BOARD OF EDUCATION.

INSPECTOR’S SUMMARY REPORT FOR THE MONTH.

(December 29, 1865—January 25, 1866.)

To the Honorable H. J. TANCRED,
Chairman.

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.

The recent holidays, occupying in some instances the greater part of January, have rendered it unadvisable to examine many schools; consequently only a few of those most likely to be affected by either the harvest or harvest holidays have been examined, viz., three schools, including 36 children.

The quarterly and annual returns have been collected and reports prepared.

A routine of examinations for the current quarter has been arranged, subject to the approval of the Board.

Four Candidates for appointments have been examined—

• William Edward Norris, for the lower Heathcote School... Well qualified.
• John Taylor, for the Duvauchelle Bay School... Qualified.
• Charles Trevatt, for the Oxford School...
• A. B. Travers, for an Elementary School... As per certificate of 17th & 18th instant.

Twenty schools have benefited by supplies from the Educational Depot, to the amount of £12 2s.

Of the Schools Examined:—

• Templeton School, January 23, present 11. Not satisfactory.
• Prebbleton, „ „ 23, „ 20. Very creditable.
• Lincoln, „ „ 24, (very wet) present 5. Improving.

In the Templeton school the arrangements appear to be injudicious; the time does not seem to be fairly divided between the classes; the master has evidently paid much attention to the history, geography, and grammar of the first or highest class, and has been teaching Latin to one boy, who is very deficient in every English subject, except Bible knowledge.

The Bible knowledge of the first class is good; below that next to nothing.
(None of the children in the lowest classes were present.)

In elementary secular knowledge, the children below the first class are very disproportionately backward.

In ordinary secular knowledge, the reading is bad; it is the glib and slovenly reading of children, whose errors are not corrected. The spelling good.

Writing—

The copy-books are not creditable; where it is well taught, the writing of the elder boys resembles that of the master; here there is a variety of “hands.”

Arithmetic,

a very moderate degree of proficiency. The first class in the above subject is composed, with one exception, of children from several other schools; I think they would have made better progress at their former schools.

Notes—

1. Very low attendance compared with that of Prebbleton School, examined on the same day.

2. Regularity and amount of attendance are some evidence of the local estimation of a school.

In the Prebbleton School the children were well grounded in elementary knowledge. The copy-books were neat and creditable.

In the Lincoln School the attendance was very reduced, owing to the heavy rain. The school is in a much more satisfactory state under the new teacher.

The details of each examination are entered in the Journal.

I have the honor to be, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

J. P. RESTELL,
Inspector of Schools.

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

INSPECTOR’S SUMMARY REPORT FOR THE MONTH.

(January 26—February 21, 1866.)

To the Honorable H. J. TANCRED,
Chairman.

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.

Twelve schools have been examined; including in all 543 children.

Twenty-six schools &c., have benefited by supplies from the Depot to the amount of £19 15s. 4d.

Of the Schools Examined:—

• Upper Heathcote School, Jan. 26, present 23. Satisfactory.
• Halswell, „ „ 26, „ 9...
• St. Alban’s, „ „ 29, „ 82...
• Papanui Wesleyan, „ „ 31, „ 23. Tolerable.
• Heathcote Valley, „ „ 31, „ 29. Very moderate.
• Christchurch Wesleyan, Feb. 6, „ 134. Satisfactory.
• Roman Catholic, „ 7, „ 91...
• Avonside, „ 8, „ 47. Moderate.
• Okain Bay, „ 14, „ 25. Very creditable.
• Akaroa, „ 16, „ 35. Satisfactory.
• Pigeon Bay, „ 20, „ 23. Superior.
• Duvauchelles Bay, „ 19, „ 12. Recommencing this day under a new teacher.