52

The seemingly forced attendance in the two above schools is explained by several
children being newly admitted, owing to the return of fine weather and dry roads in this
the best quarter of the year. "Notice of Examination" does, however, induce an
attendance above the average.

Mount Grey Downs ... October 10 ... Present 53 ... Average last
quarter 47, last week 49; on roll 61. Owing, perhaps, to the recent change of
masters the organisation and attainments are at present very inferior; but there
is fair reason to hope for more satisfactory results by the next examination.

Avonside ... October 14 ... Present 62 ... Average last
quarter 51, last week 59; on the roll 65. The long midwinter holidays, followed
by closing for the enlargement and repairs, may largely account for the present
backward and inaccurate state of the classes. The additions and repairs are a
great improvement.

Pigeon Bay ... October 15 ... Present 17 ... Average last
quarter, last week 17; on roll 20; middling; the inferior efficiency of
this school is a complaint of long standing. The attendance is falling off.

Duvauchelles Bay ... October 16 ... Present 50 ... Average last
quarter 32, last week 47; on roll 53. Improving.

Governor’s Bay North ... October 18 ... Present 15 ... Average 16;
on roll 19. The school has been closed for some time, and has recently been
re-opened with a fair prospect of success.

St. Luke’s Boys’ School, Christchurch ... Inspected October 29 ... Present 61.
The school appeared to be in excellent order; boys quiet and well employed; a
pupil teacher, not appointed by the Board, working well under the direction of
the master. The time-table, registers, and copy-books exceedingly neat; but the
register contained gross discrepancies, the total and average attendances being in
most instances, if not in all, the same as one another.

In some other schools, also, as here, a "show register," a copy of the roll-call, is kept.
This is an undesirable practice, because it evades a test of neatness, and much more,
because it allows of errors in copying and of false entries.

St. John’s Boys’ ... Inspected October 29 ... Present 43 ...
By names counted and by the register. The "Summary Register" is not in use.
There is no Visitor’s Book. The school is in fair order, but the attendance has
fallen off.

St. John’s Girls’ ... Inspected October 29 ... Present 30 ...
In good order; at needlework; register correct; but there is no Summary
Register and no Visitors’ Book.

Wesleyan School ... Inspected October 29 ... Present 109 ... Average
last week 109, last quarter 106. School in good order; register correct;
summary in use for years shows the attendance throughout a long period.

St. Michael’s School ... Inspected October 30 ... Present 127 ... yesterday
123; averages last quarter 120, last week not given. The registers do not show
what the average has been during the quarter, and they are incomplete as to
other particulars pointed out to the master. The "Summary Register"
is not in use. There is no time-table; in other respects the order and the work are exemplary,
the master and his two assistants well and efficiently employed. The Visitors’
Book shows that the Dean of Christchurch takes great interest in the school,
visiting it once a fortnight or more frequently, and taking classes in Scripture
History and Religious Knowledge.