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APPENDIX II.

REPORTS OF INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS.

Christchurch, April 27, 1864.

TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

SIR,—

I have the honour, in obedience to my instructions from the Board, to submit:—

A Summary Report upon the Schools examined;

A Tabular Summary of Quarterly, &c., Returns;

A Tabular Report or Schedule as to the Efficiency of the Schools examined.

The results of each examination are more particularly stated in a journal kept according to my instructions from the Board.

I am happy to acknowledge that the quarterly returns are now sent in with more regularity and accuracy than before the date of the Regulations issued by the Board in December, 1863; but I regret that the neglect in two instances to supply these returns, disables me from completing a tabular summary of attendance and payments for the March quarter.

I have included in the tabular summary for the December quarter some information as to the year 1863; but the unwillingness or neglect of some teachers, who resigned during that year, to supply information conducive to the annual returns, has compelled me in several instances to form an estimate of the number of attendants. The total can, therefore, only be regarded as an approximation.

In the schedule as to efficiency, the schools and subjects marked C appear to me to call for the censure or interference of the Board.

SUMMARY REPORT UPON THE SCHOOLS EXAMINED.

The schools may be classified in the following order, according to the result of the most recent examinations.

Two High Schools, of superior efficiency.
Seven Ordinary Schools, efficient.
Fourteen Ordinary Schools, of inferior efficiency.
Three Ordinary Schools, inefficient.
Three Elementary Schools, efficient.
Four Elementary Schools, of inferior efficiency.

In the two High Schools larger fees are obtained for a superior course of instruction. The good grounding in ordinary and elementary subjects is a part of the superior course of these schools.

In the Ordinary Schools there is mostly a uniform charge of one shilling per week, and the course of instruction beyond elementary subjects is, judiciously, very limited.

In the Elementary Schools, either or both, a lower scale of fees is charged, and the course of instruction is mostly that of infant-school children in the very rudiments. They are either taught by mistresses, or by masters of inferior qualifications.

The Ordinary Schools here classed as efficient are—

1. Governor’s Bay Presbyterian school.
2. Kaiapoi Church of England school.
3. Riccarton
4. Rangiora
5. Upper Heathcote
6. Okain’s Bay
7. Little Akaloa

In the classification of these schools, the satisfactory attainments of the children in elementary and ordinary subjects, and the general tone of each school has chiefly been considered. Their standard of efficiency is not comparable with that of schools of a similar class in England. What has been achieved in them is fairly proportioned to the insufficiency of staff and material.

The Ordinary Schools here classed as of inferior efficiency are in the order of merit:—

1. Heathcote Valley.
2. Christchurch Wesleyan.
3. Woodend Wesleyan.
4. Prebbleton Church of England.
   5 and 6. St. Michael’s boys’ and girls’.
5. Papanui Church of England.
6. Kaiapoi Wesleyan.
7. South Christchurch Presbyterian.
8. Akaroa Presbyterian.
9. Timaru Church of England.
10. Lincoln Presbyterian.
11. Templeton School.
12. Leithfield School.

Among these are several new schools, and some others which have hitherto been conducted under great difficulties.

The ordinary schools here declared inefficient are—

Lyttelton Church of England School.
St. Alban’s Wesleyan School.
Arowhenua School.