✨ School Inspection Reports
xiii.
SCHOOLS EXAMINED.
Lower Heathcote ... May 30 ... Present 24 ... The continued inefficiency of this school is a matter of the most painful regret. The attendance is very disproportionate to the population. The number of small schools of private adventure attests the dissatisfaction of the residents. The clock not going for want of being wound up, is a mark of the general dilatoriness and apathy of the teacher. Persons call on the master on other business during school hours. This is the third time of such an occurrence on the day of casual inspection. The defective organisation was evidenced by the want of books; one class which should have read the Nelson’s sequel had not a single book, nor could the master find one. The writing is taught without method; the pens are badly held; the letters badly shaped; several children were writing words they could not read. The knowledge of the Bible was deficient; the reading, spelling, and ciphering very elementary and imperfect.
Roman Catholic Boys’ School ... May 31 ... Present 51 ... Generally satisfactory.
Roman Catholic Girls’ School ... June 1 ... Present 83 ... The excellent character of the school was fully borne out by this examination.
Upper Heathcote School ... June 14 ... Present 26 ... The Bible knowledge defective; generally there is a want of precision in the school work, more especially as to the correction of errors and the requirement of accuracy in elementary knowledge. There is no wilful negligence, but a little want of energy.
Heathcote Valley ... June 15 ... Present 89 ... The schoolroom is far from being weatherproof; although lined, it has been so shaken by storms that the cold air pours in at many crevices. The children have been carefully and successfully taught; the attainments are not beyond the range of a good suburban school, but so far are fairly accurate.
Lyttelton Wesleyan School ... June 16 ... Present 48 ... Satisfactory; up to the usual standard of this school.
Mount Grey Downs ... June 21 ... Present 17 ... The drainage is bad; the water stands in the hollows about the doorway and on the footpaths. The school is still without a sufficiency of maps. The discipline and order were very good; the children are making considerable progress. This was an extra and casual visit, not in the routine of examination.
Saltwater Creek ... Same day ... Present 23 ... Extra and casual inspection. The school was in somewhat better order than at the examination, but strict discipline is not a qualification of the present master. There is a little too much freedom, but nothing like gross disorder. The copybooks shewed some improvement; the other subjects appear to be improving.
Special Report on the Lyttelton High School.—The directors being desirous of its being brought under the Special Grant Clauses of the Education Ordinance, it was examined on the 17th instant.
It is conducted in the old premises formerly described. They are well adapted to a school of this description. It is taught by Mr. Ross, assisted by Miss Stout, who formerly attained a very superior standard of proficiency at this school. She is, therefore, well educated, and is thoroughly conversant with her work.
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Canterbury Provincial Gazette 1871, No 24A
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
🎓 School Inspection Reports
🎓 Education, Culture & ScienceSchool Inspection, Education, Canterbury
- Ross (Mr), Teacher at Lyttelton High School
- Stout (Miss), Assistant teacher at Lyttelton High School