✨ Inspector's Report on Education
96
for so naming them. Geography, very uncertain and defective. Mental Arithmetic, v m.
Writing, good.
In both divisions the same remarks are applicable. Reading, Spelling, and Writing are well taught; but in other respects there is not much information: there is a general want of mental activity observable; and the interest in their work is languid.
WAKEFIELD SCHOOL.—Mr. and Mrs. Squires.
3—Alphabet.
5th Class. 10 (11)—2nd Book, beginning; read v m, spell m.
4th Class. 5 (7)—2nd Book; read v f, spell well, explain v f. Mental Arithmetic; add and subtract to 20 v f.
3rd Class. 12 (16)—3rd Book; read v f, spell well, explain v f. Mental Arithmetic; slow, and uncertain.
2nd Class. 6 (7)—4th Book; read well, spell v w, explain m. Grammar and Geography, beginning.
1st Class. 8 (13)—5th Book; read well, spell v w; but the book is evidently too difficult, and not understood. Geography and Grammar, very indifferent. None answered the egg or potatoe question. Writing m.
Here as elsewhere the Taranaki children were remarked for their regular attendance.
I recommended that the Classes should be remodelled; and use books less advanced. The introduction of some late works on Grammar, Geography, Arithmetic and History would be very desirable: but those I formerly forwarded to the master had not been purchased.
In similar cases the money set apart by the Committee for prizes might perhaps be usefully applied to make good the deficiency. But it forms a serious obstacle in the way of the teacher; and the want of variety in the studies of the school tends to perpetuate that mental listlessness and want of real interest in their work I have remarked in the children. The remarks on the Spring Grove Schools are generally applicable here.
UPPER WAKEFIELD SCHOOL.—Mr. Brown, Master.
3—Alphabet.
4th Class. 7 (10)—2nd Book; read and spell v f. Add and subtract readily.
3rd Class. 3 (4)—2nd Book; read well, spell v w, explain v f. Mental Arithmetic, ready. Add, subtract, multiply, divide.
2nd Class. 3 (8)—3rd Book; read well, spell v f. Explain v f. Grammar, beginning. Geography, m. Mental Arithmetic, v f.
1st Class. 4 (5)—4th Book; read well, spell v w, and explain well. Grammar and
Geography, good and intelligent. Arithmetic, good. 3 answered potatoe question, 1 egg ditto. Dictation good.
This school is going on satisfactorily. The failure in the 2nd Class Geography was explained as owing to illness in the Class. Where less than half the Class are present, no certain conclusion as to its state can be come to. Writing, v f.
There is a female assistant for needlework only.
FOX-HILL SCHOOL.—Mrs. Rawlings.
5 (8)—Words of three letters.
1 (5)—1st Book; fair.
4 (2)—2nd Book; read v f, and spell well. Slight idea of numbers.
2 (2)—Village Lesson Book; read and spell f. Mental Arithmetic m. Writing carefully attended to.
This School has only been opened lately; but is in good order, and may be expected to improve.
WAIMEA WEST VILLAGE.—Mr. Tate.
4 (16)—Alphabet, imperfect.
2 (5)—Read and spell four letters well. Figures to 7.
3 (10)—1st Ready Book; read and spell f. Mental Arithmetic, m.
11 (13)—2nd Book; read and spell v f, explain fairly, but want confidence. Mental Arithmetic, slow.
5 (13)—3rd Book; read v f, spell v f, explain with difficulty; evidently unused to regular questioning. Cannot tell what parts of speech house, nation, or Egypt are; nor where Egypt is; nor give the name of any people, country, town, river, or mountain in Europe.
Add, subtract, and divide with difficulty; multiply better.
4 (8)—5th Book; read and spell well, not understood—too difficult. Grammar, slight knowledge. Geography, better, but very imperfect. Mental Arithmetic, not ready; none could anwer the potatoe or egg questions. Writing, m.
Unsatisfactory; method wanting. The Master, appointed less than three months ago, has since left. The same general want of interest in their work observable here also.
WAIMEA WEST, NORTH DIVISION.—Mr. Hodgson.
12 (13)—Alphabet, words of two letters; figures.
4 (5)—1st Book; read and spell v f. Add and subtract to 12.
6 (7)—2nd Book; read well, but too low, spell m, explain v m. Add, subtract, and multiply v f.
4 (7)—3rd Book; read w, spell f. Gram-
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Inspector's Report on Education (continued)
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🎓 Education, Culture & Science1 October 1861
Education, School Inspection, Nelson, Wakefield School, Upper Wakefield School, Fox-Hill School, Waimea West School
6 names identified
- Squires (Mr.), Teacher at Wakefield School
- Squires (Mrs.), Teacher at Wakefield School
- Brown (Mr.), Master at Upper Wakefield School
- Rawlings (Mrs.), Teacher at Fox-Hill School
- Tate (Mr.), Teacher at Waimea West Village School
- Hodgson (Mr.), Teacher at Waimea West North Division School
Nelson Provincial Gazette 1861, No 16