✨ School Inspection Reports
86
Stoke: Mr. and Mrs. Smith.—Two years ago I pointed out several defects in the management of Stoke school, which I attributed solely to inexperience on the part of the teachers. Time has justified this view of the case, as the faults then existing have almost entirely disappeared, the children entering and leaving school in a proper manner, and the writing and arithmetic being now of quite average merit. The attendance has also greatly increased, the numbers being now 52 daily against 37 in 1864. I have observed too, with some surprise, that several boys living near Richmond, and formerly attending the Richmond Boys' School, no w come as far as Stoke to be taught.
Richmond, Boys': Mr. Sunley, Master.—I have referred to the second division of the Town Girls' school as an instance of too much being sacrificed to the maintenance of silence, Richmond Boys' School is an equally striking example of the opposite extreme of excessive noisiness. The incessant clamour going on has the effect of distracting the most practised examiner's attention from the merits of the school, which, in some respects, are really considerable. Were this serious defect remedied, there would be little to complain of. The arithmetic and grammar continue pre-eminently good, the writing of the more advanced pupils is improved, and the general information of the boys is quite equal to what might fairly be expected from them. The reading is, however, rather slovenly and hurried, and the copy-books of some of the younger boys are very carelessly written.
Richmond, Girls': Miss Spencer.—No thing need be added to the high praise that this school has always received and continues to deserve. The rate of daily attendance is perhaps the best evidence of the estimation in which the efforts of the teacher are held in the neighborhood.
Appleby: Mr. Chamberlain, Master.—This is a small and comparatively backward school. I found the children perfectly orderly, and the gradation of classes better than formerly. But I could detect hardly the faintest trace of mental activity in the children, the prevailing expression being that of sleepy indifference. Much of this is doubtless due to the long continued sickness in the neighborhood, as the teacher, when master at Ranzau, was by no means deficient in energy.
Ranzau: Mr. and Mrs. Chattock.—Great credit is due to these teachers for the efficient and methodical way in which they manage one of the largest of our country schools. Fifty-nine children now attend daily, nearly doubling the numbers for 1864. No very high standard is attempted, even in the first class, but all seemed thoroughly grounded. With the sanction of the Local Committee, I some time ago drew up a timetable expressly adapted to the requirements of this school, the master being then somewhat unused to school work. The adoption of this, slightly modified, seems to have removed the only drawback to the former success of the school, a proper system of apportioning the school hours, so that all classes may be kept at work continuously.
Hope: Mr. Packer, Master.—I have much pleasure in recording the great improvement that has been effected in every department of this school, since I had last occasion to comment upon its many shortcomings. The children are now perfectly orderly, the first class work correctly and readily questions in practice, proportion, and interest, and show a fair acquaintance with the elements of geography and grammar, while the reading and penmanship are better than they were, throughout the school.
River Terrace: Mrs. Bryant.—The attendance having dwindled down to 18 daily, it has been thought better to substitute a mistress for a master, this change being generally desirable on other grounds besides those of economy in very small and backward schools, where a larger and more advanced school is within reach of the older scholars, as is the case in this instance. The present mistress has been only recently appointed, but she appears to me well qualified to perform the task entrusted to her.
Spring Grove, Boys': Mr. Edmonds, Master.—The appointment of the present master to this school, in January, has already produced the best results. The daily attendance, which seldom exceeded 20 formerly, has now increased to 36, and the improvement of the boys, notably in writing and arithmetic, is very gratifying. It is also worthy of remark, that the whole of the first class now show a creditable knowledge of fractions, a branch of arithmetic which they knew nothing six months ago; and, the boys appear to be barely equal to the average of other schools in point of intelligence, it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that where the arithmetic is deficient the blame must rest entirely with the system of the teacher.
Spring Grove, Girls': Mrs. Rutherford,
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Report and Returns of the Inspector of Public Schools
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🎓 Education, Culture & ScienceEducation, Schools, Inspection, Teachers, Nelson
11 names identified
- Mr. Smith, Teacher at Stoke school
- Mrs. Smith, Teacher at Stoke school
- Mr. Sunley, Master at Richmond Boys' school
- Miss Spencer, Teacher at Richmond Girls' school
- Mr. Chamberlain, Master at Appleby school
- Mr. Chattock, Teacher at Ranzau school
- Mrs. Chattock, Teacher at Ranzau school
- Mr. Packer, Master at Hope school
- Mrs. Bryant, Teacher at River Terrace school
- Mr. Edmonds, Master at Spring Grove Boys' school
- Mrs. Rutherford, Teacher at Spring Grove Girls' school
Nelson Provincial Gazette 1866, No 19