District Schools.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 532, 15 November 1890, Page 2

District Schools.

TE ARAI SCHOOL. Mr H, Hill, School Inspector, has made hia report on the above school, which shows 66 pupils were presented for examination, 29 being in the preparatory classes, 30 having passed, and 3 failed. The percentage of passes was 45 4, and of failures 8.9. Mr Hill remarks:—The six Standards contain the names of 31 pupils. They are instructed by Mr King, the master in charge, who also supervises the lower classes. The three lower classes contain 35 pupils. They are instructed by Master King, a pupil teacher of the third year. Since the date of my examination in October last year, the school has been opened 415 times, or 41£- week’. The ordinary school year consists of between forty-three and forty four weeks of actual school-keeping. No alteration has taken place in the organization of this school since the date of my previous report. The results nf my examination point to increased efficiency in the work of ths school, and the progress made by the children as shown by the Standard results is of an exceptionally satisfactory character. Of tbe 66 pupils attending. 37 were presented io Standards, 9 of them being distributed in Standards V, VI, and VII, a result reflecting much credit on the high average attainments of the pupils. In most of the Pass subjects, the Standard children acquitted themselves well, and the style of the work generally pleased me very much. In the Glass and Additional subjects also the results were very good, and altogether the school is in a high state of efficiency. A little girl, 11*7 years of age, in Standard VI, actually obtained full marks in Arithmetic, and in four of the Pass subjects she acquitted herself very well. Her papers in Grammar and Geography were below fair. The Seventh Standard pupil has passed a commendable examination. Copy books and exercise books throughout the school showed excellent training and jsupervision. Very good order and discipline are maintained, and the tone of the school with respect to diligence, alacrity, and obedience is satisfactory. The buildings are in good order and repair, the rooms are exceplionally clean and tidy, and the accommodation is just sufficient for the present requirements, but it would be well to have three or four more desks for the use of the younger pupils. I am pleased to notice that swings have been provided for the u?e of pupils. AU the records have been duly kept iu accordance with departmental requirements. The schedules accompanying this report contain the results for each pupil examined in Standards. I have to thank Mr U’ren and Mr Beaufoy for visiting the school during the progress of the examination. October 81st, 1890.

MATAWHERO SCHOOL. The following is Mr Hill’s report on the above school The schedule shows 137 children, of whom 85 passed and 14 failed The percentage of passes was 62, and of failures 14 1. The per Gentage of passes in class subjects was 75’75. The instruction of the children below Standard I is proceeding satisfactorily. The syllabus of instruction is a wide one, and the progress is very good. The teaching is sound, and the way in which the children are taught to answer questions* is excellent. Standards VI, V, IV, lll.—There are 137 pupils returned as attending the School. The upper division consists of Standards G, 5,4, and 3, containing G 8 pupils. It is in charge of Mr Harris with Misses Wright and Greene as pupil teachers. Standards 11, I, and Preparatory I. and II: The lower division consists of Standards 11, I, with the preparatory of infants’ clans. This portion of the School contains 69 pupils, and it is in charge of Miss Mackie, the mistress, with Miss Leah Greene as pupil teacher. The organisation ae shown by the above arrangements is satisfactory, and the I. Tables have been adapted to the present classification.

Note.—Since the date of my examination last year, the school has been opened 408 times or less than 41 weeks Some explanation should be sent to the Board as to why more than 11 weeks’ holidays were given to the pupils during the year. The number of pupils presented for examination in Standards was one hundred and two, or nearly 75 per cent of the whole number attending the School, whilst 68 pupils or nearly 50 per cent, of the whole were actually presented above the second Standard. Judged from this et indpoint alone the School occupies a very favorable portion as to the average attainments of the pupils. The School has suffered from a number of causes during the past year. One of the pupil teachers has been absent from School for a pariod of seven weeks, and the existence of la grippein the district caused a great falling off in the attendance a few months ago. Considering the difficulties under which the School has been carried on good progress has been made in a wide range of subjects,, and the results with few exceptions, are commendable, and in the case of the junior department, excellent. Throughout the Standards there is ample evidence that hard work has been dene, and although in a few instances, in the higher classes signs of weakness appeared, as will be found by a reference to the no fault is to be attached to the teaching staff, as-the syllabus requirements cmnot be prepared unless, pupils attend school with some degree of regularity. In Standard VI. most of the children did their work in good style, arithmetic being especially commendable. Standard V. pupils showed rigns of weakness in geography and arithmetic, and it would be well to give a little more time to the preparation of these subjects during the coming year In this Standard the style of the work in exercise books and copy books is very good, and the mapping is pf high order of merit. Standard IV. pupils on the whole have passed a very fair examination, considering that only three of those examined have made more than 400 attendances during the year. The style of the work in this Standard is satisfactory. In Standard 111. the girls are much stronger than the bpys» As the thoroughness of the work in the three higher Standards depends mainly upon the efficiency of Standard 111., I should like to see a special effort made to bring this Standard to ooonpy a higher average position than it does at present. Arrangements might be made for the mistress to lake charge of the . reading and geography in the Third Standard during the coming year. Io .the junior department I have nothing but praise to bestow. The teaching is sound and well adapted to the needs of the little oues, and the results are of a high order of excellence, No failure is recorded either iu Standard I or 11.. whilst in the former Standard four pupils gained full marks in >»each of the pass subjects. In what are known as “ Class and Additional.'’ subjects very fair marks were obtained, the improvement in singing and repetition being very satisfactory. Order and discipline are well maintained, and the tone of the school with respect to diligence and obedience is good. The manners and general behaviour of the pupils pleased me very much. The buildings are in fair order, but the side fences {require attention, The accommodation is ample for the present requirements of the district, the rooms are clean and tidy, and the apparatus and appliances are in good order and repair. The attention of the Committee is called to the following matters : — 1. The buildings, both school house and residence, require painting, 2, Picturea and diagrams of manafaotures, trades, and products (vegetable and animal) are badly wanted for the infants’ department.

3. Reading isheets are necessary for the junior class. The school records and teachers’ class books have been kept in accordance with departmental requirements* I did not examine the teachers’ regls‘er of attendance, The examination results will be found on the schedu’es accompanying his report. Gisborne, Nov. G, 1890.