REEFTON STATE SCHOOL.

Inangahua Times, Volume XI, Issue 1792, 8 December 1886, Page 2

REEFTON STATE SCHOOL.

» The annual examination of the scholars of the Reefton Sfate School was held last month, and the following report from Mr Inspector Hodgson was read at th« last meeting of the Local Committee ; — Reefton : Mr Burnham : Second master, Mr Dowling; assistants : Miss Moller, Miss Anderson, and two probationers. On roll, 264 ; present, 258. The work here throughout was far more equal than it has hitherto been, great pains having | evidently been taken to remedy the j deficiencies pointed out in last year's report. The improvement in reading, especially in the upper standards, is very marked. Much allowance ought to be made for the large class that took up the second standard — the only class that did badly. The children were so huddled together, owing to the insufficiency of the school accommodation, that it must have been impossible either to prevent copying, or to teach them effectively. Arithmetic — slate and mental — is still the strong point of the work. The spelling, geography, and history were all of good quality. The grammar of the fifth standard scholars was the worst part of the work done by the upper classes. The plan lately adopted of teaching writing by means of copies set on a blackboard instead of using headlines, has, so far, proved very successful, the handwriting, as a rule being clear and well shaped. The boys are thoroughly well drilled, and the girls are well taught, bo..h singing and needlework. W. 0. Hodgson, Inspector. Standard 6 : Number presented, 12 ; passed, 12. ' Standard - 5 : Number presented, 19 ; passed, 19. Standard 4 : Presented, 32 : passed, 29. Standard 3 : Presented, 44 ; passed, 39. Standard 2 ; Presented, 35 ; passed, 25. Standard 1 : Presented, 25 ; passed, 21. Percentage of passes, 35 j percentage of failures, 12. Class subjects, marks (0 to 100) : Drawing, 32 : history, 60 : geography, 02 ; elementary science, object-lessons, &c., 60. Percentage on class subjects, 51.