c.—i

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REPORT ON DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOLS. Sib, — „ Education Office, Timaru, 12th February, 1902. We have the honour to submit the following report on the higher work of the district high schools: — Thirty scholars took part in the examination at Waimate, the subjects being English, Latin, French, Euclid, algebra, arithmetic, botany, and heat. Twenty-four scholars were in the botany class, and were examined orally. Papers were set in the other subjects. In written work eight scholars were examined in seven subjects, thirteen in six subjects, seven in five subjects, and two in four subjects. Twenty-three scholars were examined at Temuka, the subjects in which papers were set being English, Latin, French, Euclid, algebra, and arithmetic. Eight scholars were examined in six subjects, seven in five subjects, seven in four subjects, and one in three subjects. Throughout the year instruction was given in chemistry to all, and in book-keeping to a few of the scholars.

Waimate.

English. —Of thirty scholars examined in English, twenty-four obtained marks ranging from 60 to 90 per cent., a result that speaks well for the thoroughness of the preparation. The members of the class were subjected to an oral examination to test their knowledge of the language and incidents of " The Tempest," and in this, as in the written work, they answered with intelligence and accuracy. Latin. —Only four scholars out of twenty-six examined in Latin earned less than 50 per cent, of the available marks, and seventeen earned over 70 per cent. These results are eminently satisfactory. French. —Nine pupils out of twenty examined in French gained marks ranging from 80 to 91 per cent., and only two pupils gained less than 60 per cent. This is an admirable result. Euclid. —The general result in this subject was highly creditable to teacher and pupils. While several papers were excellent, there was not one that could not be considered quite satisfactory.

Subject. Course. Number of Pupils. Average Marks per Cent. Work done during the Year. English Senior 5 73 (1) Mason's Outline of English Grammar; (2) Higher-grade English (history of the language, composition, and figures of speech); (3) Nichol's Composition ; (4) The Tempest, Acts I., II., III., and IV. (1) Nesfield's Grammar and Composition, pages 1 to 106, and 119 to 264; (2) The Tempest, Acts L, II., III., IV. (1) Nesfield's Grammar and Composition, pages 1 to 106; (2) The Tempest, Acts 1., II, III., and IV. (1) Via Latina ; (2) Tutorial Latin Eeader ; (3) sight translation; (4) easy continuous prose ; (5) De Amicitia. (1) Via Latina, to page 142, with irregular verbs in Appendix I, ; (2) Caesar, Book I., chapters 1 to 20. Via Latina, to page 82. Via Latina, to page 39. Matriculation standard. (1) Chardenal's Book I., to exercise 206; (2) Macmillan's French Eeader, to page 10. (1) Chardenal's Book I., to exercise 136 ; (2) Macmillan's French Eeader, to page 10. Chardenal's Book I., to exercise 82. Advanced arithmetic. Commercial arithmetic. Quadratic equations, problems, evolution, and surds. Fractions, equations of the first degree, and problems. Factors, H.C.F., L.C.M., and easy simple equations. Definitions, brackets, and the four simple rules. Books III. and IV., with easy deductions. Books I. and II., with easy deductions. Book I., with easy deductions. Book I., to proposition 26, with definitions, &c. Dr. Stewart's Elementary Heat, to page 102. Middle 13 69 Junioi' 12 63 Latin Advanced 5 63 Second 4 78 First, Sec. II. „ Sec. I. Advanced Second 7 10 1 4 66 73 57 73 French First, See. II. 5 75 Arithmetic „ Sec. I. Senior Junior Third 10 17 13 5 78 69 70 81 Algebra ... Second 5 90 First, Sec. II. 7 92 luclid „ Sec. I. Third Second First, Sec. II. „ Sec. I. 13 2 8 7 11 13 93 55 80 71 88 57 "eat