with class the adjustments of the syllabus have to be kept in view. In Standards I. and 11. the grant of a pass, as involving little more than fair mechanical proficiency in a limited group of subjects, is to be considered almost a matter of course, and the number of passes has therefore little meaning if an estimate be sought of the quality of the teaching. When we come to Standard 111. a pass means more. The range of subjects is much wider, and in some of them fair riroficiency makes much greater demands on the intelligence of both teacher and pupil. In this class drawing has for the first time been made a pass subject during the year. The addition thus made to a body of work already sufficiently heavy has seldom been allowed to affect the result; but lam bappy to say that the occasions for the exercise of indulgence have been much fewer than I had anticipated. One point of contrast in schools of group (a) and group (b), as shown in the column " Percentage of Failures" above, cannot be overlooked. The schools of the latter group hold their own very fairly up to the Third Standard, but show a difference of nearly 14 per cent, in the higher standards. Without assuming that the number of passes and failures is the full measure of a school's efficiency even in pass subjects, this may be taken as indicating that the schools are more generally on a level at the Third Standard stage ; but I cannot admit that it marks a necessary distinction, between the very large school and the school of average size in the higher standards. Group (a) occupies the position of a selected few ; group (b) is a much more varied assortment in size and quality. It is, however, somewhat remarkable that if we subdivide group (b) the proportion of failures in schools with one hundred attendants and upwards, though 5 per cent, lower in Standard IV., is 8 per cent, higher in Standards V. and VI. alike than in schools with fifty to one hundred on the roll. A type of school with one hundred to two hundred children ought not only to have a much larger proportion in the higher standards than is generally the ease in this district, but in respect of these classes ought to take a higher position in. examination records.

Table C. —Average Makes in Class and Additional Subjects.

In Table C are given the average marks in class and additional subjects for the schools examined and for the district respectively. The class marks are higher than they were in 1887; in the additional marks there is no material difference. I have, &c, W. J. Andeeson, M.A., LL.D., Inspector. The Chairman, Education Board, North Canterbury. 3. Me. Hogben's Eepoet. Sir,— Christchurch, 26th March, 1889. I have the honour to present my report for 1888 on the following schools, forming a portion of the North Canterbury District: —■ Schools examined.' — (a) In conjunction with Dr. Anderson —Seven schools, namely, Akaroa, Ashburton, Christchurch East (Gloucester Street), Christchurch West (main), Lyttelton (main), Normal School (Sydenham) ; (b) By myself alone—Forty-seven schools, namely, Annat, Aylesbury, Broadfield, Brookside, Burnham, Charing Cross, Chertsey, Christchurch East (Phillipstown), Courtenay, Dunsandel, Fendalton, German Bay (main), German Bay (side), Glentunnel, Gough's Bay, Greendale, Halkett, Irwell, Killinchy, Ivimberley, Kirwee, Kowai Bush, Kowai Pass, Eyle, Lakeside, Le Bon's Bay, Leeston (main), Leeston (side), Little Akaloa (main), Little Akaloa (side), Malvern, Okain's Bay, Pendarves, Pigeon Bay (main), Pigeon Bay (side), Little Eakaia, Eiccarton, Eobinson's Bay, Eussell's Flat, Sedgmere, Selwyn, Southbridge, South Malvern, Wainui, Weedon", West Melton, Yaldhurst. Total of (a) and (6), fifty-four schools. Of the above schools the four town schools, with Ashburton, Chertsey, Kyle, Pendarves, and Phillipstown, were inspected by Dr. Anderson ; the remainder, with two exceptions, but with the addition of St. Albans (main) and (side), Barry's Bay, Darfield, Duvauchelle's Bay, French Farm, Hororata, Lyttelton (side), and Papanui, were inspected by me in the first part of the year. Some of the schools were visited more than once. Total number of schools inspected, fifty-two. The first of the tables given below shows the numbers of children presented, &c, in the several standards for each of the groups (a) and (b) just enumerated. The second table gives the corresponding proportions calculated in percentages; but the separation between the groups (a) and (b) is made only in the percentages of failures,

Class Subjects—Mi :ks, 0-100. Additional Subjects—Marks, 0-20, Subject. (a) and (6) Whole District. Subject. (a) and (b) W T hole District. Drawing History Geography Science, object lessons, &c. 39-7 44-2 56-8 42-1 39-41 40-00 54-93 41-71 Becitation Drill ... Singing Sewing Subject matter of reading lessons Extra drawing 12-6 11-7 12-1 14-2 12-0 12-5 11-2 10-2 13-8 12-1 Average "percentage on class subjects" 7-5 6-8 46-2 44-46 Average "additional marks" 58-5 57-24