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Nothing was omitted by him that could be done to enable us to carry out as completely as possible our work of inspection and examination. In the important matter of discipline and general behaviour we were very favourably impressed. There were a very few exceptional instances in the lower part of the school, chiefly in Form Lower IIIa., of a tendency to forwardness, and a lack of respectfulness of demeanour; but with these slight exceptions the discipline and tone of Ihe school throughout were excellent. We commenced our duties by inspecting the different classes while engaged in their ordinary school work under their respective masters; and we drew a very favourable conclusion as to the character of the work done generally, and especially in the Forms under the management of Mr. Francis, Mr. Kirby, Mr. Tibbs, and Mr. Hiyhton. We then proceeded to examine the different classes in the several subjects of study. Latin. The examination in Latin was conducted in the case of the Upper School classes by means of examination papers. The nature of the examination will easily be understood from the printed papers of questions. In the case of the two highest classes the standard aimed at was the matriculation standard, with the addition of a few questions such as would usually be given in the junior scholarship examinations. Judged by both these standards the work of the highest class, the Upper Fifth, was satisfactory. The highest percentage obtained was 68, and the lowest 27. Four members of this class obtained more than 60 per cent., and gave evidence not only of sound elementary training, but of intelligence and skill in dealing with the difficulties of translation, both from Latin into English and English into Latin. The competition for junior scholarships has become keen, and we do not think it would be at all wise or right to judge of any school or of any individual scholar by actual success or non-success in that examination. If the highest class in any school can produce a fair number of candidates equal or superior in attainments to the average of those who annually present themselves at the junior scholarship examinations, that is, in our opinion, all that any sensible man ought to desire. And this requirement is, we believe, satisfied by the present highest Latin class in this school. The paper of questions on grammar was designed to test the more elementary knowledge of the boys in the upper part of the school, and was given to the three highest classes. In the Upper Fifth the highest percentage obtained in this paper was 79, and the lowest 31, the average being nearly 50. The results of the examination of the Lower Fifth were very satisfactory so far as the prepared work was concerned. In the examination in Horace's Odes eight of the members of this class obtained more than 60 per cent. We were a little disappointed by their answers in work which had not been specially prepared. For instance, in the elementary grammar paper, which was, we think, quite as well suited to this class as to the Upper Fifth, the highest percentage obtained was 64, and the lowest 24, the average being a little over 40; and in the translation of some very easy unseen sentences from Latin into English the highest percentage obtained was 62, and the lowest 6, the average being 31. We observe that Horace's Odes are read by this class, partly because that subject has been selected for the Civil Service Examination. We are not well acquainted with the nature of the Civil Service Examination in Latin ; but, looking to the ultimate benefit of the boys, it is, we think, far more important that they should acquire correctness and facility in the use of Latin generally than that they should commit to memory—which is as much as they can be expected to do—the explanations of difficult passages in a verse-author like Horace. Taking the prepared and unprepared work together, this class passed a good examination, the average percentage obtained being over 40. In the Upper Fourth also, although not to the same extent as in the Lower Fifth, the answers given to questions in prepared work were superior to those which demanded a more general knowledge of Latin. In translating prepared passages from Caesar seven boys of this class obtained more than 70 per cent., and one as high as 90 per cent. In the elementary grammar paper—the same paper as that given to the Upper Fifth and Lower Fifth—the highest percentage obtained was 63, and the lowest 11, the average being 33. In the translation of an unseen passage from Csssar the highest percentage obtained was 64, and the lowest (with the exception of one who scarcely attempted the passage at all) was 9, the average being 33. It will be convenient here to offer the only suggestion which we have to make with regard to the Latin work of these three classes. It is that the boys should have more practice in attempting unseen passages, and that they should be encouraged to rely more on themselves, and less on the notes and explanations given in their books. We observe that the only grammar in use in this part of the school is the Public Schools Primer. From what we have seen of the work of these classes we should say that many of the boys in the highest class are quite capable of making a very good use of a more advanced grammar, using it not as a book to be committed to memory, but as a guide and a book of reference. Of the Latin paper given to the Lower Fourth two-thirds consisted of questions upon work previously done in class, and one-third of questions outside of the 'prepared work. In this class also the answers in the prepared work were very good. The highest percentage obtained on the whole paper was 77, and the lowest 26, the average being 52. The boys in this class were also asked to answer the easier questions in the elementary grammar paper which had been prepared for the three higher classes, and in some cases acquitted themselves creditably. The Latin paper given to Eemove A was similar in kind and arrangement to that given to the Lower Fourth; but the results were not very satisfactory. One boy did well, obtaining 65 per cent, on the whole paper, and two others obtained over 50 per cent. ; but the average percentage was lower than we should have expected, being only 39; and there was in many cases an appearance of carelessness and slovenliness in the work done.

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