146

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

INSPECTOR’S SUMMARY REPORT FOR THE MONTH,

(May 27—June 30, 1864.)

The Honorable H. J. Tancred,
Chairman, Board of Education.

Sir,—

I have the honor, in obedience to your instructions, to submit a Summary Report on the schools examined and other business transacted during the month, May 27—June 30, inclusive.

Seventeen schools, including 739 children, have been examined.

Two candidates for the mastership of the Purarekanui school, Alexander Smyth, unsuccessful, and John Edward Tomlinson, successful, were examined on the 8th and 27th June respectively, as per special reports of those dates.

Arrangements have been made for the examinations of schools and candidates during July.

Four schools have benefited by supplies of books and apparatus, from the Educational Depôt, to the amount of £5 2s.

The Depôt still contains a large stock of the books most in use; but the fresh supply, now expected, is becoming very desirable, to relieve the want of some secondary books and apparatus.

Of the schools examined:

The St. Michael’s Boys’ and Girls’ Schools.

May 27—Present 141.

Considerable improvement has been effected, by the principal teachers and assistant, in the different subjects of instruction.

The school is not large enough for the numbers in attendance. With increased accommodation the numbers would mainly help to support separate girls’ and infants’ schools. The present overcrowding causes an inconvenient arrangement of the desks; it may also originate or increase serious ill health in the hot weather.

The Papanui Church of England School.

May 30—Present 57.

Results generally satisfactory, except low average of accuracy in arithmetic.

The work does not seem to be equally divided or distributed between the teachers, or amongst the classes.

Mrs. and the Misses Lillie attended the examination in the unavoidable absence of the Rev. L. Moore.

Papanui Wesleyan School.

May 31—Present 46.

Deficiency of books and apparatus. The lower classes are kept back for want of lessons in large type, all classes for want of a black board.

The organization would be improved by not having so many little classes.

St. Alban’s Wesleyan School.

June 1—Present 68.

Considerably improved. Suggestions for further improvement in letter to Rev. J. Buller of July 8th. Rev. J. Buller attended by request.

Prebbleton Church of England School.

June 2—Present 18.

Considerably improved, notwithstanding failure in simple arithmetic.

The well and the dwelling-house were subjects of complaint by the teacher.

Lincoln Presbyterian School.

June 2—Present 7.

The school is still in an elementary state. The building, used also as an occasional place of worship, is continually crowded with cumbersome benches.

Governor’s Bay School.

June 8—Present 12.

Both sacred and secular knowledge thoroughly well taught. Methods, skilful and intellectual. The small number of pupils includes several boarders. Their progress is a fair specimen of what might be achieved in any school with an efficient organization. The site does not appear to be the most desirable one for the locality.

Kaiapoi Wesleyan School.

June 6—Present 41.

The standard of attainment is still very low but is improving.

No Bibles.

St. Luke’s School.

June 7—Present 54.

Organization and discipline improvable.

The school is too mixed as to the age and attainments of the children. The progress is very creditable. An assistant or a pupil teacher is really wanted.