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I shall not, on the present occasion, op- press your Honor’s attention with any ex- tensive proposals of reform, which, in order to prove serviceable, should be gra- dual, and not convulsive, but I will limit my recommendations to a few simple sug- gestions, that will leave the spirit of the present Education Act unaffected.

I. The nominal roll of children for- warded quarterly to the Provincial Trea- sury only multiplies public documents, while it serves no useful purpose. I there- fore recommend that such returns be sup- pressed, and that the grants to the teachers be paid upon a claim rendered upon the form of voucher now used, supported by a certificate from the Inspector, with a state- ment of the numbers attending the schools, compiled from the returns forwarded to him monthly by the master.

I may mention here that the calculation of the sums paid to the teachers from a daily average appears to me unfair, and based upon unsound principles.

II. Several masters have requested me to endeavour to induce the Government to establish a Depository of Books for use in the schools of the province. I would recommend that such books be issued to the teachers—not free, but at fixed prices—upon receipt of a semi- annual requisition, provided the demand be proportionate to the numbers and stages of instruction of the pupils attending the respective schools.

The practice of the children always be- coming the purchasers of their own books is followed by many advantages, one of the chief of which is that the home is usually converted into an evening school.

III. I conceive that, in justice to the schoolmaster, some equitable arrange- ment should be made for the education of orphans, or the children of poor parents. To educate those who are unable to edu- cate themselves, is a recognised obligation of every enlightened government, and where private munificence has not assumed the responsibility, the necessary expense of such education is a legitimate burden upon the public revenue. To disallow the customary payment of fees in these excep- tional cases, is unworthy of the liberal spirit which characterises the provision made by the government for assisting the education of its subjects. The natural pride of parents rebels against the idea of the education of their children being en- tirely eleemosynary, and this protective feeling, in conjunction with statutory pe- nalties, would secure the Government from the possibility of great fraud or impos- ition.

IV. I recommend that yearly premiums be granted to those masters concerning whom satisfactory reports are received of the order and discipline of their schools, the correct keeping of registers, general demeanour of children, &c.

It is falsely assumed by some that if a certain regulated amount of instruction be given, the whole work of education has been faithfully performed. Now, a State, in educating its subjects, aims at making them better, as well as wiser, and it has been well observed that man acts more from habit than from reflection, thus he is, in fact, “a bundle of habits.” To strive, then, to instil good habits early and firmly into children must be an acknowledged duty of every schoolmaster. Without dis- cipline there can be no valuable habi- tude. Children who are at school the whole day, away from the wholesome restraints of do- mestic society, exposed to the seductive allurements of temptation without their corrective influences, and animated by the ardour of youthful passions, are very liable to become addicted to habits of profanity, coarseness, and vulgarity.

In the course of my inspections I re- proved more than once the rudeness, listless, or ungentle behaviour of the pupils, and it is an incentive to increased vigilance and care on the part of the master, that I would wish to make a portion of the pecu- niary support he receives from the Govern- ment to depend.

I have many other matters that I would wish to bring to the notice of your Honor, but which I could not well condense within the limits of a report like this. At some future convenient time, I shall venture to submit any plans I may first have well matured, and I may state that some of these relate to a supply of black boards, diagrams, and other articles, the lament- able deficiency of which I generally ob- served in most schools;—the employment of schoolmistresses, and also of peripatetic schoolmasters, for the scattered habita- tions, where a few families have localised themselves in various parts of the prov- ince; the institution of public competi- tive examination, and several other sugges- tions affecting school legislation.

I have the honor to be, Sir,

Your most obedient servant,

HENRY H. GODWIN,

Inspector of Schools.

His Honor the Superintendent,

Napier.