GP V 1868 no. 39 p. 1-50

1868.
VICTORIA.
·siXTH
REPORT
OF Tl!E,
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
1867-68.
PRESENTED TO BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT BY HIS EXCELLENCY'S COMMAND.
JOHN FERRES, GOVERNMENT PRINTER, MELBOURNE.
No. 89. ·
r· .
.,.. ,If
GONXENTS IF REPORT: . ::··
, I
'I
... 't t -·
.. ::
'j"''•'
l'ar.
Report submitted
.
"'
'!.,.-MEMBERS ,OF, TI!E BOARD~ '
W. H. Archer, Esq., T. J. Sumner,.Esq., and I. Hart,
Esq., retired as members of the Board
·• .~;·;·
Hon. G. Harker,-Dr. Corrigan, and Boil: M:O'Grady, ·
. appointed members :of the Board• · ~ ;. > " :-. ;;.;·:
Gentlemen now constituting the -Board of Education
Leave of absence granted·to J:Balfour, Esq.. . ":'
Constitution of Board much altered
-~·~·
.
, '•
_,
2.
2. · ·
3
4
5
'I•
II.-::-STA.TISTICB OF ATTENDANQE.
Table of information'refative to•National,'Denomi-·
national, and Common Schools, from the year
•1851 to March, 1868
·
.. ;
Contents of table
Diminution in the number of children on 'the rolls·
and in average attendance for December,. x866 ·
Decrease in the attendance for December, 1867
Comparison ofthe year··x867'with t866 ...
...
Returns for March,· x868
Description of new schools
.. •
...
. :·:
Increase of· schools and scholars more satisfactory ·
·than ever before exhibited '·: .. ,. ' ... ·: " •. _,.,,.
Number of school establishments in operation
Heads under which statistics are· coiisidered.
•..
.
6
'7
8
8
9
xo
II
12.
13
14
"
(I.) Proportion of children. attending schools to
total populqtion. ·
Number on the rolls represents ,the ,.J;l;\el/-n number
who have attended during·each separate month ...
Total number of children who attended during the.
year 1867, and. the year ended 31st March; 1868 .••
Number of children .who.:attend.,more. than one
school durini£ the year ~unot 'Pc. given accurately
Causes for the remOVJl! of, children from· one
school.to anot:h.e:r:.·o'. ·... ,,, ,. ;.,.. · .,, ;•.... ""..'•
Children..who atte.nd more than ~ne scho~~ dlfrln_g
.. theyea,r .....
•.., •'''<'c•· .. •:-·"· .. ·•·i•':.•,.: ••
Schools d,ivided jnto town, country, and.gold-1ields
schools , ,,.. .1:, , ···•i•" •. ..,.,,
·'·"
.
Percentage of _children who attend more-than one
school during the year .
Number of children attending town, country-, 'and
gold-1ields sch()ols .;: · : . ..,·
.... ·
'
Number of children attending-private schools
.Result to 3ISt March, rg68'..
...
. .. ·
Result for the year 1867
I$
16.
17
17
18
I8
19
2.0
2.1
22.
matters.
,..-..
u
••.
I
Il·
l
'18
( 2..) Proportion of children.at schoo? age attending schools.
Percentage of population .at all ages between 5 and
15 years
...
.••
· ...
... ·
...
~3
Total number of children attending Common Shoools
in March, x868, l:ietwei:m'tli~'ages.of 5 arid xs· ...
24
Total number attending other than Conmion Schools
between the ages of 5 ahd 15· ·
"
·
·
Results to jxst.M~rch;:~&fi~,. ...
••·· 1
....
J¥sillts f?r the ye~ 1867 ...
-.··
(3.) Regularity qf aitertilance·at 'schOols as compared
with other countries:
Number of days on which:Common Sc.hools are open
··:and actual attendance given. by each child
·....
z.S
Figures compare favorablf' witli thest'ate'oi'
'-in' England, Ireland, and America· •. •.. ·:
~- :
United State!!., .... · ·;:·: ·· ~-:::·· ·' · ".;~ ·
.. .
'-· ,.,...
... ,... J.
Canada
·
England"
._,., .. · · "'!':"'; . :·i 11 ···:
Ireland ·
(4.) Remarks concern!ng, statistic_s.of attendance.
Qhi!dren taught by tutors, governesses, and parents.·
Da~IJ. ins)lfilcien_t to form.. .a reliable estimate of th!l;
,ri11mber of children taught p:rh:ately: •··~··i.
Total number of:·children receiving instruction in
·-:schools.~~.·-.-.;·~;:! .. -.·~.: :!:. ~;...
'"
Ma.'ny children not accounted for. .
.,
I'
33'
33:
,-;
34
35
!
Table showing the number of children presented
under standards, with percentages of passes, &c.
36
Falling-Off in pe:r:centage of ·paases during. the six
months ended 3oth June., 1867, as compaied with.
the six months ended 31st December, 1866
37
Reasons for same ·' .··.·..•
·... 37
Remarks on the. subject by Inspector Brown •
37
Standards and programme· to-be amalgamated ••• ·
38
Change not to be made till I S69 ,.,
•• •
3-9
Practice. in England and :Victoril!- · ·.. .. ...
40
~:f]'ectin Victoria
...
...
· ~~
Proposed plan.'
.•. •· ·.
·•·
42.
Advantage of .. :
43
Inspector-General reports that the result of inspection under standards has become more uniform...
44
Return.showing the percentage of passes under the·
Committee of Council. on Education' in England
for 1866-67
·... · · " '"
45
Tables giving the numbers and perCentages -of
children presented and .passed in England and
Victoria since the commencement of the result
· system
..•
... · · ''· .,. '" '"·
· · ·...
46
Comparative statement of the sums paid in salaries
and for results, together with the deductions for
the periods to which the.payments refer
••·• · 47
Proportion of. results. to that of salaries. .. .
48
Deductions from results under rules 7 and 25
4&
Average number of destitute scholars during 1866
and 1865
.
...
49
Local contributions and Government aid towards
teachers' salaries, &c. ·
.. •
•. •
so
Percentages of local C(/!ltribu~io¥s and Govern:
: ment ·aid compared ·with · the percentages fqr
former years
'
si,
Returns, s~~~tted_ in AppeJ:ldif,
52.
IV.-R.EyrsioN· OF GENE!4-L
REoULATIONs·F~i.ijmD
~ UNDER· THE CoMMON ScHooLs AcT.
Fresh l~~i~latio~ necesskry ( or regiilatio~s m~st'
··
be re~1se4, . .. .
... '.·. .. · :..
...
•• •
Six general'regulations have been framed since tl:te
· com~e.ncement of,the present year
. xst Regulation ..:..Examiitations under standards,
' to .be annual, from the ,commencement ·of.
x868 ...
~~J;!.ools: will be.. ~;u;pected .oftener. than at
present
...
, ·.•. .
. ••
•••,..
II;ispe<;~rft(). :y:isit•.w;itb.ollt n()tice n•.
., ..
Payments to !le ~-~de f()r.half year.ended 3oth
J,11-ne, 18?8
.
_· . .
.
From 1869, it is proposed to pay results
...
..••• · ~ ,, ....
. monthly ,
z.nd Regulation.-Numbei of'teachers to pe.
allowed on the staffs of Common. Schools ...
Late Royal Commission considered,that the.
·staff ofteacher~ allo\ve(!. Wf!.~: e:x..ces~~ve .• ; ;
Stafl:' allowed by new rulea-;Assjst~nts; pupil-,
teachers
... . ,,.,,.._o~ ·'· •.:·~·---·· · .·.·~·
Workmistr()s~e.s ••,. .. :·, "''""'' ,.J.:''-'"; ~, _,.·~·
Where the average is below twenty-1ive, the
teacher not to receiv!) a salary exceeding
that of the second division'of competency
Saving will.be effe.;ted ... .
, ..·.·4. n'!llllber of· unnecessary !assistants will be
.1 done aw)ty: with
.-.i:·. ·••. , ... r<. •••
• ••
Rule to take effect from x'st October next-., delay in gazetting " .--....
3rd,J::tegulation.-As.to pupil-teachers·,.
•..
Objects in making the changes provided for
by this rule .. . ~
...
Question of apprenticeship .
. .... ·
.. ;
l'upil-teachers regarded in a two~foldcapacity
Extremesavoided
·, .••.. ·;•,·::·... ·
...
Revision of. the program:ine. for. examination
of teachers in the'.divisions of competency
.~:
53
55
55
55
57
61
62.
62.
4
Par.
Principal changes
Accurate knowledge required
4th Regulation.-Has reference to payment of
fees for destitute children
71
Reference to last Report ...
72
Quotation from last Report ·
73
Matter again brought prominently ·under ··
notice in the case of two schools
..•
74
Certificates granted when parents were able
to pay
·
74
Rule abused · .. .
••.
75
Rule reducing fees paid for destitute children
_passed on 19th March ...
Destitute children represent a pecuniary
value to the teacher, irrespective of fees ...
77
Course to be adopted where doubt exists as
to eligibility of a child for free admission ...
sth Regulation.-Instruetion of infants where
no special infant department exists
79
Reasons for
79
Copy of rule in question
8o
6th Regulation.-Training ...
81
Original rule ...
Sz
Alteration made
...
83
Payment of two bonuses for the same individual
now allowed
R~gulations have been approved
...
•.•
P~inciples to guide. the Board in establisl).ing new,
.and maintaining existing, schools
...
Principles on which aid should be granted
lloard reserve to themselves the right' to judge of
the expediency. of establishing and maintaining
schools
86
Di:fllculties in cases ·where rival applications are
received
Resolution as to the establishment of new schoolsaid to vested and non-vested schools ...
Attorney-General's opinion upon the subject
Principles on which the lloard will act in' giving
effect to the resolution
•..
•.. 89-94
Vested rights of denominations...
95
Trustees and local committees ...
95
Denominations are permitted to sell their lands and
buildings ...
.•• , .• :
·...
...
Revision of all regulations will shortly be submitted
97
V.-INSP)!IOTION.
Reports of Inspectors .••
.• •
. •.
Schools to be inspected twice under standards, but ·
only one to include a full inspection
Arrears of inspection ...
Causes of arrears
...
...
..•
...
·Arrears of inspection in metropolitan and llallarat
districts
Districts re-arranged ...
One examination under< standards, and one full inspection to be held .. .
. ••
General examination of teachers proposed to be
annual ...
..•
Appointment. of <an additional Inspector recom..•
...
<...
..•
••• ·
mended
Payment· of travelling expenses to Inspectors recommended...
.••
<
...
If alterations be made, inspection .will be thoroughly carried out •..
.
Defects in furniture and apparatus, want of proper
out-offices, and inaccuracy of records .. •
.• ,
Payments on examination alone would be inexpe..•
...
•••
dient
Change in the board of examiners for certificates
of competency
.. •
...
Discipline favorably reported on
Good penmanship not sufficiently aimed at
No alteration in tpe staff of Inspectors •. .
Late and present districts
...
Reasons for changes of districts....
.• .
Revised set of instructioDS for Inspectors
VI,-F:m.A.NOE.
Vote-for 1867 •••
•••
•••
...
Statement of receipts and disbursements f'or 1867,
and from Ist September, 186z, to 3ISt December,...
...
I867
Overdraft at the .London Chartered llank on the
31st December, 1867
....
•••
...
Statement of receipts and disbursements f'rom 1st
September,.I86z, to 31st December, 1867
Analysis of same
...
...
...
...
· Receipts and expenditure on accOU'I\t of schoolbooks
Percentages of . payments to teachers, and percentages of departmental expenses
.. •
Departmental e~penses moderate
98
99
zoo
zoo
I oI
Ioz
103
io4
105
106
Amount estimated as required for 1868
123
Items of decrease
.:.
...
u4
<Salaries of teachers
124
' Destitute children
..'.
ns
Appointment of an additional Inspector, and payment of travelling expenses ...
.••
...
126
New regulations will effect considerable reduction
in expenditure
· 127
Suspension of paY,ments;
128
V!Ii-TEAOHERS.
Reports of competency< 'examinations received in
t867
...
Il9
Results of same
...
••• I30-31
Teachers who attended honor examinations in 1867
132
TeaChers who attended honor.examinations in 1868
I33,
IIonor examinations held since the Board came into
operation
...
I 34
Reports of examination of teachers and others
received since the Board came into operation .. . 13 5
Teachers not allowed, as a rule, more than three
examinations
135
Number :finally rejected
135
Examinations of teachers show an improvement ...
I 36
· Formation of teachers' classes ..•
136
Inspector Brown-improved examination passed by
teachers
.•. · ... :
...
< <137
Teachers who fail, not to be re-examined in all
.•.
.• •
...
••• · 138
subjects
.. .
Changes to be made in t'lle system of .examination
for honors . ..
••• i
.·..
I 39
Staffs of schools
••. '
...
140
Second examination for competency not to be held
during present year ... '
...
.•.
141
Resolutions respecting tb~ dismissal of teachers
14z
Number of female teachers
143
Extract from the Report on Common Schools in
Upper Canada for 1865 as to employment of
females
... 144
Falsification of rolls ... 1
145
Infringement of agreements
146
Applications for employment ...
.
147
Number of applications received, and of appointments made
.. . .
148_
Facilities not sufficiently a:vailed of
149
Vill.-PUPIL-TEACHERS.
Number of reports received during 1867
Analysis Of reports
.••
Annual examinations of pupil-teachers, January,
I867
Number examined, passed, 'and failed
Number examined at the annual examination held
iu January, 1868
Schools licensed for pupil-teachers
Licenses withdrawn ... '
Number of schools licensed in each year, as compared with that under the late Denominational
lloard · ...
...
.;.
...
...
Statement of annual examinations for promotion of
pupil-teachers, from I864 to 1868
Schools licensed during present year
Causes why progress is not,more marked
I So
I 5I
I'Sz
I
sz <
153
154
I 54
155
I 56
I 57
158
107
1oS
109
uo
n 1
I 11
nz
Iu
li3
II4
us
u6
II7
n8
119
no
n 1
I:&2
IX.-+'RAINING.
Reports of examinations of candidates received
during 1867
...
•••
...
Two examinations of teachers in training held
Reports of examin!ltion of rI 3 teachers iu training
up to end of 1867 ...
<
Reports of examination of candidates for admission to training received up to end of 1867
Institution doing good work
Question of training still un~atisfactory ... ,
. X.-SINGING.
Examinations of singing masters
Number of candidates licensed...
Singing masters employed d¥ring the year
•••
Mr. Schott appointed a member of the board of
examiners in music .. : · ••.
Table showing progress made •••
I 59
16o
161
162
I.63
163
164
165
166
167
I68
4J:.-D¥-AWING.
Examination of drawing masters
•••
169
Drawing masters employed_in Common-Schools .-..
I7o
Teac~g of singing and drawing encouraged
I7I'
Teachers who pass in singing and drawing to be •
required to give instruction therein to their pupils
I 72
Table showing progress made
173-
5
Par.
Xll.-DRILL AND GYMNASTICS.
Classe.s for drill and gymnastics
Gymnastic classes for females ...
Oth1;1r classes formed . .. .
•. . . . •• . .
Monthly reports of inspectwn of m1htary dnll
Communications based on these reports are .forwarded to the local committees
' •••
Instruction given to teachers in training...
.. .
Drill taught in many schools in Melbourne and the
country
•••
•••
•..
•••
.. .
Application for gymnastic institution at Ballarat .. .
Teachers, &c., who have passed in drill and gymnas_tics
... ...
XIII.-APPLIO.ATIO~S
I74
I75
176
177
I78
179
r8o
iso
181
FOR AID.
Number of applications for Government aid since
September, x86z
...
...
...
...
Condition attached to all late cases of grants to new
non-vested schools ...
Aid declined in sixty -four cases
Twenty-six case~ 'withdrawn, &c.
.
.
Number of applications for grants m a1d of new
school buildings, &c., to existing schools, granted
Number declined or withdrawn .•.
Grants lapsed
...
...
...
...
Applications for grants of land from the Crown for
school sites...
.
Schools tliat have become vested.
...
•..
Application for aid to the school at the convent of
the Good Shepherd .. •
.. . .
...
. ...
Application refused in accordance w1th roth section
of Common Schools Act
Attorney-General's opinion
...
Amount voted in r867 for new schools
Further grants cannot be made until the vote for
the present year is taken
.. .
•• .
•..
Board's paper of "Suggestions for plans of schoolrooms, &c.," found useful
...
Summary of all applications received
XIV.-LocAL 'CoMMITTEES.
Number of members recorded as holding office
Additions made to existing committees .;.
Total number of members of each denomination
Par.
Denominations well mixed in temporarily non-vested
and in vested schools
...
Considerable mixture in other schools, except Roma11
Catholic schools
.. .
. ..
Lists of local committees have been revised
Non-resident members sttuck off
Appointm(lnts during present half-year .. .
Great increase in the number of members of local
.. .
•. •
committees ...
One member of committee removed by the Board
in 1867
...
••.
: .. ·
Two cases of removal in present year
Proposed appointments referred to heads of denominations .. .
.. .
Case in which the appointment of a member was
objected to by the head of a denomination
Objection sustained .•.
. .. •
...
Local committees show an increased interest in the
welfare of the schools
XV.-BooKs .L..,.D ScHOOL REQUISITES.
Amount received for books during r 867 •••
Transactions in r867 ...
Sums received in each year
Irish National books principally used
Other.publications
Proportions of sales
Maps and black boards
Diminution of sales, cause of
Supplies of books
Specimens of art
...
Receipts and disbursements
196
I 97
198
199
2oo
zoo
2or
202
203
204
204
zo 5
2o6
zo6
207
2o&
zo&
209
2xo
zz 1
zu
zq
zr4
XVI.-Glil:NERA.L REMARKS.
xgo
Children of the metropolitan schools at the reception of H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh
H.R.H. received at other places by the school
children
Extra week's holiday given
Reduction of required attendance
...
...
Children under three years of age not to be admitted
to other than infant schools ... .
Amalgamation of schools
...
•..
...
Amendment required in the Act to provide educa·
tion in sparsely populated localities ·
Conclusion
2I 5
216
217
217
218
219
uo
:1.21
,, Jr
·;•
'•.
.l
';.
ii·t
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f
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IJ
J •
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c .;
!•'.
;
I •:'
...:
..
'
...
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SIXTH R'EPOET.: OF 'rHE BOARD OF
EDUCATIONo·
.
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'"
~.
'
I '
FOJi :·:THE. YEAR:· 1867-68.
To His. Ezce~k'f!-cy .. Srn JoHN HENRY THOMAS ~RS-SurioN,
K. C.'B\, Gove~or aru1 Commander-in-Clti~r in an,d over the
Qolony of :Vif!,tqri,O;~,.- · ·
'
MAY ·IT PLEAsE: Youii ·Exc:ELLENCY, I. ·we, the 'cot.rln:issioners of the Board of Education, beg leave to l!eport submitted,
submit to Your;Excellency this our Sixth Report, comprising a. statement of ·
our' proceedings durfug the ·year I867, together with complete statistical
information up to the 3 Ist March, I 868, with information on other matters
up to the present date.
·
' I.-MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
2. The fifth se~tion of the Common· Schools Act, requires that no
mem her· of the Board shall continue ·to act "for a longer period than five
years, unless re-appointe_d _by the Governor in Council." The following
gentlemen, havi.ng ser:vea;that time, retired· on the 31st August, i: 867 :'. ·; · WI*l.t\M :JlEJ:;TRY AR(_lHER, ~squi;re, . . . 1·:· :
W. H. Archer, Esq., T. J.
Snmner, Esq., and I.
THEODOTUS JOHN SUMNER, ·Esqwre; and . ' .' ..
Hart, Esq., retired as
members of the Board •
.,
· Isilc HART, Esquire ;
andi their places were filled by.
.
The Honorable GEORGE HARKER,
non. G. Harker, Dr. Cor' LL . D., an d . .
ngan, and nou. Jll,
J AMES CORRIGAN, E squire,
O'Grady, appointed
. i
..
,The Honorable MICHAE:L'O'GRADY,
' '.•
. membersoftheBoard.
who were gazetted respectiVely on the 1'3th and the 17th September, and
the 1st October, and took their seats· at the ·:fii.st ·meeting subsequent to their
~ppo~tme;nt. ·
. ::
·· · ~ · ·
. . ·
· . 3. The Board now consists of the followmg members :The Hono.rable SIR JAMEs FREDERICK p ALMER, President of the Gentlemen now constl'
.
tutlng the Board of
' }a t'IVe C. O.Ull~I'} 7 Chairman,
. . -L egiS
·
·
. ,. . .
Education.
JAMES BALFOJJR, EsqUire, M.L.A., ..
_ .
· ···
The Honorable GEORGE HARKER,
J AMES CoRRIGAN, Esquire, LL. D.,. and
~ ,· '
The Honorable M!cHAEL O'GR:ADY.
,
.. · . . . 4· Mr.. Baltour ~avmg been· compelled, through ill health, to proceed Leave of absence granted
to England to seek a change· of climate and repose from business, we, at hi~ to J. Balfour, Esq.
tequest, granted to him, Qn the. 27th May last, twelve· months' leave of
abs~nce, on the approval of the educational representative of his denomination
beiri.g obtain~d, and onthe,understanding that in the event ofits being found ,
that his· absence ill:!pedes ;the transa~tion .of public business his re~gnation
shall be forwarded~- Mr. .'Balf<iur.lias· accordingly placed· his-resignation at
our disposal.
.
.
'
; ·· ; 5. The . constitution o( ··the Board has thus been much altered, a conetttutlon ot Board
majority of the· late members having retired, and their places having been mucbrutered.
fiJJ.e~ ·by new, me~bers.
.
II.-S']1ATISTICS OF ATTENDANCE.
: 6.
submit a table' giving the following information r~lative to Tableof!nf.ormatl~nrela· · t'IOUa1··' ,and C. ommon.
·
'S. ch00Isj ·.C.Irom
·
ttve t" National, Deno·
• L:.-1- Denonuna
Nat IOwu,
t he year I B51 to m!national,
and Com'
J
•
·
·
·
·
·
mon Schools from the
Marc h' 1 868 ' lllC USIVe.
.
.
year IBSI to March,
We
I
1868.
STA',I'ISTICAL TABLE.
·-.---.--.--.--.--.--.--.--~--~--------
Percentage of Popula"
tion in National,
Denot;ninational, and
Common Schools
at the'.
periods speciil.ed.
Schools, whether
Denominational,
National,
Period ending-
or Common.
1853
{ Denomin.tltional
l National
.•.
Denominational
{ National
.•
1853
Denominational
1851-A:verage f.or
1854;
l Denominational
:1.855
{ Denom.inatioilal
l National
..
l Natioriru
•.
Denom!uational
{ National
..
1Denominational
l NatiOIUJ.i
..
"
j Denominational
J.858
J.859
.•
~
J.856
J.857
National
l National
..
J Denominational
~National
..
Denominational
National
.. ·
"
1860
1861
September, 1863; commencement of Common Scl!ools Act
1863-Average for
1863
"
1869:·
1865
1866
1867
1866-Average for the month of
December, or the last month for
Which returns
receiVed
1867-Averagefor the month of
· December, the last month for
which returns were received
1867-Avorage for the month of
:March, or the last month for
which returns were received
1868-Average for the month of
llfarch, I 868, the lost month for
which returns were received
were
1
j
Denomluatioual
National.
Common
..
3,016
74
6
Not a•eertnlni!d
89
70
'J,OI6
57
77
3,874
361
5,788
as9
~7
4)08
Zl3
4:1.
9,2.39
1,772
n,8s6
300
ss
~~.~43
368
SI
439
93
~,sog
14,044
2.:Z.,I3I
~;.:s
~:.;.54
19'5
~s:ss6
s·o
2.1,140
7,4I6
46.3~3
51,651
56,02.3
s6,7o~
Common
Common
78I
8~6
58,853
57."98
61,636
66,oog
7•.7(jg
Common
779
~.575
Common
Comm.on
B"S·
5'1
7,32.0
~,'1.2.4
9,713
33,937
36,n8
13"0
37.338
10'0
38,279
41,539
46,137
4!M04
53.531
Co1nmon
57'3
I6S,3::.t
4'4
44
'59'4
... ~.436
s·o
3'0
4:1.
44
6J:6
312.,307
S'5
3'5
4'4
40
61
43
"39
40
&,:6
364.3~
59
62
44
41
48
45
40
67'5
397.56o
5·8
6·6
4:1.
66·o
463,I35
7'~
45
4S
68·o
504,$19
47
48 66'·=.
46 64:s
53~.%&
5'1
n7,'s47
1'4
5·6
ls'·7
s41 ,Soo
0'7
6·3
ss
66
68
6o
71
~
5~
45
48.
so
75
79
78
54
SI
ss
9'73
68
6g
77~
* The
S'4
3'5
'1.77
~·48
---------------------86
68
786
75"39 659,855
f2.'47
xo·ss
7'97
6g,6g8
100
difference" between this number and that shown for December, i867 (SB), is caused by two schools, which were then conducted in separate depa:rtments, hu.vlng become mixed and by
one se}lool having omitted to forward returns.
·
'
'
t These percentages do not show the annual Increase, unt the Increase at December, 1867, as compared with December, 1866,
t These Jl"TOOUtages do not sbow the llllilUallncrease, but the increase at l\larch, 1868, as coonpared with March, r867.
• This is an estimate based on the Increase in tl>e average number on the roll.
4'8
5'2
3'3
S'4
~
s·s
II'07
7'08
3'9
~·6
55
•:s
Common
Common
::.·s
43
34
44
!6
59
4.475
.:zo,I7J
~'1.,704
Common
30'$
33,~13
45~
·common
I~J65
3.553
.!7,656
144
S05
181
64'4
17,597
6,~81
484
u,ou
~6,071
451
140
153
ss·,
44
61
76
65
67
71
8•8
'
9
. 8• It was pointed' out in our last Report that there
was
a considerable ntmlnutlon
In the number
.
•
'
of children on the rolls
diminution in the numbers of children on-the rolls, hand m average h
attendance
andln average attend·
.
ance, for December,
for the month of December, I866, as compared Wit the satpe mont m I865; rll66.
the decrease consisting of 2,35I children on the rolls, and 2,887 in average
attendance, c;laused by the sickness which was so generally prevalent in the
colony at the end of I 866. The demonstrations consequent on the arrival
of H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh also caused a considerable decrease in necreaseinnttendancefor
the attendance for December, I 867' which fell below that for the previous December, 1867•
month by 3,9 55 children on the rolls and 4,33 I in average attendance;
9· But, comparing the year I 867 with I 866, we find an increase co~n:partson66 of yearrs67
of 47 schools, 5,760 children on the rolls, and 41 I27 in average attendance. w!thrB •
IO. The latest returns which we are now able to submit are those for Returns tor March, rus,.
March, I 868, which give 77,388 children on the rolls and 58,333 in average
attendance, being an increase over the year r867 of 5,619 on the rolls an~
4,802 in average attendance.
.
I I. The number of new schools to which aid was granted in I 867 was Description of new
47, of which 39 were ·vested, or were conducted temporarily as non-vested schooLs.
schools with the intention of being vested, 7 were in connection with denominations, and one was a school in connection wi~h the Asylum for the Blind..
, I 2. We are glad to be able to show an increase in schools and Scholars Increase of schools and
which is more satisfactory than we liave been able to exhibit since the ~~~:~n:~::~!~~~:­
Common Schools Act came into operation. The percentage of increase in exhibited.
average attendance, comparing December, I867, with December, r866,· is
13· 55, and comparing March, I 868, with March, r867; is I2 ·36, while the population of the colony has only increased in the former case by 2 · 4 7 per cent.,
and in the latter by 3 · 2 I per cent. The number on the rolls of each school
has increased from 94 to IOo, and that in average attendance from. 70 to 76.
The percentage of the total population on the rolls of schools has increased
from IO · 82 to I I· 64, and in average attendance from 8 · o6 to 8 · 8; so that,
at the date of the latest returns, one out of 8 ·59 persons in the population
was on the rolls of Common Schools; and one out of I I · 36 was in average
daily attendance.
,
I 3. The number . of , school
establishments
in operation
on b3 I st Number
of school est~b,
d
.
lishments In operntwn.
March, 1868, was 772, comprismg 8I9 separate epartments, VIZ. :-30 oys,
32 girls, 27 infants, and 730 mixed.
I4. We now propose to consider the question of statistics of attend- Headsunderwhichstatlstics are considered.
ances under the following heads:-( I.) The proportion of children attending
schools to the total population. ( 2.) The :proportion of children of school
age attending schools. (3·) The regularity of attendance at schools as
compared with other countries. ( 4·) Remarks concerning the same.
( r.) Proport-ion
if Children
attending Schools to the total population.
IS. In, our last Report (paragraphs I34 to I4I) we adverted to the fact Nmnber on the rolls
' b er 0 f Child ren returned as on t h e ro118 represents t h e mean represents
the meflJl
t hat t h e num
number WhO have
'
h
d
d
d
•
h
h
h'ld
b
.
attended during each
h
numb er w o ave atten. e
urmg eac separate mont , no c I
emg separntemonth.
returned as on the rolls for a particular month unless he has attended the
school during some portion of that month ; and we stated that, to anive at
the full amount of benefit conferred by a school during the year, we must
ascertain the total number of distinct individual children who attend the
school at any time during the year.
I 6. We have ascertained from returns actuallY furnished, accompany- Total number of children
' · t h e dec}are d ro Jls 0 f atten dance f urms
• h ed by teachers, t hat t he tota1 who
attended during
mg
tbe year !867, and the
•
6
Th'
'll
•
year ended 31st Mar<lh,
'ld
h
d
d
d
number of ch1 ren w o atten e unng I 8 7 was I I I, I I 9·
IS WI g~ve, rs6s.
for the year .ended 3Ist March, an estimated number, based upon the increase
in the average number on the rolls, of. I I9 1 8I9 children.
I 7. It is very difficult to give a pmfectly accurate statement of the Number ;f children who
• a year. I n attend
more than ono
number 0 f ch I'}dren wh 0 attend more ·t h an one seh 001 dunng
schoolduringayenr
·
h'ld
fr
1
fr
h
l
h
d
cannot be given
some cases c I ren . equent y remove om one se 00 .to anot er, an accurately,
.
instances might be given 'in which they· attend two or three or even more
schools during the year. The principal causes of these changes are:( rst.) The caprice of parents and children-the former .being often Cansesfortheremovalof
·
db h }
•
childrenfromoneschool
much I'nfluence
y t e atter-and the s1mple
love of change.
to another .. ,
No. 39, a.
10
. ·(2nd.) The .alterations, which take -;plac~ Jh;>m time,, to :t1Il1e in the
.sta:ffs·ofteachers, and in the nature of the·b.uildings,furnitt~:rt'l; &~:,
. which}requently- affect the efficie:ncy and;pop1,1larity .of s·!3hools~
· · · ( 3rd.. ) ,;The removals of parents- from 1one district to .anothervcausing
:the transfer.-of the children. The, greatt?St chan ·will be foun9,
.to take place ·in the centres. of .population, . · in. most pf .tlJ.e
, country-districts- and jn :tbe_:out~lying gold-fields there is.-very
little variation in the attendance.,'
. · ' . · · '... .. · . .' ,1J , .....
:•
.
''
·'·
Ch!ldrenwho attend more
• I 8.. As' .bef{)re st'ated' the total number. of children· who were en the
thon one school durwg
l
" •
·
·
··
· ·•
•
· ·
~he year.· •
rolls for the year. ended :.3 Ist.Marcli, I 868,· w:as n9,~I9, ··:1Wi~h; a_,view to
ascertain·the m~mber of ~hildren who- attend more than-.one school during·a
year, certain' schools;· selected as .forming fair specimens of. the different
descriptions :pf ·~chools- receiving· aid,: were_· requested to £ur.qish. retm:n~
giving the informatiop required .. -.The Jollowing ret;q.rri 1 sh_ow~.-th.e result.t;>f
the information received. It will. be perceived that 1 the :_scho9ls~"P,~ye . ~t)J~l1.
schoo1sdtvtdedlntotown, divided into-:-::-::(,I·) ::fown ··schools, comprising· those· in the larger ·municicountry and gold-fields
' •
·
l
·
··
·
· · ,.
$chuoJ.s.'
palities ;• ( 2). Countr;r .. schools, · consisti:pg of those mpre than :tw.o ·!miJ~§
from others; _and other. 1schools .with small ;:tverage: attend!J.nG~S ~;-. ari.d
( 3) Gold-field's schqols, .embracing municipal:and other large schQoJs_. ,., T,P,e
Percentafl'eorchildren . p~rcenta£:e of' children ·3}Jpears; .to·. be, in ..town schools 25·92,• in...country.
Wh0 n ttcnd more than
,
· ~l:~~cnoorduringth~ schools 6·35,. and in :Go'ld-~elds'schools I4·I4 : ,. .,
·
·' _,,. 1
<-.,.)
·' .
'·•
·
-:·
...
'
... 7,666
.:. •'''72.'
.
:.1·:;.
Number On~wliicli:·th~·caJCu]~~i6nbfStllas~~d :c·.:. • ···,,
·.ctt:,~, ·.(~"t
'..,.
, •
t·~·
x,o63 children who have attended one other Common School
I 59 children who have attenqed t';VO, other Common Schools • .... .
• • · z.o children:wh'o have attended three other;Comiribn Schools I :-.. 1
<·
I'· ..
>.
4.
< ... -
.··~.·,·::.:·.)•)'.. ::
r
'-~·.: i ';':: ~
.'.:.' .'·:.: • "·,.
~
:
•
... ' 7.594
1,063
3i8
• ," .~;·~ ' l ; '
.
.
.6o
·.·:~!'
j. • '
.
6,ISJ
~umberor"childrenat.: . · _,.!9· .Diyid,i'Qg the -who.lr,of .t,l,1e;s~hp<;>~s in. thE}"~amE} manner, .we arriye
~~~d~~!d~':J':isc:C':;~~~: :,ttthe following result,:.-.-·I r
·. , ·.. : ·::·.
.•
.:
.
.
. ··-
'
'40,894 ~hilq:ren attend tO'\Vll: SGb,Qols,-:1 ..... ·;·:~~- · -:- '"_ .., - -- · · ·
. - 49;3 89 chUdr~n a.ttend. coun,tr:r. schools, ... ;· ·
,,.
: 29.,53.8 ·children atten<;l gotd~fields schools. .i'
1
Total .II9 1 8I9 .
. ::!:
..
·
.·
~
;'•:.
Deducting.tlie percentages·before stated from,
~ach
-·-;_···-,- .
~ ....
·.,
I·,·'·.. : ·'''
:r-.·
..
.
class;of
,l
.
schools;~
we find
tha~- J0,~94 distinct indiviouai chi_ldr~n -~ttend/towns~hools ~during the yea·r,
46;2 5I distinct -indivitlu.'aJ., children ··attend:1'comitry schools· during th~
ear,. · · ' · ·. ·
· .. ·
·. ·
:
:
Y
~
25,36I. distinct individual c~ildreii .attend gold-fields, s,chools during
·
·the y:ear::' · ··· :.
· ''
.; · · . · · ·.
Total roi,9o6
'·
· '
· '. C
· ,'':"''; ; · ·· ·· · · ··
'
.
~'
•
. l
.'
'
* It-must be.upderstood.rthat·
to represent. the relative number .of
children attending schools of these descriptions : e.g, many o(,the small gold-fields_ schools are included with
those described· as " Country." . The dh:ision is' made solely' with refereri!)e to .the· manner in.'which the
regul11rity oiattendance,may be,afiee~ed by surroun5fing circ]imstances.
-~ ., :
.,-_ !'
,,'' *I
Showing that ·q;913 children, .er ~4'9S·per. ~ent. of,the whole;.. attend more
than one school during the year.
·
. . _._;, . ·
. ,·
.
.
20. We have .ascertained from the' Registrar-General that the number Number of chl)dren
attending other thari Common Schools for t~e y~r·ended 3 I.st Ma~;ch, 1867, :~~~~1!:umate
had increased to Is, 192. The ·returns for the _same period of: 1 868 are not yet
complete ; but assuming that the same ratio .of increase has been maintained,
the number a~t€mding private schools on 31st March, I 8~68, will have been
20,2 74 ; ·and . esthnatihg , tha:t the same percent;:tge ··of; children attend more
than one school during the year, in private as in public schools, we find that
q,243 distinct individ'uaLchildr.en attend. pl'ivate schools during the year.
2 I.~ lt thus appears. that out of a population of 664,570, II9, I49 Resultt03ISt'M:arch, t863.
children are attending schools, being 17"93 per. cent, .or one 'out Qf 58. .
2·2:.\ !The..aheve calculation has been. made estimating. the number on :Result tor the year 1867.
the rolls to the 3 ISt March,, I 868 ; 'but taJdng the returns .a~tually furnished
for the; year ;J 867 1 the. percentage of chilclTen 'attending SChool~ is found to
be 16·28, or one.out of 6·14 in the.whole popula~ion.. It:should be observed,
however, tqat the return of .children attending othe_r:than,Qommon Schools
is·not brought:down later-;than the 31st March;' 1•867 .. }~',; '· ;r ·.; ·
s·
( 2.) Proportion of Children at school age attending Schools~· .·:
2 3. According to a return 'kindly furnished by the Registrar-General Percentage or population
it appears th'i:tt- -i-11-e' :percentage:~of,:, population· at all· ages, between 5 and I 5 :~:~:;;~':..r~~tweeu 5
years of age, is estimated at 24'
giving the number on the 31St March at
163,218. · The percentage.ofchildren attending·Commen-Schools under 5 and
above Is :may be estirp.ated from. th.e·· .calculations ,,~hi eh we: have caused to
be made at· 116 per cent., yiz.,: 14 1per cent. under s·, ··and 2· per .cent. above.
24. Tliis makes the :,total, nu,mber of".children att~ndil')g". Common Totalnuruberofchlldren
I'
· d I 5 nttendingCommon
SCh 00l S 10r
t h e year en d'11J.g March , I.868 1 b etween t_h e. ag~S, 0.f ; 5 ·&n
1 Schools in March, t86S,
•
b
h
between the ages of S
85, 601, er 52'45 per cent. of ~th e tota1 popuIatwn etween t ose ~ge~..
and Is.
. . 2 5· Assumin.!{'.
the
same
pror)ortion
for·
other
than
Common
Schools,
Total number attending
.,_,
.
~
' h- l .~ ' other than Common
the numher between
Schools between the
, those~. ages. attending such, se oo S· 1s. 14,484, or 8·87 ages
of 5 !llld 15.
of the total popuIatwn. , ;
. ·,
· · · ., '
. 1 :;;.:;.···! · ; •
·26 . .-It ,would·thus.. appear .that 100,0$5-: childr:~n, bet,w.e.en these ages Results to 31stl1Iar., xs6s.
were. attending schpols, or 6 r~2 per cent.; :'being one. Qut of: r63, or. nearly
twooutofthreeofthe~wholen1.miber. :
!'!_...· .. ·~.
,_. . . _ , , , . , .
i:J. Taking th~ ·returns actually rec.eived to the: close of ·1867, the Resutts_tortheyea.r xs67.
percentage. ;Of the population. within the school ·age more pr less attending
schools was 55 ·6 8, being one out-of T So;· or; five· out of nin~. '< ·
s6,
· ( 3·) Regularity rif a'tteridance at: Schools ai'f:'oihpiired with 'other countries.
· · · 28. With
refereiice
to actual atte-ndance
on the part· of: the children ' Nuruberordaysonwhlch
•
.
.
.
common school:; are
we· would remark that Common .Schools are. open .. on· an .average :for 230 open,andactualattend'· t h e year:·. T h e aetua.
· 1 atten da nee given·
•
b. y ~E\)ach ch'ld
giveu by each
d.ays,· or 46 wee k s,.' m
1 ance
child.
on the :rolls equals ·IJ2 ,scboo~ days, or. z6f weeks, show~ng t~at each child
. att~nds 57' 39 ~er .ce~t. ofthe time the sc'Qool)s_ opep,.. _. , P· ...·:. '< . ,
.
29. Thw stat.e.tp.ent of atten.dance, alth,q~gh not so satisfa.ctory as we F!!.~~~~~~E'.~~e;;;:;';.';~~~
could wish, compares favorably w1th the ·state· of matters--both- m :England, In En~la.nd,IreJ.and,and
Ireland, and America/' 'The·Rev. James 'Fraser;·:in his report to the Royal AmerJCa.
Commission on Education in England, shows.that:in the :United·:~States the umtcdstates.
average number of days-attendance for each child in the year does not
·
'
"' · :· ·:.·r(..- ;-: ' · ...
exceed 106 davs.*.
;
"': :, ~' 1 ·: ••
.....
• • ·.,.. ~ • ,
••
~
"' "Schools Inquiry Commissions ..,;_Report to the Commissioners appointed oy· Her Majesty to inquire
into the Education given in Schools in England, not comprised within Her Majesty's·two recent commissions,
and to the Commissioners appointed by Her Majesty to inquire into tlie schools in' Scotland, on 'the (',omrnon
School system of the United.States and ·of the Provinces of Upper and Lowe~ Canada, by' the Rev. James
Fra.ser, M.,i\.:, Assistant Commissioner."
·
·
· , · .
.
See note appended to page 95 of this report;• from 'wliich tlie ''iiuinbilr;· Io6•'days, is· derived.
Mr. Fraser also states on this subject, in pp. 94, 95 of his. report:-" It may be thought that three instances,
as in this table, constitute an imperfect •induction UJlon, which to build a general concl.usion ; but the three
"report!i from which I' have talien these flgures a~e'
diiiy"ones''{ri'''m'y'':riiissession: wl]ich tll,bulate the phenomena of attendance under the category of time. It is probable that thing's wo·uld be'liett'er'in Boston, possible
thE)y wo:uld be q~ttp~; .~n. Mass~chusetts ; but, wl),en,.~t,i~ .~e'!'eTBP,~,r.~d" t\l.;:tt ,?.7, to,~nsh,I~s0 li!OJ:e th;tn Of!e- fourth
of the whole numlier m that State·, kept thetr schools open for a less p'eriod'tlian Iio da)·s
iri 1864, one~·ceases
··to·be r•onfident that a ·more· f:worable ·return could be. made even- there .. -Anyhow,.it would seem that the
condition of schools.in. Americ:a, as .I:eSp<;!p.ts both th,\l P!JJCentage of a.tt~ndancp and the perir:d of attendance,
is no better than, indeed hardly so:good.as,. the average·copdition· qf scl)ools •among ourselves· ·Of course this
is no matter for exultation·; b,ut it may at least dispose· us to ·acquiesce· in, a short.coming w·hich appears
~nevit!!-,~le, an~ teach:. us . th:a~ und~l' ,all systems t~~~e will rema_in :.?- ?la-'~. of apathy, t.!l!'if~lessness, and
1gnoran~e agamst whtch 1t 1s, eertamly our duty to· fight, but wh1Ch-1t 1s mm· to hope ever effectua-lly to
-subdue,------~---·-··--------·-- -···'
·:c · .. · ·'
tlie
·'
· ··,
,
.12
30. In Canada, out of 36o,ooo children enrolled, considerably more
than hal( attended school less than 100 days, and. less than 17 per cent._
attended school 176 days ;* and frOIJ?. the statements and returns given in
pages 6 and 48 of the Report on Schools in Upper Canada for I 86 s; it
would appear that the average number of days attendance to each .child
in the year does not exceed 96 days.
3 I. In England, according to statistics furnished by the English
Commissioners of I 858-6 I, taken from the five pairs of " specimen districts,"
containing one-eighth of the population of the kingdom, and supposed to
represent· the average or typical state of education in agricultural, manufacturing, mining, maritime, and metropolitan localities, the average·number
of days attendance does not exceed I 29 days;t
.
32. From the. Report of the Commissioners of National Education in
Ireland for. I 866, we find that the proportion of the total aggregate number
of children who attended National Schools during that year is. to the average
attendance as .9~o,819 to 316,225 . .In this colony the proportions are as
II9,8I9 to sB,333· 'It thus appears that in Ireland the average attendance
is, only 34'72 per cent. of the total number, while in this colony it is 48·6~
per cen~.
·
.Ctl!lada.
England.
:tieland,
( 4·) Remarks concerning Statistics cif Attendance.
33. In estimating the number of children. receiving instruction, .it
must b~ borne in mind that a large number of children who do not attend
either public. or private schools are taught at home by tutors and governesses,
and by tpeir parents; and probably every person who reads this Report will
-be aware of many such cases. In many of the gold-fields, and in the bush
more especially, children are taught in this manner, owing to the unwillingness of parents to send their children to schools in the absence of any
other than Common Schools, to the preference of parents for home instruction,
. or for other reasons. We refrain from making any estimate of the number
Daminsumctwttoforma of children taught by these persons, because the data upon which we have
reliable estimate of tha
k are
· · too scanty to a dm1t
• 0 f th at preCISIOn
• • W h'lCh Sh OU
. ld a1ways
num~er of children to WOr
mnglit privately.
characterize statistical information ; but if we add those children under I 5
who, having received more or less education, are employed in pursuits which
prevent their attendance at school, it will no doubt be found that they form
in the aggregate a considerable portion. of the whole.·
ToTAL Nt;)!]IER oF c!IIL34. From the above figures we arrive
at the conclusion that 17·93 per
l>REN BECElV!NG IN·
sT!IucnoNmsc!looi.s.
cent., or one in 5·58 of .the total population, and 61·32, or nearly two out of
three of children between 5 and 15 years of age.are attending schools with an
amount of regularity which is not·equalled either in England or America; and ..
allowing for the facts that the children attending school vary from year to
year, those attending one year leaving the next, and others taking their plaees ;
that many children under 15 have left school and are engaged in various , ·
employments ; and that many others are taught by tutors, governesses, and
parents, we believe we are justified -in arriving at .the conclusion that the
Childrentaughtt::'ndtutoras-,
governesses, ""
P
rents.
"' Mr. Fra.ser states (pp. 228-230 of his report)-" The average attendance at the schools, however,
is stated to have been only 138,o36, only 38 per cent. of the enrolment, and barely more than 9 per cent., or
'1 in u, of the whole population. Of those who are reported to have attended school in the course of, that
year (using round numbers), 4o,ooo attended less than 20 days ; 7o;ooo attended between 20 and 50 days;
9o,ooo between 50 and 100 days; 72,ooo between Ioo and 150 days; 54,ooo between 15oand 2oo; and only
3o,ooo exceeded zoo days. So that, out of 36o,ooo enrolled children, :z.oo,ooo, or considerably more than half,
attended school less than 100 days ; and probably not more than 6o,ooo, or less than I-7?Per cent., attended
. 176 days. The same table reports the painful and humiliating fact of 44,975 children not attending any
school."
t See the table, of whieh the following is a copy, appended to page 229 of Mr. Fraser's report, from
which these calculations are made :' .
TABLE II.-Centesimal proportion of Scholars returned as having attended school during the year:--:
'
LoCll.llty.
UJlper Canada ••
England and Wales
than
....
....
Less
so
days.
30'3
17'4
Between
so and
Z4'9
18'9
I
roo.
I
Il<>twoon
Betwoon
reo and rso.
ISO and :>.oo.
19'9
Z0'9
Z4"4
q.·8
Over
:>.oo days.
s·s
18'4
.13
numbe~ of children ~nprovided with education is less than is generally
estimated, and that the great liberality of Parliament in providing for public
education has not been unproductive of substantial fruit.
3 5· we are not,• however, unmindful of• the fact
that many children llfn.ny
chlldren not
•
accounted for.
are not accounted for m schools or by home mstructwn. In a subsequent
part of this Report we shall indicate the means by which the greater part of
these children may 1mve the advantages of education pro"ided for them.
-Christian duty and good policy alike require us never to rest satisfied until
the amount of ignorance and vice, be it large or small, which is festering in
our populous towns and in the scattered pastoral districts, is brought Virithin
the influence of our Common School system.
III.-STATISTlCS 01!' EXAMINATION.
36,
The following table shows the number of children
presented for Tabteshow!ngthennmber
•
•
·
of children presented
exammatwn under standards and the number and percentage of those under standards, with
• each sub"~ect durmg
• t h e h aIf.-years ended t he 31st December, 18 66 , &c.
percentagesofpn.sses,
passe d m
and the 3oth June, I867.
·
.
37. The percentage of passes during the latter half-year shows a Falling of! in percentage
• h t h e 10rmer.
e
The IUSpectOrS
.
ofpas.sesdnrlngthesix
COnSI'dera bl e .r.n·
1a mg 0ff as COmpare d Wit
monthsended3othJul?e,
.
"b
h'
h
l
.
h
b"
f
l
'fi
•
h
h
r867, ""compared mth
attn ute t IS to t e regu atwns on t e SU ~ect 0 re-c aSSl catiOn rat er t an the
six months ended
r 1
h
f
h
J
B
k
"
Jf
3rst December, r866•
to any 1au t on t e part o the teac ers.
nspector rown remar sReasonstorsame.
the results produced do not appear altoaether aS gratifYing aS might be Remarks on the subject
• d-I"f t hey 1a1
.1!. "l
. l y byinspectorBrown.
desrre
to reac h t he stan dod
ar to wh'Ich. t h ey had previOus
attained-! ·cannot attribute the shortcoming to any diminished energy on
the part of the teachers. In the higher classes niore particularly special
pains have been bestowed to secure satisfaGtory results."
3 8. We propose that from the commencement .of I 869, the standards standards o.ndprogramme
' · upon wh'IC h th e grants fior resu1ts are pat"d, an d t h e programme to be amalgam!l.ted•
.of exammatwn
of the course of instruction shall be amalgamated; by which means one
examination will answer for both purpos~s, and t~e organization of schools
·
will be improved.
39· In order to initiate this system with a certain amount of expe- Changenottobemnde
869
rience, we have instructed the Inspectors to examine on the above principle till ' "
during the remainder of the present year, but no change in the manner of
payment will be made, till I 869. The result of these examinations Vi--ill gqide
us in arranging the details for ultimate adoption.
40. In England, teachers can withhold from examination such children Practice in England and
as they do not think capable of passing the standard for which they are· due, vtctorta.
and can present them at a subsequent examination for the same standard,
forfeiting only their results for the year in which they are n:ot examined.
Here, children oncH placed in standards must advance a standard each year,
wheth~r presented or not, so that a child examined in I 866 for Standard 3,
IQ-USt in I 868 be examined in Standard 5, even if he were away from examination in I 867.
41. The effect of this is to reduce the number of passes obtained in Ef!ecttnvtctorJ.a.
·this colony as compared with those in England, and to make it more" difficult
- for a teacher to keep his scholars up to their standards.
42. This has caused a certain amount of complaint, and the rule is to Proposed plan.
some extent too stringent. Ori the other hand, the English rule does not
apply sufficient stimulus to keeping the children up to their classes, as a
teacher can always make a fair show by excluding dull and neglected children
from examination. Under the proposed plan, a teacher may present children
more than once for the same standard without a few individual cases at all
injuring the resultS in his school ; but if he allows his children generally to
fall behind, he will raise the average age in his classes, and so cause a loss in
results-nor can he obtain any real or apparent advantage by withholding
children from examination ; and since the programme and standards are the
same, there is every inducement to place children in the classes for which
they are fi~.
''
· ·'
43· The plan appears to be a fai'r inediuin between tlie stringency of
the ·rule requiring every child to advance a standard each year, and .the-laxity
of permitting children to be. presented only when it suits· the teacher to have
them examined.
·
.·
·
·
·· ·
·
In:;:;~~';.'";~!~f~~~~!;!!~
44· T.he In'spector-General reports that· "'the: ,result of inspection
tion under standards.
under
s'tandards
has become more. uniform in· the· different districts than
haa become more um·
"
.
.
torm.
it..was· in 1866, '~ and that ·~the. difference per 100 passes .?etween ·th~
~:ughest and ,lowest number given was, for 1867, 16·r 1, against 24·27 for
1866."
''
' .
Advnntageot.
FOR THE HALF-YEARS ENDED 3IST DECEMBER, I866 1 AN~ 30TH. JUNE, 18.67::.
_:: t:O
0
Standa;·d, and
,..s"
Half-year ended-
~~
'~
-------- ----
,;
"'"
"'"
!
.....
t
'"
•• •
•
Iir {31 Dec., 1866: ..
•
7,778 23'11
7,969 ~I •oS
4,361 12•96
5,625 14'88
2,955 8•78
2,ggi 7'91
1,231 3'66
, 2,38I 6'30
30.Juue, 1867 ...
J31 ·Dec.,
1'86L.
IV. [..3o ..June, 1867 ...
{ 31. Dec., 1866 ...
30 June, 1867 ..:·
V.
VI. {31 Dec., IS66 .••
39,Juue, 1867·;·
'
~~
~! o..15
----
71'48 . 7,124
66'53 7,563
.80;,45 7,278
76'52 7.55 2
.,.
, 6,325
si ·82
6,o88 76'40
3,583 82•16
4,I06 73'00
1,975 66'.84
I,654 55'29
758 61·57
95I 39'94
'
I :;;g
=~
,;
I....,if
l~
~~
~~
I
·i
,,!'!
-
~~
5,274 67•81
S,I68 64'85
2,740 62•83
3,188 . s6·~7
1,291 43•64
1,178 39'36
345 28•02
3I2 I 3' 10
;~
.,;
"'
":c:
u::::l
ll<1i
--
}...
,.;!
""
;~
...
"
. .,~
·~
~~
~;§
74•60 4,534 47'48
·71. 30 4,831 45'54
93'60 4,019 51'68
9I'8I 4,I44 so· 38
l
il<<>
...
•
2,563
2,532
Hi7·
56'90 I,800 23'14
54'• 5o' 1·;477· ·is ·tsr :I,954
59·oo 1,287,29';'\1 1,246
52·48 1,220 i 2I'6g ·1,:n6
282 i 9~54'
48'63
509
142 4'~4' · 286
39'95
18'6
50'04 ·129 10'48
2'5• 19
I02
3'I5
75
4,426
4.343
2,573
2,952
1,437
I,Ig5
616
6oo
2,674 34'39
2,538 30'86
32'97
30'78
~9· i5
24'52
28•57
21 ·61
I7'22
9'56
15·11
4~28
-- ---
. -1 - - - - -
31 Dec., 1866 ••• ~.~.q50
30 June, 1~67: .. 37.799
neturn snowing the per~ ·,
centnge o! passes under ..
'0~
~~
{ 31 Dec., 1866 ... 9,fi49 28•38 6,826
I.
jo June, I867 ... t_?,6o8 28'07 ..7,057
:i:J:.<•• { 31.Dec., 1866 ... .. 7,776 23:,11 6,256
c
3oJune,1867··· '·s;~25 2I'76 6,294
g1 •
.;:::~
""
IIOO·OO 25,723
76'44 24,052 71·~8 I:
. 00 :;6) so 6g· I8 24,961 66·o3 I
~~
52•32 .6,172 '18•34
47;78 5.452 I4'42
~.771
20•12
I6' I I
6,ogo
45· · We furnish ri return showing the percentage of passes under the
'1 . Ed
• •· .., ]
h
'I'}
t~ecom'!'itteeot o?un- Committee of Coml.ci on .;,_,· ucatwn m Eng and fort e year' 1866-67.
1e
~~g~~',,J'~~"':~~ot,6~~ p·asses are' still higher tha'* in this colony, which is chiefly attributable' to the
fact stated in. paragraph 4o, viz., that in this colony the children have to
P7,ogress each year .to a higher standard.
·
•
.} i·
ENGLAND, I866-67.
·.
. Staml:ifd .
.
I:
l
l'a'sscd in
Reading.
• centage.
Writing.
·Percentage.
J>a~tzed
in
•' '
!'llssed in
Arithmetic.
..
Percentage.
..
...
'IgO,J50
28'67
164,203
86'2~
170,140·
. 8g'J8
I,5I ,ggi'
79'84
...
...
1701004
25'60
15o,o6o
88'27
I61,053.
124,720
73'36
I
.;
IT.
..
Per-, .
ceutage.
~I'
...
III....
·IV. ...
V. ...
VI. ...
'
"
..
... ..
...
....
2!'37
J30,178
91'75
I4,932
94'73
SI 'OI
I 07,66 5
7s·ss
87.531 '
: IJ '!8
82;086
64,648 .,
73:·86
S9,s 56
68:38
50,944
23,298
. 7'67
42,078
82·6o
38,147
1 3 ;51_
48,171
_22,188
93'78
.94' 56
95' 2 4
20,373
87'1-5
' ...I7,724
74'88
76•o8
664,00)
too·oo
596,886
8g·8g
. 573,224
86'33
SOO,IOJ
I4I,878
..
...
Total
I
.
.
'
..
2
75:3
-
.
46. The, following' tables give the numbers and percentages of
and percentages ut eh~!- children pr~sented and passed, both in Ertglanq and Victoria, since :the
thecg~~ commencement of the result system:· ·
· .. · .:· ·
·
Tahlesglvlngtbenumbers
.
mencementofthe result· ' · system.
'
·· ·
··
~
· ,
-.
· •· ·
·
· ·
~UMBER OF· CHILDftEN PRESENTED AND PASSED UNDER STANDARDS FROM THE HALFYEAR ENDED. joTJI JUNE, 1864, TO THE IIALF-YEAR ENDED JOTH JUNE, 1867. · . Number
Presented.
---
: 26;274'
28,303
~
3lo,798
. ·J4',265.
'.'j4,86o'
.l'jj,6so
37.799
~assed
Period~
'
JO.
3I
-3o
' 31
i 30
31
30
J
J1fnC,
I~64
Dec., I864
June; I865'
Dec., 1865:
June, I866'
Dec., 1866
June, 1867
in
PerPussCd in
Rcadlpg. centage. Writing.
Per-
:;,~~~~.~~
----
.
..
.
., , , , .,'I'·"'
2,824
IS,872 60'4I
Io,s§5 40'21
,20,37 ~ 77'55
2I 1 362 75'48
56'36'. 5,2g6
I5,952
2f,;'03 ss's I
25,I71 8 I'73 22,406 '7 2'75
6,8oo
'.27,843 8I'25 25,718 7 5:05. 18,764. 54'76
. 26,2'.5'5. 75'31 24,325 69·78
I7,201 49'34. 5.498
1
2·5.7 2'3 76'44! '24,o5i ,.7i:i+8 !I7;6o5·•·' 52'32 .. :6,I72
z6,150 6g'I8 24,961 66·o3 : I8,o6s 4778
5,452
I
'
I
'
Per- .• Passed In i PerPnssed in
Per-.
centage. Graminar. !eentage. Geography. cet1tnge.
'
"
·~. ~
N~~-·
,,._
I2'39
. 10'·7.5
ih~i4
I8'7I
i'ITJ9. ;·· 5,6so : .18:44
.Ig'84 o 7,J~~.,·Ij 1 2I'_54
'i 5'77 ·6,o96 ··1 I n 9
I8'-34 :\6,771 .: ·20'I2
I4'42 '.l"··. .l6,<;>9?-...
,!?;u
·.-. ,1". "\,.'_.. ·~
j
1
15
SIM1LAR RETURN TO THE ABOVE, OF CHILDREN PRESENTED UNDER THE COMMITTEE
. OF PRIVY COUNCIL IN ENGLAND.
18o,oo5
sss.soz.
I
657,6981
664,005
1863-64
. 1864-65
r86s-66
1866-67
157,215
489,896
587,329
596,886
87'34 I53,180 85'10 137,825
88'19. 473;171 85'18 420,799
89'30 564,886 85'89 498,377
8g'~9 573,224 86'33 500,IOJ
76'57
7575
7578
75'32
}
Un•ler the Commit-tee of Council,
examinations o.ro not heM in
grammar and geography.
following table contains
a• comparative
statement
of the sums comparativestaternentot
47 . The
,
•
•
•
,
the sums. pahtin salnrlea
in
salaries
and
paid
for
results
Ill
VICtona,
With
the
percentages,
andforresults,together
aid
P
,
.
•
•
with the deductions for
together with the deductions for the periOd to whiCh the payments refer:- the
the periods to which
payments refer.
..
I
•
Period.
,.
Sa.litries.
I
'
tAt March to Joth June, i864 ..
Half-year en~ed 3rst Dec., 1864
Half-year ended 3oth June, r865
Half-year ended 31st Dec., 1865
Half·yeurended 30!h Jnne, r866
lialf·year ended pst Dec., 1866
Half-year euded 3oth June, 1867
£,-a. ·
d.
1.6,.U8 8 Z
~::l""'
"'
~~
oe~§~..S
Amount
earned under
Rule r6.
""""0 ""' ._. ~ 8
=
e;
~
....
S-g ~E
I ,;r~E
I
g"'=:a~
~ ":: . .,.
""'
a
! ~ ~ 1: ~ g
I g;,~i ill"
g;::: ~"0
'0·....
~S
§;]
q,l]
'S
QJ
I ~""i.
~
§
§ ~
sa
as<=·~Zg
,~.e~~-5<>
I
'M
0
---·---·-,
. .g~.gr
g~
slil
."~
. ..
0
.S 1 rg 8 ij 0
Jl,.,, """':.= !:;>
h j 1h:~s~
~
~
I
~
I
,p..
....
§ l=l
1:,""
~~'i~
<=:>'iJl
.Amount
_g_
payable under ~ ~
llule t6.
,.,-
~~'8
~e;JrHeh§l ~~e ~~E~" e~~
~~.s.:a~~f!~..;:; ~'!;'.:!~ "'(~Ul'O~ ~'tj~
£,
),8)0
43,88<} 6 3 IZ.,oS6
47,199 0 7 II,4S5
49,350 9 6 q,66z.
so,388 2 6 u,ns
51,314 11 5 14,038
50,988 ll 5 !1!.,649
s, d.
1 3
6 to
U
6
r6 o
9 3
19 3
8 3
•
U'll
27'47
14'17
•1·68
:l.S'Z-7
2.6'83··
14·8o
£,
569
833
791
510
775
63I
a.
18
o
0
Io
3
d.
1
1
£
9'74
!
s. d.
Nil
z.
4
848 I5 o
s.
-4
£,
i
9 . 6 91 , 31 8 l i
7
6·go ! 2.4 14 5
I 10
g~.~
~~C)
0'16
0'2.1
0'03
0'01
3'74 • 4 to 1
· 6·o8
o IS 7
4'49
16 9 4
6·7o
46 IS 1
·I
j
0'!9
0'37
d.
I
),1.8o
Il 1 19I
IJ
I0,639
IJ,l47
II,9)9
IJ,38!
II,75J
'7
IS
7
8
!8
•6
9
4
I
,
go·~6
91-'83
91'88
96'23
93'9I
9S'J1
1 9•·93
48. It ~ill be seen that the proportion of results to that of salaries va~ies Proportion of results to
·very little from that shown in our last Report, being 24 ·So for the ·half-year toot ot salarles:
ended 3oth June, 1867, as compared with. 25·27 for the same half-year
Of 1866. 6·70 Of the amOUnt' earned Unde:f resultS WaS deducted Under Deductions from resulta
• h 6·o 8 10r
1!
· 1y ment•wne d, and under Rules 7 lllld 25.
R u1e 7, ·as compared Wit
t h e h alf-year prevwus
'37 w~s deducted under Rule 25 for faults of instruction, &c., as compared
with ·o1. The percentage of the amol!nt paid under results to that which
would have been earned, if no dedt;tctions had been made, under Rules 7 and
25, is 92·93, as compared with 93·91.
49· The avera~e n'\illlber of destitute scholars during the year I 866, Averagenumberof.destl• t he A ppen d'IX, was I 2, 87 5, as tute
scholars durmg
accprd.mg to·th e competed returns shown m
1866and 1865.
compared with IO,OI5 in the year I865, showing an increase of 2,86o.
so. During the year• I 866
the local contributions an~ Government Local contributions and
Government aid towill'd!
ai•d t owards teach ers ' sa1anes
an d a11ow~nces were as un der :teachcl'll' salaries, &e.
LocAL CONTIUBUTIONS.
School fees
. Other contributions
...
£
66,540
97Z
s. d.
7 9 ·.
5 IO
£
s.
4.
67,5 IZ 13
7
GOVER.."rnENT A:n:~.
Salaries ..•
Destitute scholars
Results ....
IOZ,940 I 5
0
IZ,3I8 3 '3
z5,157 7 5
- - - - - - 140,416
5' 8
5I. These figures show that the local contributions are 3 2·47 per cent., Pereenta.ges ot Iocat con· are 6T 53 per cent. D urmg
• t he year I 86 5 ment
trlhuttons and Govern·
whl'le t h e G overnment· payments
aid compared
·
d
6
6
6
·
h
•
•
.
with the percentages
t h e proportiOns were 34'34 an s·
per cent., s owmg an mcrease m the forformeryears.
Government aid in 1866, as compared with 1865, of r87, and a consequent
decrease in the local contributions to the same extent. This increase in the
Government aid was caused in great measure by the .increased amount paid
for destitute scholars, amounting to £2,7 82 9s. 4d.
·
'
52. We submit, in the Appendix, a return pf the Common Schools in Returns s'.'bmltted 1n
operation during the ·year I 866, aiTanged under counties and districts, and Appendr:L
showing the municipaliti~s, if any,, in which they are situated ; with 'the
number of children .on the rolls and in average attendance, the average
nUlJlber of destitute scholars, the local contributions, and the Government
aid. We also submit a return similarly arranged, showing the number of
16
schools inspected and examined under standards for the six months 'ended
3 Ist December, I 866, and 3oth June, I 867, with the number of children on
· the rolls and present at inspection, t4e number passed and paid for under
the' result system,· the sums paid by way of fixed salaries· and results,
together with the sums raised by fees' and local contributions ; also the
number of children on the r~lls and in average attendance at the end of I 867.
rv.-REVISION OF GENERAL REGULATIONs FRAMED UNDER THE coMMON
ScHooLs AcT.
-
53 ·we stated in our last Report that it was "imperatively necessary '
that fresh legislation should take place on this subject without delay,
lallonsmustberevised. or,that by some assurance of a permanency of the .present arrangements we
should be enabled to carry out those alterations which we have long had in
contemplation, by which expenditure would he decreased and efficiency
improved."
. Six general regulations
54· Since the commencement of the present year we have framed'
bave been framed since •
dd"t"
• 1mpor
·
t an t amen dmen t S On th OSe
. the commencement of SIX a
l IOna1 genera1 regula t"IOns, em bracmg
present year.
hitherto in force. We now propose to refer in detail to these changes,
explaining their nature and .our object in' making them.
First regulation.
55. The first of these, which was adopted by us on the I 8th DeExaminations
understandards to be annual,
from cem h er, I 86 7, an d WaS gaze tt ed On th e 2n d M·arch , I 868 , prOVl"des th a t , f rom
~~68 .commencement of the commencement of the present year, the examinations under standards
shall be annual instead of half-yearly:Revision of general regu-
l~~~~:~es~~~~~ ;:;~~~=either
I.
ANNUAL ExAMINATIOl'l. OF ScHOOLS· UNDER STANDARDS.
The Board of Education hereby give notice that, from and<after the rst January, r868,.
Common Schools will only be examined 011ce a year under standards, instead of twice, as hitherto.
'
Payments under Rule r6 will theref<?re be made annually.
Educa~ion Office, Melbqurne, 2oth December, 1867.
Under this arrange~ent all schools, except in some few cases, where it will
he only possible to visit them once, will be visited twice-once with notice
for examination under· standards, and once without notice, for .the general
purposes of inspection ; as many incidental visits as possible will, also he
made. This is an alteration which we have long had in contemplation, and
Schoolswlll be Inspected · h" h
· t h e" Royal 0 ommlSSIOn.
• •
U n der It
• seh 001s Wl'll
. oftener than at present. w IC
was recommen ded by
rn~~~~J~~s tovlsitwuhout be inspected oftener than at present, and the visits without notice will enable
the Inspectors to see them in their every-day aspect, and ascertain more
satisfactorily than hitherto the actual state of instruction and discipline.
Paymimts to be made for
s6. As, however, this regulation was not made known till after the
half-year ended 3oth
· "ded t o ma k e· a progress
June, 1868.
c9mmencement of th
. e present year, we have dec1
rtlsproposedtopayfrom payment for the half-year ended 3oth June.
From the beD'inning
of I 869 '. we
1869 results montbly.
·
t:l~
. h9pe to be able to make the payment$ for results monthly, _with the salanes.
~~~nb~:~f~~~~~~~. to be
57. The second wa,s passed by us on the 5th Feb~uary, and relat~s
allowed on the staffs or to the numbers of teachers allowed on the staffs of Common Schools, and 1s
common schools.
ll
,
.
as fo ows.:-II.
'
TEACHING STAFFS OF COMMON SCHOOJ~S.
In addition to the head teacher, a pupil-teacher w1ll be allowed for every 25 scholars in
. average attendance ov«;)r the first 25, or an assistant teacher for every so scholars over the.first
25, provided that there shall be one assistant teacher for every 100 scholars in average attendance;
but in schools employing one or more pupil-teachers, should the attendance increase to such an
extent as to entitle the local committee to substitute an assistant for a pupil-teacher, the full
number of pupil-teachers already employed may.be retained until'a vacancy in the pupil-teachers'
staff shall occm·.
'
•
A workmistress will be allowed in mixed schools, where the head teacher is not a female,
when the average attendance exceeds 30; and when the pupil-teacher is not a temale, or is not
competent to give \nstniction in needlework, and when the average attendance is from 7 5 to roo,
the local committee may, with the approval of the Board of Education, employ a second pupil- .
.teacher instead of an assistant, and retain the services of the workmi'stress; the salary of the
workmistress to be £20 a year when the average attendance is below 36, and £30 a year when
abov'e that number. Not less than one hour's instruction to be given in each-school day.
In schools where the average attendance is below 2 5, the salary of the head teacher shall
not exceed that allotted to the 2nd division of competency.
17
Applications for increased staffs .will be received at any time, and staffs will be increased
from the commencement of the month succeeding that in which the application is received, such
i_ncrease being based upon the average attendance for the three months preceding the date of
application, but no increase will be recognized unless the sanction of the Board shall have been
previously ob~ained.
·
The above regulations will take effect from the I st October, 1868, from which date Rules
14 and 15 will be rescinded.
Education Office, Melbourne, 5th February, 1868.
'
58. The late Royal Commission expressed their • opinion (page 36) LateR.oyalCommission
considered that the staff
that the staff of teachers allowed to schools was excessive and should be ofexcessive.
teac!'ers allowed was
modified.
provides
that a pupil-teacher shall
be allowed staff
allowedbrnewrnle.
59 . The above rule
·
,
• •
Assistants, pupil-teachers.
when an average of so is obtamed and one for every additional 25, and
an assistant teacher for the first 7 5, and another for every additional so ;
committees being permitted to select pupil-teachers instead of assistants,
provided that there be one assistant for every I oo children. The original
rule gave an assistant for every so children, and, in addition, a pupil-teacher
for every 35 children.
6o. The new rule also grants ' a workmistress where the average workmtstresses.
attendance is 30, instead of requiring 36 as before ; and in schools averaging
·
from 7 5 to 100 it enables local committees to obtain the services of a
workmistress, with two pupil-teachers, instead of requiring them to appoint an
assistant. By this means masters of country schools will derive the. benefit
of being allowed to retain their wives as workmistresses, and so augment
their incomes ; whereas, under the present rule, the wife would be ineligible
for employment if not able to pass the necessary examination.
61. The new rule also provides that where the average is below 2 5 Where the average is
• a Sa}ary excee d"mg t hat 0 f t h e Second di VISIOn
••
below zs the teacher
t h e teach er Shall not receiVe
not to receive a salary
.lr
• th e Un due expen d"Iture exceeding
that of the
• WI"ll have t h e euect
0 f competency i t hIS
0 f re d ucmg
second division of cornin small schools, while it will give highly classified teach~rs a greater induce- petency.
ment- to endeavour to seek larger schools ; but the allowance of a workmiRtress with a smaller average attendance than before will tend, in most
cases, to make up this deficiency to the master, while it will give to many of
these small schools the advantage .which they do not now possess of a female
to assist the teacher.
62. This regulation will effect a very considerable saving in expen- savmgwm be effected.
diture i and while it Will do away With a number Of Unnecessary assistants A number of unnecessary
it will increase the teaching power of smaJl schools, such being precisely ::~;a!f:h~vill be done
the cases where additional help was required.
·
·
·
6 3. In order 'to give teachers ample notice of the change, and to Rule to take effect from
·
" ht be d"1spensed Wit
• h to 1oo k about £ior other Delay
1st October next.
enable th ose wh ose services
m1g
in gazetting.
employment, we proposed that this rule should not take effect till the I st
October next. The rule, although passed by us on the sth February, was
not gazetted till the 19th June. We regret the delay that occurred because
teachers instead of having eight months notice of its operation have less .than
half that time.
64. The third general regulation which was passed by us on the 26th Third general regulation
Febrnary, and a copy of which will be found in the Appendix, relates to as to pupn-teachers.
pupil-teachers.
6 5- Our objects in making the changes provided for by this rule were- Objectstnmakingthe
(1st) To increase the number of pupil-teachers, by-allowing head-teachers ~~n:,;~~-provided.torby
of the second division of competency to have them, instead of confining
them to teachers of the first division : ( 2ndly) To increase their salaries,
which we have accordingly nearly doubled, in order to provide for an adequate
supply of young persons, great difficulty having been found in securing the
services ofmalepupil-teach~rs especially; ( 3rd) 'fo grant to the head teachers,
who are required to give up several hours per week out of school hours for
the instruction of pupil-teachers, remuneration according to a reasonable
scale for the additional woi·k thrown upon them ; such remuneration being
based upon a sliding scale, according to the numbers employed, and being
subject to a proportionate reduction for such as fail to pass, the teacher is
thus not onlY paid for his work, but is paid according to the manner in which
No. 39, b.
18
1he·does
Qu~;;~nofapprentlce-
that ukir.k :•••(4tn) To·give·pupil~teacb'ers the safu~'secutity'oftenure
:is 'te#liet~/Q,.Y.,.,,
:. $3;~in
·, .th~'if'
r~rrip~ralsJu b~..
·~~t. to it'':
l3Ciar'd~
- g_
..
PP.'eal to"tfie
.
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6~.:We: also'v\~ry·.ca:r.efully consider.ed·~the subject of apprenticeship;
aJ?.d .Were desirous to ,have pupil-teachers arti~led to their. m'astetSj' as is the
case ilr •Eng'Hind•;• bri beafin'g';·in 1mind1tlle 'sp~cial circumsJ;ancefH>f'the
co~onv,
1 ')\idlHt•!)~t·"' '")'l ~lJt'f J I \ ·~ J"
we were unwi1ling to introduce at o~ce a change· of sucn inipof!abce,~an<r:}Ve
; ...
t,t.
Pupn-teacheisregarded
In a twofold capacity,
Extremes avoided,
have accordingly confined ourselves cuf. a·recoffiiuerrdation''th:at"WRttefttligreeIl!ents should be en~red into with the p~rents, 9r .guardians. , . ,
, ···.:. :·::···6'7. 'J'iiCfdimi'ng·1 ·llies~:T'egu"'1ationsrwe1 'hav:e had. ii{tvi.·ew :the.<;fact t.hat ·
·
·
pupi'f-teachers;)are t't;()Lbe"' regardecf;if{ a ·'tWOfOld capacfty''F• first}''iis the best
J1laterial frorq which ourfqture teachers are to be. derived, a~d, sec6ndlJ, ·a:s
im p·ortimt· aids· 'i':fi tHe· 'scli'oOI1W6rR. ·:, SomEte'au·li-ationist8i' Having in ·view only
the former r~qu'ifement;"·desire)to' confine 1t1:ie' employiueilt ·of pupil-teachers
to'schools ;of' the ·highest' class; if~ile·'others;"i#. tb'eir·'eager:i:iess. td s~clire a:d
ample supply ot this' vaJuable· edhcat~Bnal. element, ar:e·\.apt·'t<:Hn~'er;'lbof·tlie
fact that the young~personS: employea.rl&r}JujH'ls'as: wen· ~s. teac7l:~ri;·aha:to
'regard;·thtf"in'structroil:''giVeri'·br·tlierii i:r£ the~·latter cap~cj~y· 'as {far"~o'ver;
weighing the valy.e of that r~ceived by them in the fo:rmer.'' '.· ', t / ~:·-- ·' · '
& ·. • --:v 6St_i ·W~'Jiav~ ~D.Heafoure~a. to ,st~er;~and·we liope s'uccessfully; '·between
. these· :two extre.mes.. ·;· We ~:shall reqUire: to· be> satisfied •:that'·t?e ·sc?hofs' ili
1
'vhich·pripii-teac-nerS:'at:eeilgaged'"are'prop~rly' and 'effici~ntly''conHucred;ll)'iit
we sl'iall· not:. c~nfi#.e !:their. ·;eniplo}"ment" 'to thos.ir:schbols. orrly~',vhic'h''il:t~
pi·esided :over' 'oy: tdac'hers ':possessed of lite#ty ·a~q'uir~fu~iits which'' ~e'•ii{Jt
ne~essary·f~r':the prqp'er1 ~diica,tiori of fmpil-;teacpers:'•Cf;
I;J'> _'J,l<.<}l'. i••
nevisionofthep;rogramme.. • • ~··6 : iJn ·coniie'ction'1:witli''this'·sub1&ct';we''·have ,;deemed it··'a8visabl~~·t6
9
for examlnatwn of
,
tJ ' ,
'
· ·
- -._ ..
teacherslpthedlvlslons adopt a revision·ofthe' prog+aiunies for' the· examination of teachers' in the
~~:;:~:::;~:;.
dh;isiqns of co·mp~tency. ·:·'The ·p'rincipai'·changeE! c6nsist· iri ·qur requiring
.
greatef· stri'ngenc:f iiCtlie·'exa·niinations' in~ the"'. art ofJtea:ching ':·· thusi teachers
in ·the first division, ili:aitdi~iori'to c'om}).o~iiig.tlre:note&iofa lesson·;· drawing rip
a ti1ne-table; 'and: giV:iirg a coUective. 'l~sson cfiJ. :the ·presence· oft¥ e. Inspe'cior~
a'r'e requijed· ·t,o":sh()w. 'their .. abilitf:to'keep' allrelasses fuUy·)~mployed ih
accordance·:,Witli··tl~e"'tiilie'·t:l'ble, afidtifitpropef'.:di'sbipliiie 1.;'.. 3:nd:te~chers'in tht3
seco'nd ~aiviE!fOJ:l~!.ii:ilaildition' to Y.eepipg' a; ~lasi(.iii 'i::lr(l'er; atter{ti'Qii; ana abtivity;
are·. required cto~'g1ve' 0a satisfactory 'less6n ~to· 'a· ·class· irrlre'ad,ing; •'writing;
arithmetic, grammar, orgeography, and to. unperstand.class drUL •·l ·'·
· •
1
Accurnte knowledge
·
··
;·
·:
70.
·.These
nioai~catioiis
iitthe
requirements
i:h
teaching
are
important.
required.
.,
'deem it,'::.iJecessary j•to ·.!se'cure aGcurat(r Jhiow ledge ·on tlie part of. rou~
teachers-in the· limited literary'-progranune-iil'Whicil they ~re required to' p·ass;
but we have- extended the' requirements in •\th'at•'niost'·essential''~oipt of all;
which•,tests.'the ~capac~ty:of a te:l:ch~r 13 fo·'impart'.·to others the' knowledge
1
' · )::;
which'ne himself'·poss'~sses~' ,:::~'-''"~··~•···· .·-' ... ,.; .. '1 ····A·:~
~·ourth regulation.
;.·,.
•;.!: 7 u·· The 'fourth' gehetal'·regul:ftioh· ·, wliicli wa:s 'passed by·· us·' oii tlie
n~~rr:::l~~~~i~t~a!e~£R:
i 8th March,., has feferehce''to !th:e\ 1subjecf oftlieip~yrrie'nt o'f fees ~for destiti:lte
dren9
. '• 'l__ . . t , ' · •. , .u·Jir'
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· :. '·-';72 •.:. Ire our last' Reji6it' (pdfagrapli"i~ fwe·· stated :uiat we· had r.eceived
Reference to last report.
an intimation fi·om the Governm~nt th~p they intended· to withhold ·an p'ay~
ments oh this'• account' aftet'the- 1Jist 1VI~rch;''I·867 ;''tE:e Government, however,
stibSeqilently''provided·ifor these'''aym'ents"for th'e'whble year'. ·"·.' c;·, .. ,.
. 73· We also made ~he fofiowing' stf~.temept in reference 'to 'thi:rpolicy
Quotation from laat
report.
of c'0ntinuing':these·pay'ni€i'iits'::....:::."'':.~ ""-~' :-,.,: : .... ,,n '· '· ··''.'
·. · · ·
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Iri:pr~vio~~'RW~~ts
·n~V~:.:hUdd~d ·t~'~th~srirrou~(ling thiS' sJibjeet,' and
there ·cari!be no doirbt':tl1at tlielptivileg<rOf free' edtwation_'t'oldestitute 'chilliren is:greatly abused.
Ou.r· .Jnspeetorf:l .are unanimausly in f:;tyor..of: the. abolition of:the payment for· destitute children;
and . fe~l th!\:t ~~~e.:~v~~~~.s.ybjE)Ct_:t:~qHir.q~ ¥P.ec~ah~!lps~der.a.~i9n.'lgu\u "~·.·.' ... · .· • .· . · ,;
· :.'"
\-Ire
·aiffiebfiiJs'
. . : 7·4·: ·Some, . special!senq·;Jil:iries ,w.liich:..we ordered···to'lbe mai.ie in August,·
·
1.8
67,
.in . connection ·.·with-' two: 1schools-.·
1.· ·o.'fie ',in ·East· :Qollingw.ood,' and· the
two schools.
other .:in''Sandridge, ,·which·twere car'efully :investigated bj 1-the·) Inspector7
General and "the' ~~a:miner-·again·.brouglit thi9 ·matter 'promin~ntly uhaer our
notice. '·In·these 1 SCh(oJO-ls;: which<were;.situated in lo'califies ih which there are
·
a large numbertofi:child:r.en!·whor.may:·fa·~riy>claim the·"beriefit,Of·this,:rule;: it
Certific~ttesgrnntedwhere WaS ShOiWll that.inJ~everdl(!casesrcei'tificates'ha(l: be~ri ~graiited·•where pareli4;
parentli were able to
·. · • bl to
. , , · ~·
·,,. ·.· •' ,. '· ·.,._.,,.
•, ···'fl · ·· ,''·'">Jl''
,pay.
·
'vere;·a
e .pay:•'•.
·....
'" · , · · · "'
M•tteragaln brought
prominel1tly m1der
notice in the case ot
.7.5•: 1\:p.<} :W~j ar~rJ:t~\fect1J. ~'\V~f.e tl\~;t~ '\)~J;J_ W,l;I;JilY.i';iJ?.S~J1~f?!:!. ~hroughou~ Rnle ahnsed.
..
the colony; might_pe cited in 1 ;JVpi~h- the. rglf!·~~;-.:~xt~.Q&iv.eJz~hused, but we
have on the other ha:t;J.q ,to.. bear in ·mind th~t there are roa.ny.cases in which
therule\saboqnQfgr~at.:Vi~hl,e.,~ .. \ ._,_ .. '•·· --~, .. :·!·~
~
. 76. The effect of. th~.foll<;>;wing :r~le,,_w:Qifihcwas ,passecLhY. us on .the R·~~r'J~,~f:~~/~~~~~~!~
Igth March, will be to reduce -by .one half the amount .paid for such children, passed on 19tu March.
and to effect a sq,:viJ;Ig.~s,timat~dJ.tt9ve,r.£6,oo9. per ~u;murn .. ,
; . . ·'· ·
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DEst:t±·~iE
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Ai4n · DiisE~TEi · Ciiri.;:I:hiE:N' 'ANn ORi>HiNs.
f\ 1
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•
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th~
The following General Regulation will ta,ke .effect from
date Rule 69 will be rescinded:- .
.
, , •l
rst July, r868, from which
·
In the case of' destitute ·childreri and'of o'rphans' and de~ert~!I child~en, ~h~- have !\O means of paying
the prescribed school fees, .payments· wiU be made by the Board ,according ,to the following scale :..,.. For a single scholar above eight years of age, 4~d. per week.
For a single scholar under eigllt years 'of ·age, 3d. per week. .
.I
. When morecthan one· attel;ld·from the same -family, 'per schola,rnd. per week.
But in every sucJ;l case a, ~ertificate mu~t be furnis4ed. to the ,local committee,, ~igncd .~Y a justice pf th~
peace or registered clergyman, in form Of A; orB, Appeildix_K; and a· copy thereof forwarded to the Board;
and the Board -w;m· require:to. be satisfi(lq that such case..reaiJy·.e~~~ts •. li;"!lXY S]lch:.qertifil!at~.mustbe
renewed half-yearly.
.
. ,
,· • • .•. , .. ' . :. .. ·.
·
_Education~~ce,.J!Ielb~~.:~;t;~ ~~-t~_l\[~JXc_h:i:f8:~8. ,;· .. ·..:
·j
:,~,!:'.. ~,:· ,:":·,:2 _:·_;:;--·_~· .
. n7.:'-Jt
masf:notc he forg0tten .that.
Under:
the
system Of payment On Destitute
childr_en repre"I
~ '
•
,
sent a pecumary value
results of ipdividual examinations, every child who passes the exammatwn to tne/~acncr,ttTespec.
. 1.Q.e . to the .teach er, .W.h'Ic.h ::JS
• ,1maffiected by t J1e. tive 0 ee.s.
represents a .pecumar.y
va
amount of payment which the child may make, except in so far- as the school
may fail to· comply With Rule 7, requiring t:P,at the payments made by the
Board s.hall: .rio~ e_iceed 'douole th.~. fe'es S,nd' local bontrjblitions.. It will,
therefore, 'be to the interest of. the 'teacher,· id V.iew 'of the benefits which he
may deriye from the child's· passing the examination, to pay equal-attention
to all classes of children. ·
··
· · ·· ·
78. We may mehtiop while p_ii,, thi& ·:~rubj~ct .that we have ;re,solved Coursetobettdoptcd
· as to th e e]igi'b.il'1ty 0 ·r a Ch'ld
.c
f:ree ·a dmiSSIOn,
· · · where
doubt exl•t.s as
t h at, W h ere d OUb ts exist
1 10r
to eligibility of a child
local committees are in the first instance to receive the child an:d to::investi- torlreeadmisslon.
gate the matter at once; and th~t if not· satisfied ~-they_ ar~ ,to report immediately to the :Board; with a view to enquiry by ari.Tnspector. , ..
79• The ,fifth general regulation was framed .oni.thel29th April;· and Flfth regulation.
• ill·
• te n ded · to· provru.e'
•-l .Cl;Of
•
•'. ·. • t'IOn,·, Wit
• h ,-.proper. .a-ppl'mnces, Instruction
of infants
IS
t h e· ·adequate mstruC
where no special tntant
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departmente:dsts.
of m an m .se oo s .. ·w ere::~no·~speCia ~·m1an · epar:·I)len ·was. a ac e .
Where infants are educated in the same roomtwith-ol.der. ·'children, it is not ·
only impossible to instruct them properly, .bu:t·thei:r presence, and consequent Rea~ll!Jfor.
noise, &c., has· a prejudicial effect, on the.sehool: ·'· 1
•
.-,
.
·
·8o. ·The f~llowing is a•copy of the·rul'e·in questiQn :-'· ·
r·
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• •
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In all schools hav:ing an average attendance of· 1 qo or more than 1 oo, in which there is
. an infant class reaching the average attendance ·of.''U.IJenty.jive, a.separate room, ,properly.
furnished, shall be! set·.ap_arffQr:•the,iimitr'ucti.on,:of the ipfah~i!·; ;and ;the ~ime•,tab'l!-l shall be so
arranged as to have said infants constantly unde;r the charge either of a teache!·.or a pupilteacher. This rule to come into force on .and after the 1st J~Iluary, r869.
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Copy of rule ln question.
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81. The sixth gen~ral regulation ha~-.. re.ftlrence. to.~:J.tl:·amendment
in the rules respecting :training, and is' as-follows:-. .,,. .< _..,..:
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'RUDE '30
.,
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.
Sixth regu.tiltion.
'training •
I
The local committee of each such school shall be''entitled·to re~eive ·annually a sum'not
exceeding £2oo in aid of th~ _salary of the superintendent. of male teachers in trainil;g, and not
exceeding £15o in 'aid ·of the'.sdlarytof lthe''S\ipgrint:endent'.b£'5fe!n'alel:tea~h'ers'in traibing; and
also for· each male ·;teaeher.:in training who.cshall ·have ·successfully.. passed _the·tcxaminatioris
and stood the tests her:e~ft~l;: ;mel_ltion.ed, .Pi).YW!i~~;at_ a;r.;~tf n~t-.ex<:c~d.ing £45, per,,anhum, and
for each female not exceeding £40 per annum; imd in addition to·the fqr_egoing pay;ments, the
committee shall be entitled to claim a bonus of £ro for each teacher' in training-:Wh\:J shdll have
received a teacher's certificate, and a second ·bonus·of £10 for each· such teacherJin·training as
shalt at a subsequent examination have· obtained ·a :fii•stLclass certi1icate of the' second year. I
Education Office, Melbourne, ;Ith"Ji:me,· t868.' ·
· ; ··
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.•. J~
.
:•:t
~""""'
.~·nrf,t~
fr)f.S1"<~~·"
.~.
· 82~ The· ·original ·rule prov-iaed th,at 01;1e ·sum ·of £i'o"only should be or!ginalrule.
Q,;;tn~~~ Jor' ~?~ I ~ache~ .in ~raini~g _w,hq. f,e~~i:v,~9-;.~a;:per#fi~~t~-:. '. A§ t~~ ·full
20
course of training .extends over two years, and exami.nations for certificates
are held half-yearly, and there are four degrees of certificates, it follows that
a teacher in training who remained for the whole period might obtain four
certificates ; . but as only one sum of £10 could be obta.iried for him, it
would have been of greater advantage to' the training instituti~n to have four
teachers in training during the two years, each residing six months, and each,
possibly, passing one examination, and, consequently, earning £40.
Alterationmade.
• 83. With a view to remove this difficulty, and to give greater
encouragement to the. superintendent of· the training school to retain the
teachers in training under his charge for a longer course, we have resolved·
Paymentoftwobonuses that two bonuses may be paid for the same individual on passing the examifor the same individual
•
• ·
•
fir
·
..
now allowed.
natiOns, VIZ., one Ill the St year and one Ill the second.
Regulations have been
84. All these regulations have been approved by the Governor in
approved.
Council ; but we regret that the Government were not able· to deal with
them at an ·earlier date. . The second, third, and fourth which effect
considerable changes in most important matters affecting schools, were not
gazetted till 19th June, although they were adopted respectively on sth: and
26th February and 19th March.
85. With reference to the principles which' should guide us in establishing new schools or in maintaining existing ones we made the follo,wing
statements in our last Report :·.
·
\Principles to guide the
Board in establishing ·
new and maintaining
exiJ!ting schools,
'' 107. The difficult question of the principle on which aid should be granted to new
schools has had our serious attention. On the one hand it has been contended that the particular denomination or other body which is first in a position to establish a school should receive
aid, while on the other, that as the establishment of more than one school in a locality is by the
provisions of the Common Schools Act impossible, unless the. number of children be.considerable,
it is unfair to the community that the only school of which they can avail themselves should be
under the management ,of one or more denominations to the exclusion of any.
"Io8. We have had under our consideration the propri(/ty of making regulations for
meeting this difficulty, as w~ll as for giving greater publicity to applications·for aid, but we have
not deemed it advisable to take any action at the present time."
86. The Common Schools Act declares it to be the duty of the
Board "to. determine, as they shall see fit, upon the localities in which schools
receiving aid from the consolidated revenu~ shall be established. or maintained," and in the ninth of our general regulations, framed in accordance
Boardreserve to themwith the power conferred by the Common Schools Act, it is stated that " the
selvestberighttojudge B
' 1ves t h e ng
• ht to JU
• dge 0 f t he expe d"Iency
' 0 f estabof the expediency of
oard reserve to t h erose
establishing and main· l" h' .
.
.
.
h
l
,
taining schools.
· lS 1ng Or ma1ntammg SC 00 S.
Difficulties in cases where
87. Our attention_ having been continually directed to this subject, by
~e~~iv"tl. "ations are the difficulties attending the establishment of schools for which rival
applications were received or where the ground was already occupied by a
school in connection with a denomination, we came, on the 25th March last,·
to the following resolution, which, although not of the nature of a general
·regulation, and as such requiring the approval of the Governor in Council,
we deemed it right to publish for general information in the Governme.nt
Gazette:Principles on whieh aid
Should ,be granted,
11
Resolution as to the
establishment of new
sclioola (aid to vested
and non-vested
schools).
Am
TO VEsTED AND NoN· VEsTED ScHOOLS.
The following resolution, adopted by the Board of Education at a meeting of the Board
h,eld on the 2 sth Marc~, I 868, is published for general information :The ex:istence in any locality of a school not vested in the Board shall not be regarded as a hindrance
to the establishment of a. vested school in that locality, should such be applied for; although the granting of
aid by the Board to such school should necessitate the withdrawal of aid from the non-vested school.
Education Office, Melbourne, z6th March, I 868 •
. 88. Before adopting this resolution, we thought it well, in order to pp.t
the question of our power beyond doubt, to communicate with the AttorneyGeneral upon the subject. Mr. Higinbotham accordingly favored us with
the following opinion :Attorney-General's
opinion upon the
subject.
"The intention or effect of the proposed resolution, if I, understand it correctly, would be,
not to establish a second school, but to substitute a vested for the existing Denomil}ational School
in the cases mentioned. There is nothing in this resolution antagonistic, in my opinion, to the
1oth section of the Common Schools Act, which fixes conditions that must ·be complied with
before aid. can be granted to a second school, if established within a certain distance of an existing
school which continues to receive aid from the revenue. The Board of Education has power to'
determine upon the localities in which schools receiving ai4 sP,all be established or 1llaintaineq
21
[s. 6 (1)], and I am not aware of any provision of the Act upon which a legal objection to the
course proposed .by the resolution could be raised. The question appears to be one of educational policy for the Board to decide.
GEORGE HIGINBOTHAM."
(Signed)
'" zznd January, 1868."
89. The· publication of this resolution
'having
caused considerable
Principles on which the'
· ,
•
•
•
•
Board will act In giving
alarm on the .part of some of the denommations, rt bemg feared that rt was effecttotheresolut!on.
our intention, to use the ·words of a memorial addressed to us, "to crush
Denominational Schools, and to deliver over the country to the so-called
National system," we deem it right to sta.te .fully the principles on which
we shall act in giving effect to it. There are several localities in the colony
in which there is oniy one school, such school being connected with one or
other·of the denominations, and under their exclusive management.
90. The roth section ~f the Common Schools Act prohibits the
establishment of a new school within two miles of a school already receiving
aid, unless the number in average attendance at the existing school, added to
the number whose parents undertake in writing that they shall attend the
proposed school, make up two hundred.
9 r. It is, therefore, illegal to grant aid to a second school in any place
so circumstanced. It frequently happens that the residents are dissatisfied
that the education of a locality should be entirely in the hands of one
denomination. Steps are accordingly taken for the establishment of a vested
school, and the necessary application is made to us.
92. If aid be continued to the existing school, it is· impossible to
co!llply with such an application, and we, therefore, hold ourselves at liberty
to withdraw ·aid from the existing school ·and to grant it to the new one,
which, being public property, and all denominations being fairly represented
in its management, gives equal advantages to all.
93· But, before taking this extreme step, we shall endeavour to place
the existing school upon such a basis as will render it acceptable to the other
denominations, and where it is properly conducted we shall continue aid to
it, and decline to assist the proposed new school, provided the local committee
be re-organized so as not to contain an absolute majority of one denomination. If the school be inadequate for the accommodation of all the
children of the district, we shall require the committee to .enlarge it as a
·
condition of the continuance of aid.
. 94· It is only when the committee decline to carry out these
conditions, which will, we think, be deemed reasonable, that we shall
·
·
. '
withdraw aid.
9 5. It is argued that, in adopting this practice, we are interfering vested rights of denomlwith the vested rights of denominations, and requiring them to infringe the nations.
trusts upon. which the sites were granted to, and the buildings erected by,
such denominations; the Common Schools Act providing that such lands
and buildings s~all c~ntinue subject to th.e tr;tsts on which the ~ame were
granted. To thrs we reply, that no denorrnnatwn has any vested mterest to
the exclusive control of education in a locality, and that the appointment on
a local committee of members not belonging to the denomination with which
the school is connected does not vitiate the trusts of that school. The lands Trusteesandlocar
,and buildings are vested in trustees, who have the sole control of them, and comllllttees.
who are appointed on the recommendation of the denomination, and withou~
any reference to the Board of Education. The local committee is a perfectly .
distinct body, whose control is limited to the supervision of the secular
·
instruction given in the school.
96. But even supposing that vested interests . are interfered with
to some extent by the withdrawal of aid from ~ school, or by the imposition of certain requirements as a condition of the continuance of aid, it
is an admitted principle that, when such interests conflict with the general
good, they must give way, fair compensation being allowed ; and this
compensation is granted by the Common Schools Act, which permits Denominations are per' t'rons t o se}1 th e1r
·, 1ands an d bm'Id'mgs-the 10rmer
.£!
havmg
• been m
. lAnds
mltted to sell their
denomma
and buildiiJs•·
most cases free grants from the Crown, and the latter having been erected
in many cases with liberal aid from th~ Sta:te, in some instancQs wholly,
A ravls!on of tLll regula·
.!> tlons will shortly ha'
!~~)h!tted.
and in others to the.-_extent of two or three·-times the local subscriptions....,:i
'-'and to apply the proceeds to· educational purposes of the same :character
connected with such denomination." (Sect. III.,· Commori .Schools 'Act.)
It is; liowever, only-fair to state that· the Board are not unanimous on this
·
' ·
·
question.
,: . . 9 7.. The working of -the system has shown' that, several alterations
and ;t;nodifications. of the rules may usefully be made .. -W.e have in·.·this
p9rtipn ·of our.· Report described such changes as· we have already-made, or
;:ts,we have made the necessary arrangements to-.effect; but we have.others
in· view, _and we .hope very shortly. to be in a position to submit :to Your
Excellency a· further revision of our regulations.
. ..
V.-.INSPECTION.
!'!
in
. ,·
. 9_8 ... We submit,
the. App~~dix, the annual reports of the Inspector.~
!j-.e1,1eral, and of thE? _Inspectors ;with the ,exc~ption_ of that of Mr. Geary.,_
~hich,. ~n th~. opinion, of t~e Board, is no:t calculated to .subse_r:ve th~ int~rests
of education.
·
scho?l• to be rnspectad · , ,, .• ., _ 99· At .the. commencement of the yea,f I 867. we issued instructions. tw1ce unt\er standartls,
i · J
•
h
h} 1 h ld b
· ' d
·
d
~~~~n~~~;ti~~,.include tq .9:ur,: nsp~~tors, ·t ,at . eac _
:oo s ou. . . e. exam me tw1ge_. ;un er
.
~t3:tldards, but tp::tt one of these VISits only, ·m stead of both, . as. heretofore,
I).ee~ .inch;~- de ~ complete inspection and report o:ri the state of the instru~tion,
organization, &~., such matters only as might appear to need immediate
attertti~p b~ing·repor~~ on the occ~sion of the other.
. . .
Arrears'of!nspectton.
,. .. , ;. • roo . .I:q:.th.\~ mapner it. '\Y"aS hoped that the J:ll'r~ars of inspection whic4
1
had fqrme.~;ly a~crueq at the e1_1d of ~~eh .year might b,e reduced 'tQ .. a;·con~~dera'b~!1··}3X~~nt, . tho-q.gh jt _:was not· eX;pe~ted that ,tht:y would .be .entirely
Canses of arrears,
av(Jided, as· the constant increase in .the number of schools,· the large amount
()f .time. whi,cli., wo~1ld-. neqessarily ,.be e~nployed by_ .the three Inspectors
.m:•~J3o:lcr!i o~ '.Examiners' .work, and _the other. duti~s con:q.ected with their
<,listrict!', which. <,l~,volved lfpon all the, ~nspectors, would .render this, all ,ht~t
i}:npo~~ib'e :d'!lder the nl()st favor~ble circum~tances.
· . . · .
. ·
Arrears of Inspection In
' ..
I 0 I.. At the end. of.the year a portiOn of the schools .. m ' the. three
1
~t ~rs1ri:~ltngBalla- ~~~trppoli~an .qistgftts;::~nd in the Ballarat. district, had .receive,d only' a single
insp,ect;iol} ; , and, as we regard the regular and careful inspection of the-schools
as· of the very first importance, our ·earnest attention has been directed to
pp~i~.g, means ~o preve:q.t, if possible, any recurre~ceof this irregularity.
mstrlctare-arranged.
, . .
~ 02. With: this. object the, districts have be~n re-arranged"so a§ to
equalize the amount of work in each, a step which had become necessary il}
., colisequence,.of tqe 11~equal growth of. the .sev~ral distric.~s by the addition
of new schools. .
. .. .
.
·
.
·
Oneexamlnnt!on under
.·_' .•. I.OJ. From the commencement of the present year, onlyorie,e~aminastandards, and one full •
' ' d ··
- 'd d ' • · }
· d one .C.Il.l11 mspectwn
•
' Wit
• h out notice;
;
inspection, to be hetd. tton_ un E?r stan a1: s ~n eac 1 year,. an
are. to. be,giV;en.. These are to be supplemented by as many incide~tal vi_sit~
~~ the time .~t.the :~isp<>,sal pf the Inspectors may. permit.-such· unexpected
vi~it§ .. beipg held. t9 be of the greatest. value in ascertaining the true everyday con,diti(n~ o( th~ sc~ools, as distinguished from the exceptional. c'ondition
~-9-duced by the Inspector's expected visit:
.
.
. . ..
~~:~b.~~:;:!~n~~\. .. . . ~94 qwir:g to the pr,t:tssur.e on .the time of the Inspec_tors :we. decid.eq ·
annual.
~~.at.no,ex,ami_natwn s~oul_d be hdd. m July'last ; and we nave under con:sid£iration, the pr?priety .of holding_ the examinations of teachers ann_ually
ip.~t~~~ of half-yearly ~ he~etofore. .
. .
..
, ..
·;-'. . .
A1f;~~i"_i~~;.~!o~~e~~~=
i o 5. We have hkewtse recommended the.app_omtlpent of an additlOJ~al
mende~.
'
I~sP.~C~Qr to .J?~et the reqtiireme~ts of t~!3 ra:pid in~rease in the Q.,!lmber of
schools and scholars.
·
·
Pa~:;:;.~rt:~~~~!~ors -~ ··:··. I~6. And we ha~~ reco~nienQed that travelling.expenses .be:pa;idj9
recommended,"
. th~. lpspeetors,. ac,cor.ding to.. a: specifi~d seal~, which has· 'been so fixe.d as'
'nr~ctiqally .to ,,ncreas~~~h~ s!l'lar~es of these. officers, a :.course ;recmpmended
. l:iy 1 th~late Royal Cop'lmisswn.
.
; ,, ~::•;:; 1 , •
u~~=~i~~~;;11 b'~~~ ,:; .,_;.'·ii?7~ .Ifthes~.se~~r~l arr~ngements are ~arried .out,. w:e· have every
rongbly carried ont.
expe~tatton that the lJ'!SpectiOn ~Ill, for. t~e fuyU!_~, . be thorougl)ly effiGient.
ini,ts natl!,r.e, am~ b~ pu;nctually. .carr;ied OUt. :;
.. '.' :. ~-'- :'{. 1:.1;;I• h!
llcports of Inspectors.
<
I'
ss
I
<" '
-
.._
tt,
'f
I,,
f
1
:J ,
<
,
•
,
'"" ,
-. ,I.,
;
•
'\
•
t
,,
23
108. • In 'the case of a considerable
number of schools, we have Defects
in furniture and
•
nppamtus, want of
observed .With regr~t that, though attent10.n .has· been repeatedly called to proper
out-otllces,and·
Inaccuracy
of record!l.
grave defects in the furniture and apparatus, to , the want of proper and
separate out-offices, and to the extremely careless manner in which the
school records and· accounts have been kept, no amendment has been
effected ; and, considering- these matters essential to ·the proper conduct of
all Common Schools, we have, in cases of repeated disregard of our advice,
adopted the stringent measure of st~spending aid (after due notice) until the
defects had been remedied. We trust that the local committees will, by a
more careful and personal supervision, prevent the necessity for a continuance
of these measures. · ..
·
.
.
I09· Experience h~s taught us that it would, in thiS 'country, be Pa::ment onuldexb~t!o~
• hl y mexpe
•
d'1ent to mak e t h e entire
• payments to seh oo1s on t h e b asiS
• of . a ~one
wo e wexpe .
h1g
dten~.
capitation grant, or to confine our supervision to merely exainining under
standards, irrespective of the other not less important aspects of school work ..
We believe _that the interests of education would materially ·suffer under
such a system-that lpcal supervision would, in the absence of proper advice
and control,· prove inadequate to secure suitable bJiildings, and to maintain
th~ premises and apparatus in such a state as to promote the health and
comfort of the pupils-that modern improvements in the science of ed\].cation
would receiye· little attention, and the schools would rapidly deteriorate in
organization, discipline, and method.
·
I
IO.
At
the
commencement
of
I867
the
Board of
Examiners for Change!ntheBoardof
•
·
·
•
•
Exammers for certitl•
'certificates consisted of Messrs. Geary, Brown, and Sasse; m July a change catesofcompetency.
was made, deputing the duties of the above Board' temporarily to a Board
consisting of Messrs. Brown, Sircom,. and Elkington, whose districts were
completely inspected for thefirst half-year. This arrangement was adopted
in order that the districts most in: arrear might have the undivided attention
of the Inspectors attached to them. .It has not been thought desirable yet
to alter this· arrangement.
.
I I I. Generally the Inspectors report favorably of the discipline main- Discipline tavorahly
tained in the schools, ·and of the becoming demeanour of the children.· They. reported on.
commend • also
the instruction conveyed
in reading, but complain that good ooodmP•
rima:nt
... s~tpndott.
1
,
•
su cen..,
tnme a
penmanship 1s not sufficiently .rumed at, and that the needlework of the girls
is not so·. well attended to as it might be. These latter subjects will
consequently receive special attention during the present year.
·
II2. No alteration has
. taken place
. in the staff,. of Inspectors since Noofalteration
Inspectors.tn thestaft
our I ast Report ; but we have made considerable alteratiOns in the districts ofLateandpresentdtstrlcts.
these officers. The following table shows the changes made since I 866 ;..,...,..
·
INSPECTORS' DISTRICTS.
Name of Inspector.
Joaeph Geary .. .
G. W. Brown ....
H. A. Sasse ·;..
John Sircom
Archibald Gilchrist
John Main
...
M. E. O'Brien ...
J. S. Elkington
I
..•
...
...
...
District previous to 1867.
Northern
Eastern . .
Geelong
Ballarat
...
••.
.. .
.. .
... Western
.. .
.. . Sandhurst ..•
... Castlemaine ...
... Southern ...
...
...
...
...
...
.. .
...
....
District from •st January, x867,
31st July, x868.
to
Metropolitan; No. 1.
Metropolitan, No. z.
Metropolitan, No. 3·
Geelong.
.:.
Ballarat.
•..
Castlemaine. .. .
Western.
. ..
Sandhurst.
. ...
District from xst Angnst, JS68.
... 'Western.
... Metropolitan, No. 3.
... Metropolitan, No. x.
... Metropolitan; No: z.
...
...
.. .
. ••
Ballarat.
Geelong.
Sandhurst.
Castlemaine.
UJ. These cha~ges have been mcade on grounds of public p~li~y. Re;~~~cf.orchangesof
For the reasons stated :ln our last report (paragraph 52) we are of. opmwn
that occasional. and well-considered transfers of Inspectors are beneficial to
the service. The wishes of the Inspectors are always considered when not
incompatible with the interests of education.
• . . • I I4. We. have frruned and submitted for the approval of Y 011r Excel- Revisedsetoftnstructlone
lency in Council a revised set of instructions for the guidance of Inspectors ror Inspectors.
in the inspection of schools, and in the performance of other duties incidental
to their office~ _When brought into force, we anticipate. that they will have a
good effect in promoting, uniformity in in!'pection, and in bringing prominently
before these officers matters which we deem of pri_mary importanc~. w~
submit in the Appendix a. copy of the instructions in question.
24
VI.-FINANCE.
Vote
for 1867.
II5·, The amount voted for the service of r867 was £r82,6I8 6s. Sd.,
-asunder:· Fixed salaries Augmentation for honors .:.
£
110,726
2,ooo
s. d.
6 8
0 0
£
12 1]26
6
8
57,892
0
0
I]0,6t8
6
8
12,000
0
0
£182,618
6
8
I
Results
Destitute scholars
Training
Singing and drawing
Office establishment
Inspection
'¥iscellamious expenditure, including temporary
clerical assistance, .examinations for singing
and drawing, printing, stat~onery, bookbinding,· advertising, fuel and water, furniture, and contingencies •..
s. d.
27,soo 0 0
q.,ooo 0 0
·1,65o 0 01,6oo 0 0
4·49 2 0 0
s,6so 0 0
3,ooo
0
0
NEW ScHOOLS.
Salaries to new schools, for six· months
Buildings and repairs
·-
4,ooo 0 0
8,ooo .o- 0
---
Statement of receipts and
I I 6. "\Ve submit' in the Appendix a statement of our receipts and
disbursements
for 1867, d'IS b ursement s i!'tOr t h e .year I 86-7, Wit
• h a summary statement of receipts
•
nnd rrom 1st septem·
an d
ber, I85~, to JIBt
d'
b
£!..
h
d
f
h
bl'
h
f
h
B
d
h
n.:cember, 1867.
IS ursements \1·om t e ate o t e -esta IS ment o t e oar , t e rst
September, 1862, .to the 3Ist December, r867.
I I 7. It will be perceived that, including a balance of £4,042 ss. 7d.
brought forward from the year r866, our receipts amounted to £I34,572 I rs.,
and our disbursements to £167,934 I rs. 9d., leaving a deficiency of
£33,362 os. gd. on the 3 rst December, 1 ~67. The overdraft at the
Ovo.rdrsftatthe.L<>ndon
rod.,· but, on the
CJmrtered Bank on the London Chartered Bank at that date was £.37,012 _128.
86
jist December, ' ~·
other hand, there was a balance at the Bank of Victoria, on account of
moneys lodged for local contributions towards buildings and repairs of vested
schools, of £3,650 I2S. 1d. As, however, this sum is'lodged to our credit
for a.specific purpose, it must be regarded as trust money; so that the actual
deficie_ncy was, as before stated, £37,012 I 2s. IOd. on the 31st December, ·
I 867 ; but in consequence of the stoppage of payments by the Government,
we ?~d only dra·wn at that date £94,277 6s. 10d. out of the whole vote,
leavmg £88,340 Igs. rod. due by the Treasury.
.
Statement of receipts and .
I I 8. we also submit in the Appendix a summary statement of receipts
disbursements
from tst
d d'ISb ursements f'rom t h e rst September, 186 2,·to t h e 31st· Decemb er,
septemher,ts6~,toJIStan
867
.D•c~mber, ' '
I 867, showing that we have-disbursed during that period _£776,262 9s. 4d.
AnaJysisorsame.
I 19. The following analysis of that statemeat exhibits the amounts
received and disbursed under each head.' £29,77 I Ss. 6d. has been spent
on school buildings, of which_.£17,970 18s. rd. has been locally contributed,
to meet £1 I,8oo IOS. 5d. expended OUt of the public funds.
Receipts and expenditure
I 20. The receipts on account of schoolbooks have amounted to
on account of school·
£ I3,290 2s. 7d ., wh'l
h
h
b
£ 15,941 r8s. 10d ., sh owmg
'
boots.
1 et e paym_ents . ave . een
an expenditure out of the public funds on this account of £2,651. I6s. 3d.,
the whole of which, less the amount contributed to ~chools by the ·sale of
maps and some portion _of ~chool furniture at reduced rates, is represented
,_
by the stock on hand.
Percentages
of payments'
I
2
I:
The
payments
to- teachers have amounted to 88. 57 per cent. of
' to teachers, and per..
,
centigeofdepartmental
the
net
expenditure,
while
the
departmental expenses have not exceeded
6·93
expenses,
per cent.
.
D<:partmental expenses
122. We feel justified in calling attention to this analysis of, expenmoderate.
'
diture as a satisfactory evide~ce that the bulk of the public grant is expended
in actual payments to ·teachers, and that the ..departmental expenses are
moderate.
25
STATEMENT SHOWING RECEIPTS, PAYMENTS, AND NET EXPENDITURE OF THE BOARD
OF EDUCATION FROM IST SEPTEMBER, 1862, TO 31ST DECEMBER, 1867.
Receipts from sources other than the
Treasury.
Description of Receipt.
Description of Payment.
Amount.
£
I
Payments.
Amount.
£
s. d.
School books, including
amounts handed over by
the late National and,
Denominational School I
Boards
IJ,"90
7
Loca.l contributions towards
repairs and buildings .. 17,970 IS I
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
s. d.
£
15,941 t8 IO}
Sal,;;ies o.nd •allowa~~es to ~achers' previous to 1st March, 1864, when the genernl regulAtions of the Board came into
..
Percentage
Net
of each Item
Expenditure. of the Net
Expenditure.
"9.771 8 6
..
d.
...651 16 l
0'35
5
1'58
11,800 10
..
I64,610 7 3 164,610 7 3
operation
Salllries and allowances to teachers, and
W1]
payment for destitute scholars, between
the 1st March, 1864, and JISt December,
1867
..
..
..
.. 4I7,005 14 0 417,005 14 0
Payments for results between the ut March,
8 9 76,637 8 9 IO'JI
1864, and 31st December, 1867
5,161 I l
5,161 I l
Tra.lning
.... .... . .. 76.637
0'69
;,z8z 5II
;,z8z 5 11
Singing
0'44
1,zs; IS 4 1,ZH 18 4 0'17
Drawing
.
..
166 10
166 IO
o·oz
Drill and gymnastic Instruction ..
Deparlmental salaries
.. 51,56z 3 51,56• 7 5l 6·93
.. 10,869 L~ 8,954 I9 0 I'Z5
Miscellaneous and Interest ~.914 9 10 Mlacellaneous and contingencies
33,175 10 6
776f1.6z 9 4 743,086 18 IO IOO'O
3,6so u I
From the Treasury, on acBalance at Bank ol Vlctcrla
count of votes, including
balances received from the
National and Denomlnatiolla.l Boards ..
.. 7"9,7"4 IS I
Owing to London Chartered
J7,0U U IO
Bank ••
''" f~~
.
..
....
..
....
..
~
..
----
..
..
..
779,913
I
779,9Il
5
I
s
74;,o86 18 IO
100'0
123. The amount estimated as required for the service of 1868 is Amountestlmatedas
· • ,
bl'
required for 1868.
1shments;
£q7,210 3s. I Id., namel y :-£166,2Io 3s. 1 I d • fior eXIstmg esta
and £I I,OOO for new schools; showing a net decrease, as COmpared with the
amount voted for I 867, of £5,408 2s. 9d., as per the accompanying table.
I24. Among the items of decrease will be observed a sum ofrtemsofdecrease.
£3, I 3 3 6s. 8 d. under the head of salaries to teachers, caused by the operation Sa.larles of teachers.
of the new rule respecting staffs of schools, which will come into operation
on the Ist October next.
I25· A saving of £3,280 2s. 9d. is aQ.ticipated in the outlay forDestltutechlldren.
destitute children ; the new rule providing that the fees paid for the education
of this class shall be reduced by one-half from the 1st J1,1ly, 1868.
I26. An increase of £I ISO under the head of Inspection is caused Appolntmentofanaddt.
'
'
l
tlonal Inspector, and
by the proposed appointment of an additional Inspector, and the payment of :~:~.oftravelling
travelling expenses under regulations which we have submitted for ~pproval.
I 2 7. We hope next year, when our new regulations will be in full New resumtiODl! will
•
Jr
bl
d
•
•
effect considerable
Operation, to euect a COnSl era e re UCtlOn ill expen Iture.
reduction In expenditure.
SCHEDULE.
·a
I
z.
3
4
5
6
7
8
a·
A!pount voted for 1867.
Estimated Sum
required for 1868.
Increase.
£
s. d.
£
s. d.
£
s. d.
£ s.
Fixed salaries to teachers
110,726 6 8
Augmentation for honors
z,ooo 0 0
- - - - - I I1. 17Z6 6 8 109,593 0 0
'
Results
Z-7,000 0 0
Z-7,500 0 0
Destitute scholars ...
14,000 0 0
10,719 17 3
Training ...
...
1,65o 0 0
-1,866 13 4
Z.l6 I3
Singing and drawing
I,6oo 0 0
z.,ooo 0 0
400 0
Office establishment, as per
schedule No. 2 ...
66 13
4.492 0 0
4.558 I3 4
Inspection, as,perschedule No. 3
6,8oo 0 0 I,150 0
5,65o 0 0
Miscellaneous expenditure, ineluding temporary clerical
assistance, examinations for
singing and drawing, printing, stationery, bookbinding,
'
advertising, fnel and water, ,
furniture, and contingencies ' 3,000 0 0
3,672 0 0
67Z. 0
57,892. 0 0
...
...
...
.........
NEw ScHooLs.
Salaries
Building and Repairs
...
...
...
·4
0
...
...
4
0
...
0
170,618 6 8
...
12,000 0 0
18Z.,6I8 6 8
Net Decrease
No.,39,c.
......
......
4,000 0 0
S,ooo 0 0
d.
...
......
...
...
Decrease.
£
s. d.
3,133 6 8
500 0 0
3,280 2 9
1661Z.IO 311 2,505 6 8 6,913 9 5
s,ooo 0 0 I,ooo 0 0
.
6,ooo 0 0
z.,ooo 0 0
..
177,210 3
...
...
II
3,505 6 8 8,9I3
9
s
...
2.
9
...
5,408
..
suspen!!touofpayments.
{).
•
'
•
'
. .'
If
I" '
•• •
•
~..
..
~ •.
•
\..
I'
•
'
~-~··
• ., • • •
~
••
~
•
128 ..We. were .. able. to, c·ontiime payments· to our,:: teachers 'with
regulaii~y ·until November, ·r867, when the· funds ~at ·our disposal became
exha;usted ; .and: we were compelled to suspend payments· until the r8th
Dec~mber, when we entered into arrangements with ·the· bank to grant :m
.overdraft pn t4e. st)cu,rity. of our orders upon the Treasury. We accordingly
overdrew t0 the ex:tent of£ 1 10,467 7.s. 2d., and were able to make nearly all
payments for services rendered up to 3oth April last. The b.ank, howevt?r,
refused to make flny furt}fer OVE?rdraft, and paymeQ.tS were 'again·, su~pegded
until the 2ofu· July; since which time· most of the payments up t~· t~e.Joth
June have bei:m tnade. ·· .. · .. · . . . . .
..
;, ·· · ·
·
·
'"
•
••'
;~·
"•'
-
' '.
.~,
.
I
... t
,J
:.
••
;
·· ·-.VII.-TEACHERS.
•
•••
f'
129·,' .D.uriri.ffthEtyear
1867; I 10S4 'reports
of examination for certifi·
e:mmlnat!ons received
,
,
,
m 18&;.
cates of. a divisiQn o(:competency of :52'6 teachers and assistants, and 302
candidates for' employment,.were received.
' i
.
nesultsofsame.
· I3o. 0(- tliese, 2·26 ·were:exammed·'niore than once, making the total
number·examined ·828. - ·
· · ·· · · · ·
· .'' · ·
· ··· ' ·
· d i. 'Of the i:n'imb~r of teachers. examined, r9 obtained.a classificatio.p
of the first divisi~n of competency, 8 5 the second division; ij passed .in the
literary subjects .for the second division, and 2 I in the .literary s:ubjects·for
first diyision 1 ~~qu~r~g only to pass in the art; ?f. teaching."h:t ·order ~o
be severally classed; and; of the whole number exam~ried;:3$8 failed to obtam
any classification. Of those who failed, 73 teachers and assistants -employed
in 'Common· Schools. were rejected, and .salar.y .. withdrawn from them, as being
.
..
unqualified for employment.
. , .. .
.. ..Of.3o2· candidates for employ~ent.,examined, 2 were classed in the
first .. division:. of, competency; 2·9 .in the ,·second division, and- 32 will. 1be
entitled to a :certificate of1 the same :division on their, passing a· sa#sfactory
examination in•the art-of teaching; and 239·failed... ·. .
. ,
.
Teachers who attended
•
• •1·32•. ,Of I.I ·.teachers .who attended! the examinatiQI). {or Q.onOJ;"~ held in
honor examination in
·
,
1867.
January, 1867, 3 re.ceived certificates of the second.d:;t&S,,_an~l-·.8 ha:ve.fai!ed
to obtain~ a certificate, fm:• honors; '· ;. .·: • . -5 • • ••.
•• . , · :
Teachers who attended
' . ,l •• /il33· ·At .the., .examination for .. honors held in .January~ I 868, '28
~~68.roxamination in teachers attended; ·.of 1,whom ·5 .,obtained second ·class .ctprtific!ltes, induding
·one•who w.as.classed at a.-prev.ious.exam~na;tion, and is not promoted. ' Ehe
, ,· , .
exainination. ofone of.the candidates.is,not, yet completed~ ·.
Honor e.'<aminations held·
-,
134. Four. examinations for honors have been held since the Board
since tile Board came
•' ·
•
·
• h 59, teac·hers atten
. ded . . Cert1':fi ca_tes of t h e
into operation.- .
came m
to operation;at whIC
·
second class have ·been: issued to. 12,. the examination,of 9P.-~. :i~. ii).comp~ete,
and 46 have failed.
.
Reports of C.'tllminntion of
. I 3 5. The number ... of: reports -of examination of teachers, assistants,
~:~~r:~,;:,~dt~~~h-~~.:-,~d' and canqidates for. en1plby:rp:ent, received since 'the Board came into operation,
T;~~:~n::;~~::~::: nswas· 3;8!,9, of I7.T~ea~her~,-,,&~;- ·..Many ~eachers,, previous to 7th Mar,ch,
a rule,. m?rethan three I 865 had been several times examined but:it' was ordered at that time that
cxo.mmations.
'
,
.
' ·
1
•
•
teachers should not, ,.as .a,.rule, ,be allQwed mqre than three· examinations,
vi~.,. twQ in one year, and one in the next year; but in several cases .where
teachers have h.ad .thfee.~~~a:t}IinatjQns, a,n'd ~Jaytp::faile:.J to dbtain ?l·>~:qffl,cient
classification, they have, on tl:te applicatipns,of.their lo~~l committees,.a~d on
the recommendatio~s. oLtqe Inspectors fo:r the.:ffi~tricts, be~?.n ~l).ow~<!fu.rther
Nnmbertlnallyrejected. trials;
. number WhO fai)_ed
have been:·
finally
rejected
aS
•
.
•
blII 53" of. 'the
I
.
...!
,.,
'
,
1
1ncapa ,e.
·
:
. ,,.~. ~· · ·: : ::.
,·
Examinations of teachers '
1.36. The ~xaminations of teachers for certi:fi~a~e.s·of c.,.omp~te~~Y: shpw
showanlmprovemcnt. a marked improv~ment upon those of fqrmer years~ ."Teachers now pay far
Formauonofteaehers'
more attention than forn;:tp:rly to preparing thell}seh;esJ~t the e~aminations,
classes.
and classes have been formed in many pl:;tces to-assist them· in this endeavour.
This, hqweyer, ,is an .adv.;1;~tage deni~d ,t,o teachers in outlyi;Q.g .~ocalities, who
have to depend- o~ their own unaided exertions_; but in all cases. of ..failure,
where a fair .amount .of ability is displayed in the management and instruc·tion of t;heir schools, :we have· exercised considerable. leniency in extending
t4e ·temporary permission to act, and, permitting a further trial at the next
·examination.
.. · ... - · ... -. - .
Reports
ot competency
.
27·
I37· Qn this subject ln~pector Brown remarks· as follows in hisinspectorBrm:n:!mannual report : .. ..
·· , . .'
· .'
·· '
~~~;:£ ~~':~~~!~~~
"It is worthy of remark that the long-threatened actipn qf the Board in withdrawing
salary from teachers who had, after repeated trials, failed to obtain a certificate, has bee~ already
attended with beneficial results. Some of the teachers thris. l]eprive~ of thei,1: schools have since
applie<\ themselves to study, and succeeded i1.1 pass~ng the examina~ion ; others hav,e gone into
training; whilst at the examination last held a manifest improvement was observable in the work
of the candidates generally. R11le 3 h~ts certainly: been effective in raising the literary attainments of previously uncertificated teachers, for the answering at the later examinations will
bear very fa:vorable comparison with that at the earlier ones.·~ This remark will apply with equal
truth to the candidates for pupil-teach~rships."
.
I
.
.
I 3 8. .Our practice ':for s~me years has been to require a teacher who
fails in any subject to be re-examined in. the. whole programme ; but we
have lately resolved'that teachers who fail in composition, ·penmanship, or one
or mor~ of the subjects included under the art of teaching, ril~y be allowed
t!>nOther trial in SUCh subject Or subjects Only at the next exaininati.on; but Te~chers who fo.ll, not to
• fla1'1 ,. t h ey must b e re-examme
• d.m
• .a11 t.h e su b'~ects be1ore
.e.
be re-examined in all
that, 1'f t h ey agam.
subjects.
they can obtain a classification. Our object in adopting this practice has
l;leen to m~et the cases Of those teachers who, having studied sufficiently to
enable them to pass. in the literary subjects ofe~:~min~tion, lj:aye, in consequence of such study; been precluded P:-om paying sufficient atten.tion to those
immediately··conhected with teaching,
'
139· w~ have 'had under consideration the propriety of making Changes to be ma.de in
•
• the syst em ,0 f. exammatJQn
·
• • 10f
1?. · h
• the t ex t · the
of e:mm!naalterat lOllS
m
Onors, and '0 f' naming
tion system
for honors.
books of examination. We hope in a short time to be able to submit the
changes which w~ propose to make in this subject.
140.. Thif new' rules' 'relative to the staffs of schuols, 'and to which Sta.fi'!lofschoola.
reference has ~lsewhe~:e been. made, "provide' that,'' where the 'average is
under 7 5, an assistant :shall not be .allowed. At present ~an.' assistant is
allowed for everY, so. ]Ii ,cases ill;.which the a.verage attendance is between
so and 7 s, and the assistant has failed, leading to withdrawal of salary,
we have, pending the enforcement of the new rule, permitted the assistant
to continue as workmistress, and .have recommended the employment of
pupil-teachers. ·· ·
· ··
· .
· ., . ··
' ·
141. The time taken' up in the examination of teachers is 'so great, Secondcnminatlonfor
· h ..
' · . . 'tli
h ,. t
l d
competency not to be
.
and th e numb. er of .seh oo1s IS so muc mcreasmg, at :we ave reso ve not be beld during present
to hold a second examination for 'competency during the pre'sent year, more year.
especially as the Government have not yet formally given effect to our
recommendation to appo~nt' another I~spector.. Those· teachers who 'have
received temporary perii).ission to act will,, ·ac~oraingly, ,have that permission
extended tjll J~nuary, f869.'
, .
, ,.
.. . . · . . .. ·
142. One of the niost important and delicate duties which the Common
Schools Act has imposed upon us is, that no dismissals of teachers shall
take place without oU:r' sarict!on: I In 'otder to: adopt a un:iform ·principle Reaolutionsrespectingthe
in dealing with thes~ ~ases, we'have a~rived at•tlie following resolutions : - di.smlssalof teachers.
I
"
•
•
I
, •
.
1
.-
', { ,
.,
1
~~
' ,
A committee are· not obliged to give a teacher reasons for dism,issal ; but if a teacher
uppeal.to the .Board against dismissal, the committee will be required to furnish the Board with
the reasons for the dismissal ; and a copy of such reasons
be sent to the teacher from the
Board's office.
.
·
.
.
Cases .of dismissal are not to be sent to .the District ln~pect~r unless it shall appear
requisite ·after the teacher's defence has been received.
·
· . · · ' · '· 1· r. ' ~
Notice (unacc'ompanied·by any remarks)·will:be sen.t to a• teacher :w-hen ·intimation of
his dismissal has been received, and·, if he make·no objection within a fortn'ight. .from the date of
sue};~ notice, his dismissal will be sanctioned.. , . . ,
. . .. . .
will
0
143. The number' of· femaJe teachers, in comparison ·with. males, Nnmberouemaia
appears to be slightly increasing, and several of the smaller mixed schools teo.chera.
are under the charge of females. . Jf education is·to be introduced extensively
into the sparsely populated· districts, ~nd at' a,r.easonable co.st~ the agency of
women must be still further employed. In the United States of America
the large majonty of teacher8. are females.'· It is a subject well worthy of
consideration, how far female teachers may be· substituted· for males with
advantage to the schools, and to the iml~tioh 9f the difficult social problem
how to firid employment for educated females. · ·
l
•·
•
• '·
.-·
•
.
28
Extract from the Bllport
on Common Scl!ools In
upper eanru1a for •s6s,
as to employment ol
females.
Falslilca.tion or rolls.
Infringement of agree-
me)lts.
Applications for employ.
ment.
144. The following' extract from the Report on Common Schools in
Upper Canada for 1 865* is well worthy of attention :"In the 4,303 schools reported as open, there were 4, 72 I teachers employed-increase, 96;
male teachers, 2,930--decrease, 8I; female teachers, I,79I-increase, IJ7. This shows considerable increase in the number of female teachers employed. It is the general opinion of
educationists that female teachers are best adapted to teach small children, having, as a general
rule, most heart, most tender feelings, most assiduity, and, in the order of Providence, the
qualities best suited for the care, instruction, and government of infancy and childhood. Some
American superintendents argue strongly in favor of employing female teachers in the Common
Schools, and even, in fact, in the higher public schools. In the State of Massachusetts, of the
7,352 teachers employed in the public schools in I864, I,21o were males and 6, I42 were females.
In the State of New York, of the 26,888 teachers employed in the public schools in I 864,
5,707 were males, and u,t8I were females. In Canada I think the tendency is to undervalue
female teaching, and therefore the salaries of female teachers. In the neigh boring States the
tendency seems to be quite the reverse-to under~estimate the comparative value of male teaching,
and to unduly exalt that of females. The New York State superintendent points with undisguised pleasure to the fact, that 'nearly eight-tenths of the teachers employed in the schools
of the State are females.' But I think there are many male teachers as painstaking to instruct,
encourage, govern, and secure the attention of little children through their affections as much as
female teachers. Yet I concur in the following remarks of the New York State superintendent:' To teach and train the young seems' to be one of the chief missions of woman. , Herself highminded, the minds of those with whom she comes iri daily contact unconsciously aspire, Gentle
herself, she renders them gentle. Pure herself, she makes them pure. The fire which truly
refines the ore of character can be kindled only by her hand. Woman is more deeply read than
man in the mysteries of human nature, at least in that of children. It might, perhaps, be nearer
the truth to say, that her superior knowledge ip this respect is intuitive. Better her discipline
of love, than his reformatory theories and austere rules and stringent systems. Her persuasive
repr_oofs far exceed his stern menaces and cold logic.' In England, the proportion of female to
male teachers is rapidly increasing."
14 5. We regret to state that several cases have occurred during the
past and present years in which teachers have been guilty of fal"ifying their
rolls. In these cases teachers are not only guilty of the serious offence of
falsifYing important public returns, but they render themselves open to
punishment for wilful and corrupt pe:~jury. In every case which has been
proved, we have under the powers conferred by rule 27 suspended the
teacher for five years.
146. A case has, also, come under our notice in which private agreements have been entered into between the head-teacher and assistants
contravening the agreements duly entered into between the local committees
and the teachers, and· lodged in our office in conformity with the rules
of the Board. These private agreements have the effect of depriving the
assistants of a portion of the school income which is justly their due, and
of transferring the sums thus improperly deducted to the head-teachers.
We shall be prepared to deal with the utmost. severity with every case
in which it shall be found that attempts have been.made to set aside formal
agreements.
I 4 7. We continue the practice of keeping a record of applications
for employment in schools, and of permitting suitable teachers to be
recommended where application is made to the office on the subject. We·
re-publish for general information a copy pf the notice which we have
issued:(From the Victorian Government Gazette, of 12th October, I 866, No.
I I 4·)
APPLicATIONs FoR EMPLOYMENT IN CoNNECTION wrTH CoMMoN ScHooLs.
A list of applicants for employment as masters, mistresses, and assistant teachers in
,Common Schools, is kept in the office of the Board of Education.
.
Teachers desirous of employment are requested to furnish two copies of their testimonials, to give the names and addresses of their employers, if any, during the preceding
three years, with the names and roll numbers of the Common Schools in which they have been
employed.
Local committees who may desire teachers to be recommended for their schools are
requested to state the percentages of school fees and results to be given, and the probable
amount of such percentages, 'and whether house accommodation is provided, with any other
informatiQn in their power. . '
All letters to be addressed to "The Secretary, Board of Education, Melbourne."
· Lists of applicants for employment will be published from time to time.
* Annual Report of the Normal, Model, Grammar, and CoJ¥mon Schools in '!Jpper Canada, for the
year 1865. See page 7·
0
29
Teachers who have already applied, and wish their names recorded, are requested to notify
the same to the Secretary.
B. F. KANE, Secretary.
(By order ofthe Board)
Education Office, 9th October, I 866.
I48. Since the issue of the notice, 20I applications for employment Nnmber of nppl!cations
,
,
d
T . l h
received, and of appoin;.
have been reg~stered, and 26 appomtments have been ma e.
he pan· as mentsmooe.
riot proved as successful as might be desired, looked at. from the teachers'
point of view, though it has doubtless been of benefit to local committees of
schools at a distance from Melbourne, who have availed themselves of the
means thus offered for procuring qualified teachers. Classified teachers, as
a rule, are averse to taking. charge of schools at a distance from the large
towns or centres of population, especially when the schools offered to them
have but a small attendance ; but it is precisely from this class of schools
that applications to recommend teachers are most frequently received-the
committees of others more favorably situated having apparently no difficulty
in filling up any vacancies that may occur.
.
I49· It is to be regretted that local committees generally do not avail Facilities not sufficiently
themselves more of this record of a.pplicants for employment, as their doing a.vanedof.
so would tend in a great measure to prevent even the temporary employment
of persons who, when put to the test of examination, prove to be incompetent, and this to the exclusion of many classified teachers.
VIII.-PUPIL·TEACHERS.
·
0
I. 50. The .number of reports received during I 867 of the examinations Nnmberofreportsrecelved during 1867.
of candidate pupil-teachers was 489.
.,
I 5 I. An analysis of these reports shows that 2 I 5 were examined A.na.lysls of reports.
once, 64 twice, I 8 three times, 14 four times, 3 six times, I seven times, and
I eleven times.
·
·
I 52. At the annual examinations of pupil-teachers for promotion, Annnruexrunlno.uonsof
• M
lb .
d t h e country d'IStriCts,
•
• January, I 86 7, I99 were Januo.ry,IS67.
pupll-tooohers,
1' e ourne an
m
h eId m
examined, of whom 87 were promoted, 2 allowed another trial in the art ofNumberexrunined,
• t h e su b'~eets of the 'fh'Ird B oo k , I m
· t he sub'~ects of t h e F ourth . passed, o.nd failed.
.
teach mg,
I m
Book, and I08 have failed to obtain promotion. Ofthose who failed, 35 did
not obtain promotion after two successive examinations ; therefore, salary
was withdrawn from them ; but I 5 were reinstated on the appeals of the local
committees of their schools, and were granted another trial at examination.
I53· At the annual examination held in January, I868, 206 wereNumberexo.mlncdo.tan·
• d, of wh om 3 I passe d, 44 were a11owed fur.ther t n'al s m
• certam
• nun!
exrunlnat!on held
examme
1n Janunry, xs68.
subjects, 7 were suspended for copying,, and. I 24 failed ; salaries were
withdraY\''11 from 2 5, owing to their having failed at two successive examinations, but in I I cases appeals have been received, 10 of which are under
consideration, and in I another trial has been allowed.
I 54· The number of schools licensed for pupil-teachers on the acMoisuoonseaforpupu3 Ist December, I 867, was I33, the number of pupil-teachers allotted was 364, teaehers.
and the number actually employed,· 2 59· The license was withdrawn from Licenses withdrawn.
one school in consequence of the local committee appointing an unclassified
teacher, and the license to another school has been suspended because the
building was in want of repair and the management detective.
I 55. The following is a statement of the number of schools licensed Number of schools
' each year, as compared W1'th th a t under t h e 1ate D enommatwna
• • ·1 Board : - llcensedlneachyca.ras
m
compo.red with that
under the late
Denomlno.tiona.l Board.
I Pupil-teachers I Pupil-teachers
Schools.
employed.
allowed.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - _____
,
___________
Denominational Board
x864-Board of Education ...
x86S
x866
1867
• In some of these cases appeals have been received and are under consideration.
73
3Q
Statement of annual
examination for
promotion of pupil·
teachers, from 1864 to
1868.
. I s6. The following is a statement of the .annual examinations for
promotion of .pupil-teachers from I864 to I868 : •. ·
•
I
..
Year,
x864
· x866
x867
I868
Exnmined.
I
.,
94
138
199
206
' 637
Schools licensed during
present year.
Causes why progress Is
not more marked,
Failed,
28
.i
66
127
xo8
I3I
I
91
75"
205
43:1'
,. . I 57. The number of additional schools licensed during the present
year is eight.
·
:I 58. These figures do not show much increase in the number of pupilteachers, and the proportion of those pronioted is smaller than in I 867. The
small salaries at pre~ent given, added to the fact that teachers receive no
re:p:mneration for the special instruction which they are obliged to ~mpart to.
pupil_-tea.cpers, will account for the unsatisfactory progress exhibited. .We
hope. that the new rule which we have framed will, in a very short time,
enable us to report much more satisfactory results.
I
Reportsotexaminatlonor ..... ·•
~~~a;:;;;.••eived
Promoted.
~idates
IX.-TRAINING.
I 59· One hundred· and twelve reports of the examinations of 7I can-
for admission to the St. James' and St: Paul's Training Institution
were received ·during the year 1867. Of this number of candidates,·. 36 have
pass~d .the entrance ·examination, and 3 5 failed ; '4 7 have ·been examined
once, I 2 twice, 9 three times, I four times, and 2 five times.
T"'oexamina'tionsof ·r
I6o. Two examinations of teachers in training .were ·held during the
teachers in tralni'ng
• h 42 teach ers atten ded, 2 5 once and I ·7 twice,
'
held.
year; at wh1c
mak'mg t h e
nuniber·of reports 59· Of the teachers in training examined, 4 are entitled
·to first class certificates on their showing that they have taught in Common
Schools for two years, I6 have obtained second class certificates, and 22 were
not classed. One of those teachers who failed to obtain a second class certificate has, upon her training examination, been awarded a· special certific~te
of the second division of competency.
·
.
,.
Reports of e:s:nmlnatlon. of ·
I 6 I. Up to the end of I 867, I 9 5 reportS of I I 3 teachers in training
113 teachers in traiumg h
• d, 0f W h Om 24 pasSed .l'101' t } le fi rst C1ass·, 40 10r
.l' '
th e secon d
up to end of 1867.
ave been receiVe
class, and 49. failed to obtain any classification.
Reports or examination of
'I62. Of candidates 'for admission to training up· to the same date, 338
eandldutes for admis·
f
• •
• d • h t he 10
f.' 11
• resu}ts :- ·. ·
slontotrninlngreoolved reports o exanunation were receive , Wit
OWing
up to end of 1867.
,,
;
'
Year.
.
3xst December, 1865
1866
"
"
··lnstitutlou doing good
work.
Question of training is
, stiU unsatisfactory.
'•
1867
...
...
.. .
...
...
...
•
...
...
...
Examined •
Passed.
Failed.
92
52
40
55
7I
34
36
218
1:12
2I
'
35
'
..
96
I63. This institution, so far as its capabilities extend, is doing good
work, and 'is turning out some fair teachers. It is always full, and the superintendent is zealous and painstaking. The question of training is, however,
still in an unsatisfactory state. The present institution, although under the
direction of the Church of England, is little more than the privat,e speculation of the master. A general training institution, unconnected With any
denomination, and on a IIJ,Ore extended basi~, is a desideratum to which we
shall not
fail' to give our attention.
..
'
" This' includes the number \vhose examinations are incomplete .
\J'}
...
31
X.-SINGING.
I64. _Examinatio~s of singing masters 'were held in January and July, E;~!~~sof stngtng
I867, at which 7 candidates presented themselves; I passed for the first class,
I for the second, 2 for the third, and 3 failed to pass.
I65 .. The total nu,nber of candidates who obtained licenses at Numberofcandidstes
licensed.
nine examinations was 57. Twelve passed first class, I 3 second class, I 6
third class, and I 6 failed.
masters .have been employed durinoI66 • Twenty-nine sino-ing
o:" the stng~gmll.Steraemployed
dunng tbe year.
year. jn giving lessons in singing in I 20 Common Schools.
Schott appointed a
I67 • Mr: John Russell having left the colonyl Mr. James Schottl Mr.member
of the board of
Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music, London, has been appointed a examtnerainmuslc.
member of the Board of Examiners in his place. .
·
I 6 8. The following table shows the progress made in instruction in Table showing progress
singing during the last foiir years. The increase over I 867 is satisfactory:- made.
•
Schools.
Year.
Average Number
'
•
ol
Children Taught.
8.
d.
427 8
897 II
I,OSI 7
I,I66 7
3
£
1864
I86 5
1866 •
I867
...
...
...
...
4,629
6,I65
6,696
8,207
77
II4
II$ .
u8
TotaL
Cost to Parents.
Cost to the Board.
s. d.
£
435 8 IO
870 7 9
I,OJ6 I 9
1,189 IO 5
8
0
5
s.
£
862 I7
1,767 19
2,o87 8
2,355 17
d.
1
5
9
[0
XL-DRAWING.
169. Two examinations of candidates to be licensed to impart inst~c- Emminatlonsofdr&wing
tion in drawing in Common Schools were held, at which 14 attended; Eight masters.
were licensed, and 6 failed to obtain a license to teach drawing. Eight
examinations in all have been held, attended by 36 candidates, of whom 14
: passed the examination required, and 22 failed to pass.
.
I 70· Of those entitled to hold licenses, I I are employed instructing Drawing masters em' t h at su b'~ect m
• 53 Common Sch oo1s.
ployed In Common
pup1'l s m
Schools.
+7 I. In order that every encouragement may be given to teaching Tell.Ching or singing and
singing and drawing in Common Schools, we have decided that all canqidates, drawing encouraged.
without limitation of number., whether employed as teachers or not, may
attend the half-yearly examinations of singing and drawing·free of charge,
and that those only who, by passing an examination, become eligible to. hold
a license, shall be required to pay a fee for such license.
172. Singing and drawing are at present placed in the list of subjects Tcachcrswhopll.Sstn
L'
•
ti' on 10r
C.
h OnOrS. I n the amended programme Wh'IC h We h ave be
singing anddmwlng to
IOr examina
required to give tuunder consideration we intend to propose that teachers of schools who pass ~~~t~~·~~~~~rein to
in these subjects shall be required to give instruction therein to their pupils,
receiving for the same a certain fixed annual payment.
,
.
I 73. The following table shows the progress made in instruction in Table showing progress
drawing in Common Schools. It. will be observed that the increase over made,
I 866 is very considerable:Average Number
Schools.
Year.
~
I864
1865
1866
1867,
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
39
46
39
53
of
Cost to Parents.
Cost to the Board.
Children Taught.
1688
1920
I859
2725
£ s. d.
I66 I7 9
341 15 II
376 I 3
436 I IO
£
173
311
348
455
s. d.
15
4
8
5
6
I
8
5
TotaL
£
'
340
653
724
891
s. d.
I3 3·
0 0
9II
7 3
XII.-DRILL
AND GYMNASTICS.
:
'
~
I 74· The classes for elementary and advanced instruction in military cJa!!Ses tor drill and
drill and in gymnastics, referred to in our last Report, have been completed, gymnastics.
32
and certificates of having passed the necessary examinations, under the
signature of the Colonel-Commandant of Volunteers, with the Board's
corporate seal affixed, have been issued, 33 to the members of the elementary
class, and 22 to the members of the advanced class.
Gymnnstic classes for
I7 5· Two elementary gymnastic classes for female teachers and assisfemales.
tants, attended by 33 members, were formed in I 867 ; the course has been
recently completed, and an examination of the pupils held. Seventeen of the
number attended for examination, and were recommended by the instructor,
Mr. G. Techow, for certificates.
'
Other classes formed.
I 76. Other classes for instruction in elementary and advanced military
drill and gymnastics for teachers, assistants, teachers in training, and pupilteachers have been commenced. Similar classes in gymnastics for females
have also been formed.
MonthlyreportsoflnspecI77. The Brigade Sergeant-Major, whose services have been retained
tion of military drill.
d unng
• t be year I 86 7, h as b een d'1rected . to send m
• monthiy reports of h'IS
inspection of military drill in schools, the teachers of which hold certificates
of having passed the necessary examinations.
.
·Commuulco.tlonsbasedon
q8. Communications based on these reports are forwarded to local
these reports are for• at tentiOn
•
• ea11ed to any Irreg
•
ulanties,
•'
warded to the local
COmmi'ttees, an d their
IS
Wh'l
I e, I'f
committees.
the :report of the Inspector is favorable, the same is made known, for the
information of the committee and the satisfaction of the teacher.
Instroctlon given to
179· Instruction in drill and gymnastics is given regularly to the
teachers In training..
t eachers m
• t rammg.
• •
Drill taught In many
.
I So Drill is taught by the teachers in many of the schools in
schools in Melbourne M lb
• SOrrie 0 f t h e country d'IStriCtS,
•
and the country.
e ourne, and m
an d a 1!:1eW SCh 001S are
Applicntio!lforgymnnstic provided with gymnasia.We have received an application to establish a
lustruct!On at Baltarat. gymnastic class at Ballarat, but, owing to the want of a proper gymnasium,
have been unable to do anything in the matter. We shall be glad to see
instruction of this nature widely extended.
Teachers, &c., who have
I 8 I. The following table shows the number of teachers, assistants,
~;:~~.:C.~rlll and and pupil-teachers who have passed in drill and gymnastics separately or
combined:Number who
attended.
Passed In-
Drill only.
I Gymnastics only.
Drill and.
Gymnastics.
MALEs.-Elementary Class
...
82.
13
MALES.- Advanced
...
2.3
4
10
8
...
33
...
17
.. .
...
138
17
35
64
Class
FEMA.LEs.-Elementary Class
Totals
...
8*
56
Am.
1 82. Since the Common Schools Act was brought· into operation in
September, i 862, 848 applications for Government aiq have been received
by the Board of Education, which may be thus classified:XIII.-APPLICATIONS FOR
Number of applications
for Government aid.
since September, 1861..
Applications for aid by way of salary
,
for grants in aid of buildings and repairs
,
for sites...
.•• 360
... 363
.. . 12 5
848
83. In answer to the applications for salary, 2 I7 grants have been
made, involving an estimated outlay of £32,5 so. .In all late cases of grants
contlltlon attached to auto new non-ve~ted schools, we have attached this condition, viz., that should
lntc cases of grants to h
d
• }
•
f h l 1' • • h" h t h e SCh 001S m
• quest"lOll
newnon-vestedachOols. t e e ucatiOna reqUirements 0 t e OCa ltieS m W IC
are situated, demand the establishment of vested schools, the aid granteq
to such non-vested schools shall be withdrawn ; and we have also resolved
not to grant aid to any non-vested schools until all the requirements of the
I
• Two of whom have not yet completed their c.ourse of drill.
'·
33
rules in regard to buildings and furniture have been complied with, and the
necessary attendance shown for a period of at least six months.
184. In 64 cases aid has been declined, for various reasons; such as Aid ~cllnea. tn 64 ctll!<lS.
the inability of the promoters .to comply with the conditions of sections 9
and 1 o of the Common Schools Act, or upon the report of the District
Inspector that the educational wants of the localities in which it was proposed
to establish the new schools were already fully provided for. In 26 cases Twenty-slxca.seswlththe applicants have either withdrawn their applications, or have failed to drawn,&c.
prosecute them ; of the remaining cases some are under report, others are
pending more precise information, without which we shall be .unable finally
to dispose of them.
I 85· .Of the 3.63. applihcati ons for hgrantsb in aid of ndew scfhohol build!~gs, N~;,';b~~ 1 :~:~~~~
an d fior repairs to existmg se oo1s, 3I3 ave een grante ; o t e remrumng
,to
cases, 14 have been declined; 20 have been withdrawn or abandoned, and .:r
• der are eit
' her under report or are pend'mg sueh m
• £ormat'IOn as Number
decllned or
t h e remam
withdrawn.
will enable us to deal with them.
·
186. In I I cases the grants have lapsed, owing to the applicants not Grants lapsed.
having complied with the conditions ; 2 of these, however, have since been
'
renewed upon a reconsideration of their merits. · I 2 51.plications for grants of Appncauons for grants of
. have been receive
. , and, m
. the maJOnty
. . of land
from the Crown
Ian d flrom t he Crown fior seh ooI sites
tor school site•.
cases, have been favorably entertained; the total area reserved being 234 acres
and 5 perches. The remaining cases are pending the District Inspector's
report as to the~r' general suitability, or are under the consideration of the
Board of Land and Works.
1.87. In 44 cases, schools which were formerly connected with schoolsthathavebecome
denominations, or were known as non-vested National Schools, have become vested.
vested, and grants have been made towards the erection of new buildings. In
one of these cases the property was ve.sted in trustees in connection with the
Church of England and Presbyterian denominations; but in the others, the
schools, although connected with other denominations, were not actually
vested in them. The end obtained by thus vesting the schools in the Board
has been, that the applicants have received aid towards building. In all cases
the properties conveyed have been valued by some competent person, and
the value placed upon them has been allowed in detennining the grant to be
made for the repair or extension of the building·.
I 88' Among the applications received was one for salary to the school Appucauon
for aid to tho
school nt the Convent
held at the Convent ofthe Good Shepherd at Abbotsford. The school is oftheGoooShepherd.
attended by upwards of eighty children, about seven-eighths . of whom
have been committed under the Neglected and Criminal Children Act. The
school had not a sufficient attendance to enable us to grant aid to. it under
the provisions of the 10th section of the Common Schools Act, regulating Appncauonrelnsedinncthe establishment of new schools ; but, as that section exempts schools from ~~':::~o;{!~~~~~'l;
the neces~ity of having the prescribed attendance when a "natural obstaCle" Act.
exists which prevents the children attending another school, we took the
opinion ~f the Attorney-General, whether the fact t.hat the children are unable
to attend any other school, the bulk of them being absolutely prohibited by
the law, may not be deemed a natural obstacle within· the meaning of
the Act.
·
·.
·
I 89. Mr. Higinbotham's opinion was to the effect that the words Atton:eY.·Gencrni's
"natural obstacle" included all permanent physical· or material obstacles oplmon.
which would prevent the regular attendance in safety of the bulk of the
pupils at the ~chool.
190. The sum placed at our disposal for .new schools in I 867 was Amonntvotedin 180 for
, £ 4,ooo 10r
I!
,
£ 12,ooo, VIZ.:
sa} anes,
and £8,ooo fior bm']d'mgs. W e were not newschools.
able to commence making grants until October last, since which time salaiies
have been granted
to 47 schools, and about ·£8,ooo towards buildings. Our Further
grants cannot be
.
made until the vote for
f unds for new schools are now exhausted, and we shall be unable to the present year Is
make any further grants until the vote for the present year is taken.
taken.
I 9 I. In our last Report we published a paper of " Sug~restions for Board's pap.er or
. ...,
u Suggcst10ns for plans
p1ans of sehoolrooms and the aiTangement of school furniture.'' These ot schoolrooms, &c.,"
suggestions have been found very useful to local committees in fixing upon found usefnl.
No. 39,d.
34
plans of buildings, ~~~ f~rnitm;~, . art~: ,have, no .~~ub~, 1 been· the nieans ,of
preventing the ~rection of many unsuitable buildings.
.
su'?lmnry.of.auapplica-.
.
•..
I92.
The
following
is
a
summary.
of
all
the
applications
received,
twnsrecehed.
.
~ull d~tails of which .will be found in Appendix*:-.
v
_
~
'
'
.
.
;A
J
~
... ,
f.'f'
"'~.' : :
!l
',~.;~:
'
LoCal .
Estimated Sum ::.5
applied for. f '
- Naturo of . ·
Application:
.
Amount Grllllted ..
. Payments
Contributions
Received:
~de
· by tho.Boord.
Area
· Reserved.
-~-------l-----~·---------------l·~--------------~-1-------
,' .
•. £
. £ .. s. d•
.. s ...d.,. '. -·
217
32,550
0
£
. s•. d.
£
d.
S.
. A.
R.
0
P•
••• 1
201332 '17' . I ...15,205' S. 8
'313
234
0
IS
1--------:1-------1-----i. .
f
.
' . .
·'.
w
•
•
:_,....
'
··~
'
, ..
'.
;
•
i
.
XIV.--LOC.AL Col\:I:MITTEES.
.
• I9j;.. At: th'i'erid :of the ··y· ear: rS67'
the total" number of menibers
.. , • ~,, ~., ·
~ · ~···" .• .
...
•
.'
.
recorded as· holdmg office on local committees was· ~;781. Of that number,
4,2 I I have 'oeen aP,dea' since the' passing of the Common ~chools Act.
Additions n:ru:~e to exist/
·
'. ··t94· :Dtlririg ·the· ·.past· year· additions have been made 'to existing
mgeommittees.
committe~s'iii':3o~ s'cliools;: iiidusive.ofJ7 new-local co~mittees which have
been appointed ; the total nmnber of persons appointed having be~n·· 8 r r. ·
Totnlnumbcrofmc'?lbers ·
I95· 'The follo\ving table gives''thetotllJ number of members of each
of each denommatlOn. denomination. appointed on ·locar committees of SChdols duripg the year I 8'6'7'
With the mimber of members of each 'denomination appointed to schools of
each·' class: :'I•,.;,' ' I .' .. I :· ·. ·. • ' ,•' • ': " • ' ; :
.
It will he·observed that '296 menibers .of'the Church of:England have
been·· appointed; I 67 ·Presbyterians, !44 Roman Catholics, I I 5 Wesleyans,
j 6 fudependehts; ·~rid~ 53 of other. d~nominations. . '
. " ·, . .
.
. n~nomiootionswenmtxect' ·..
·: I 96. In ·the temporarily· non"vested ·and in, 'the vested schools, the
m temporanly nond
, , ., . . . . }l nnxe
, . .d. . ' . ., · .
vested and in vested
' ·enomlilatlons ·are.~ we·
'. .:. ', . . . :
... .
1
c:~~~~;.~ble mixture in ·
197·. There· isi ·atso a considerable mixtul·~ on the· committees of
~~:~~~g~~~~lice:c~~~ls. Ohurch of England and other ·Denoirilnational' Comriwn· Schoo1s, with the
exception· of the ·Roman· Catholic, 'where·· an· the members ~belong to that
persuasion.
· ·
'
·
·
Number of mon;bers re-
, corileU as holUmg office
'1
•
on local committees.
·r ::;.--
cliss of School.
Church of Englan!l
Presbyterian· ·:·
Roman Catholic
Wesleyan
Independent
Other Denominations
89..
54
27
28
.· 4
. ~ i
·:······
J
Totals
-
2
o ,
•
So :
!57
38
34
12
III •
7
'· II- ·
1
3
296
28
6
4
167
3
li
••• .
77
·...
10
II
4·
I' x
:-:-'-.-l--.2 :-:-.·I-:I-3-:.-I--'-77_· i
,:
28
[__2_
I
2
144
•
I· _u
•
5
36
I· ,, ~i-i-1.::
I
-• .j '
Lists
have
cotnmlttees
revised.
I ,
~
··· ·
19 8. During the past and- present years the lists ,of local committees
have been in course of careful revision, with a view.'to remove such members
"'The discrepancy between the 'number of applications show~ in the Summary (viz., 8.j.8), and that
given in the Appendix (viz., 749), arises from the fact that an applica,tion lllay possibly embrace three
separate subjects, such as site, sal;uy, and buildings; so that although it appears in the .Appendix, or detailed
statement, under·one number, each subje~t when summarized is shown separately. 1
.t -:r:hese are· school~. which, although not vested _in the Board of· Education, are unconnected with any
denommation. . ..
:
. .: .. : :'. ,: . . ' ~
' :
r· '
·'
:
35
as have neglected to attend to their duties on the ·committee, ·or are residing
at too great a distance from the school to take a'n active interest in the
·
' ··
·
.
.
.
management of its affairs.
I99· A large number 'of non-resident members, appointed before the Non-residcntmembers
Common Schools Act came into force, have 'accordingly been struck off the struck off.
lists of local committees, and care
lie taken on no account to· sanction
the appoin~ment of persons not living in the locality in which the schools
are situated, except in ·schools connected with denominations, when we
permit the ministers of such denominations having charge· over the districts
in which the schools are situated to be members of committee&. ·
200. The number of notices of the appointments of members of local Appointments during
committees, during the past- ·half-year, which have· appeared in the preS<l~thalf-yea,..
Government Gazette, is 4I2, and the total number of persons appointed
942· . This
shows
.
h. a• large increase
• over the pasthyear-theh number of Greatincrcaseinthenumber of members of local
transactiOnS for t e SIX months havmg been gre!tter t an the W ole of those committees.
in I 867.
20I .. We are glad to be able to state that,only·one.. case O'Ccurred last Onememberofcommittee
'
• our duty to exercise
• t he power con£'erre'd upon us· removed
by the Board
year m wh'ICh we £e1t It
in xs67.
by the I 8th section of the Act,· of removing, with the sanction of His
Excellency the Governor· in Council, unfit persons from local 'committees.
202. Two cases of. the kiP,d have occurred during the present year. Two cases of removaltn
203. As we ·have 'stated ih previous Reports, it is our custom to refer, ~::,·.~;:;ntments
as a matter of courtesy,· to heads of denominations all proposed appoint· ~~~~:-;:;~!f1d::.d• ot
ments of members of committees of schools connected with their churches.
·
during
the
past
year
in
which
the
committee
of
ease In which appoint204. A case occurred
:
.
.
me11t of a member wns
a sehoo1-recommended for appomtment as mem hers certam gentlemen not objected
to b.f tne head
01
belonging to the denomination with which the school was connected. The the denommation.
head of the denomination objected, on the ground that suitable persons
belonging to the denomination could be found in the ·locality willing to act.
In this' cas.e we uphe~d the opinion of the head of the denomination, Ohiectionsustntned.
because there were sc;hools in the locality connected with other denomina~
tions. Had this been the only school in the district, we should have urged a
mixed committee, but, as it was not, ,such a committee was uimecessary.
205. From the returns which have been received, there. appears to Locaioomm'itteesshowan
.
.
. .
h
f l al
.
, t he w~lf:are ?f ' increased
interest in the
exi~t an mcreasmg mterest on t. ~ p~rt 0. oc
c.ommittees
m
welfare of the schools.
their schools, although there IS ·still room for ~mpr'?vement, especially m
many of the country districts, where the difficulties to be overcome are
much greater than elsewhere.
Considering the demands made upon the time of those who voluntarily give their services to the: work, it is highly creditable to the
community generally, that so many· are found willing to devote their time
·
·
and labor to further the interests of public education..
will
XV.-BooKs AND ScHooL REQUISITEs.
;zo6. During the year I 867 the sum of £2,67 I JS. 9d. was received Amolmt rcc.eived for
for books and apparatus s~pplied by the Board to Common Schools at books durmg ' 867:
reduced' rates j the average amount of e:;tch requisition WaS £1 6s. o-!d., Trnnsa.ctlons!nx867.
and the total Rumber of applications, 2,o 5I.
_
207. The following table shows the amount received in each year sums received In each
since the Common Schools Act came into operation, . the number ~f applica· ;rear.
tions, and the average amount of each requisition :-· ·
··
I
Year
r862:
1863
J864
r865
I866
r867
2
Months ...
Total ...
Yo. of
Application. .
I ofAverage
Amount
each Requlsitlpn.
An\oun~
£ ·s.
232
r,zs7
1,7<12
I,8I7
I,687
2,05I
8,766
I·.
. !:
I
·I
I
I
I
d.
4'· 5
9 6
6· 9
9 II
II II
6 o.!.2
'I'-8"' T!
l
I
Received.
s.
283 8
r,856 6
2,309 3
2.,7<14· ·3
2.,694 I3
2,67I 3
£
>
l
a.
IO
8
2
II
I
9
86
Irish National book!!
prlnclptilly used.
Otber publications.
Proportions of sales.
208. The school books published under th~ authority of the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland are, as hitherto, more in demand
in the schools of this colony than any other series, and this will continue to
be the c·ase as long as they can be supplied at rates so much below all other
publications of the kind as. at present.· New and rhuch improved editions of
these books are in course of publication. The publications of Sullivan,
Gleig, Morell, Bonwick, Chambers, Venables, Barnard Smith, Colenso,
Cornwell, Dr. W. Smith, Keith Johnston, and others, however, are also
extensively used in Common Schools, notwithstanding their comparatively
high prices.
209. The following statement shows, as nearly as possible, the numbers of books by different authors which have been supplied to schools
during the past two years :--..
· I867.
I86fh
Irish National books
Sullivan's
Gleig's
Morell's
Bonwick's
Chambers'
V enables' ...
Barnard Smith's
·colenso's ...
Cornwell's
Dr. William Smith's
Keith Johnston's
Miscellaneous
...
......
.........
...
...
...
...
...
-
Copy-books and
'
.........
.........
.........
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
-
slat~s
-
'
Diminution of salescause of.
Supplies of books.
Specimens of art.
Receipts and disbursements.
70,00<:)
1o,ooo
1,85o
1,750
1,250
.-·..
...
...
·~·
...
...
...
...
...
......
...
...
.. .
...
...
...
...
.. .
...
65,o25
8,832
2,359
1,438
1,142
863
368
611
365
34I
I 51
sso
..
.
...
...
45°
375
310
r8o
...
...
128
985
r,6r7
88,ooo .
12,000
83,240
t8,2oo
roo,ooo
.
Maps and black boards.
.....
...
IOI 1440
2ro. About I,J7o maps and 127 black boards have been likewise
furnished to schools at reduced prices.
211. The sales during 1867 show a diminution, as compared with
I866. This has been entirely caused by the fact that some of the National
School books were out of print for a considerable portion of the year. ·
2 I 2. The stoppages of payments during portions of the past and the
present years caused our periodical remittances for, books to· be interrupted,
and inconvenience has already been felt and \\ill still be felt in the deficiency
of books from this cause. ·
2I3. We have resolved to present ~o a public institution, such as the
School of Desig;n or Museum of Industry, when such an one is prepared to .
make a proper use of them, the best of the specimens of art presented to the
Board by the King of Italy.
2 I4.
submit the following abstracts of receipts and disbursements,
Qn account of school books, from the 1st October, 1862, to the 3 :ist December~
I 867, and for the year I 867 : -
We
STATEMENT SHOWING THE RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE OF THE BOOK DEPARTMENT
FROM THE IST OCTOBER, r862, TO 31ST DECEMBER, 1867.
-
£
To Books transferred by the late
National and Denominational
Boards to tbe present Board
of Education, exclnalve of
the library
Book!! added te stock by
Sept. 30, 1864
purchase to date
June 3o, x86s
"
"
"
June 30, 1866
"
"
"
De e. ji, 1866
"
"
"
Dec. ji, I867
"
"
"
Ditto for library
s. t!-
£
Oct. I, I861. ••
.. .. ..
.. ..
.. ..
:
~,803
u
0
4S8o 8 6
3.593 19 6
4,144 I 7
I,J78 I 6
z,zu. 7 8
69 6 s
----£I8,78I I7
~
Deo. ;t, I861.
Dec. 31, r861
])ee, 31, 1864
. Dec. 31, I86)
Dec. 3I, r866
Dec. ji, 1867
"
"
"
"
"
8 IO
I,8)6 6 8
"
:Z.,JO<} 3 2
:Z.,71.4 3II
~.694 13 l
"
"
"
"·
"
"
"
"
Books returned" te Dublin ..
Loss on maps, &c., supplied
at half-price
Free grants
Books transferred to library. •
Stock on bund estimated at
this date
.. ..
.. .. ..
..
..
..
s. cl.
~Sl
By Books aoldoutof stock tedate
~.67I
l 9
6)4 7
s
i
990 Il 8
6o 19 7
69 6
s
4,467 IO 8
£I8,78I I7 f.
.
87
STATEMENT SHOWING THE,RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE OF THE BOOK DEPAHTMENT
FOR THE YEAR 1867 .
..
£
•
Dec. ;t, t866
Dec. ;t, r867
To
Stock on hand estimated at
tllis date
.. .. ..
Books added to stock by purchase to date
.. ..
Books for library .. ..
Dec.
31, 1867
S,Zt4 19 4
2.1'2.1Z
16
7 8
!Z
~7M!! 19
XVI.
z
~
s• d.
£
d.
By Books sold out of stock to date
Loss on maps, &c., supplied at
half-price .. .. ..
Froe grants ..
.. ..
Books transferred to librory ••
Stock on hand estimated at
this date .. .. ..
-
:,67!
l
9
:86 7 6
~
s
t6 a
I
~
4,467 to 8
£7,443 19
~
GENERAL REMARKS.
2 I 5. To ~·ve the children of metropolitan schools an opportunity of Children of the metropou.
, t e receptiOn
,
takmg
part m
of HR
. .H . t h e Du k e of Ed'
' m b urgh , we made tanschoolsatthereceptJono!H.R.athoDuke
' the N at10n
' al A nthem be1ore
.C:
H'IS R oyal H'1gh - of Edmbnrgh,
arrangements f or t h em to smg
ness. About IJ,ooo children assembled in Collins street, and joined in the
singing. ·Upwards of 2,ooo children also assembled at Emerald Hill for the
same purpose. The appearance of the children, uniformly dressed, and nearly
all decorated with medals, was very satisfactory, and they acquitted themselves with credit.
216. At other places visited by the Prince the children also assembled H.R.H.recetvedatother
. .
,
l
, ll h
places by the school
and sang m h1s honor ; and m some paces, Ballarat especm y, t e result was children.
extremely gratifying.
.
217. In consequence of the Prince's visit, it was necessary to give an Extmweek.'shollday
extra week's holiday to the schools, making seven weeks during the year given.
instead of six. We also resolved, in order to prevent the schools suffering in
results, to reduce the attendances required for payment during the last halfRednctionotrequlred
of 1867, from 100 and 90, to 90 and 8o respectively. A regulation with this a~tendauce.
view was adopted and. approved by the Government.
.
218., We •stated in our• last Report (paragraphs
29-30)
that
we had Chiidrenunderthree~ea:rs
•
of age not to be admitted
under consideratiOn the question whether children under three years of age to other than tntant
should be admitted into schools. It is clear that their presence injures the schools.
organization of schools, and that where there is no special instruction they
receive little benefit; they. are frequently sent solely to be out of the way
of their mothers, and they seldom pay fees.
We have resolved that no
payment shall be made for such children except in Infant Schools.
219. We have had under consideration the question of taking decisive ~algnmationotschoolB.
steps with a view to the amalgamation of schools and the suppression of
unnecessary ones in populous localities. The Inspector-General .has submitted to us a report giving in detail a plan which he recommends for
carrying out this scheme in one of the suburbs of Melbourne; and Inspectors
Brown and Gilchrist, in their annual reports, give other instances in which
amalgamations might be effected with adv.antage. We hope soon to be in a
position to carry out a system of amalgamation, and where necessary of
suppression, which will have the effect. of encouraging large and efficient
schools, and of doing away with small and inefficient ones.
220. We beg strongly to recommend an amendment of Section Amendment l'llquired 1n
,
S Ch 00lS A et, W h'ICh prOVI'd eS t h at nO SCh 00l .Sh all education
the Act Into sparsely
provide
IX • 0 f t h e Common
·
·
1
•
h
f
W
populated
localities.
receive aid un ess It as an average attendance o 20.
e have lately
taken the opinion of the present Attorney-General whether the combined attendance in two schools, supervised by the same master and situated
in the same locality, but too far from each other to enable the same
children to attend at both, may not be taken to mak~up the average of 20
children required by this section ; but we have been informed that such an
interpretation would be an evasion of the Act. If the Board were empowered
by law to grant aid to schools with a less average than 2o, and to aid
itinerating teachers and 4alf-time schools und~r such regulations as might be
approved by the Governor in Council, the principal portion of those children
who are now deprived of the opportunities of obtaining education would be
, brought within the scope of the Common Schools Act.
38
Conclusion.
221_. We submit this as our R~port f~r the y~ar 1867-68 to Your
Excellency, and in testimony thereof have caused our corporate seal to be
affixed this eighth day of August, 1868.
By Order of the Board of Education,
BENJAMIN F. KANE,
Secretary.
·,
·KEY TO APPENDICES,
I. INSPECTION.
General
Report~
(x.)
(z.)
(3.)
(4-)
(5.)
(6.)
(7.)
(8.)
(9.)
for the Year x867, from the Inspector-General and Inspeetors :Index tO General Reports oflnspectors.
R. Hale Budd, Esq., B.A,, Cantab., Inspector-General.
G. Wilson Brown, Esq., B. A., Cantab., Organizing Inspector, Eastern District.
Harry Augustus Sasse, Esq., B.A., Melbourne, First-Class Inspector, Southern District.
John Sircom, Esq., First-Class Inspector, Geelong District.
Archibald Gilchrist, Esq., M.A., I-L.B., Melbourne,·First-Class Inspector, Ballarat District.
John Main, Esq., First-Class Inspector, Castlemaine District.
Matthew Evanson O'Brieu, Esq., Second"Class Inspector, Western District.
John Simeon Elkington, Esq., B.A., Melbourne, Second-Class Inspe~tor, Sandhurst District.
II. FINANCE-.
(x.) Abstract of the Receipts and Disbursements of the Board of Education from the xst January to the JIStDecember,
1867; with a Summary, showing the Amount disbursed under each Head of Expenditure.
(z.) Summary Statement of Iteceipts and Disbursements of the Board of Education, from the date of the establishment of
the Board, the zst September, zS!}z, to the 31st December, 1867.
III. STATISTICS.
(z.) Return of Common Schools in operation during the year 1866, showing the Number of Schools in each County and
District, and in each l>funicipality, with the Number of Children on the Rolls and in Average .Attendance; the
.Average Number of Destitute Scholars; the L{)cal Contributions; and the Government Aid.
(z.) Return showing the County, District, or Municipality in which each Common School is situated; the Number of
Schools Inspected and Examined under Standards, for the six months ended 31st December, 1866, and 3oth June,
x867; with the Number of Children on the Holls and present at Inspection ; the Number Examined, Passed, and
Paid for under the Result System ; the Sums paid by way of tixed Salary and Results ; together with the Sums
raised by Fees and Local Contributions; also the Number of Children on the Rolls and in Average .Attendance at the
.end of 1867.
( 3·) Index to Statistical Returns.
IV. APPLICATIONS FOR AID.
(z.) List of Applications for .Aid received from the date of the establishment ofthe Board, the zst September, xS6z, to the
31st December, 1867, with a statement of the action taken upon them.
(2.) Index to Applications for .Aid.
V. PUPIL TEACHERS.
Amended Regulations as to the Appointment, Examination, Classification, and Salaries of Pupil Teachers.
VI. INSTRUCTIONS TO INSPECTORS OF C011MON SCHOOLS.
APPENDIX I.
INSPECTION.
GENERAL REPORTS FOR THE YEAR 1867 FROM THE INSPECTOR-GENERAL
AND INSPECTORS.
(1.)-INDEX TO REPORTS.
A.
Amalgamation of Schools:
Inspector-General, 45, 46.
The rapid incre~se in the number of schools will soon
bring on the question of amalgamation. Brown, 48.
Many sch\)ols miglit be amalgamated with advantage, but the existence of two schools where one
would suffice is not in all cases an unmixed evil.
Gilcbrist, 51.
Objects to be gained by. Inspector7General, 45·
Principles upon which the amalgamation and reduction of schools should be effected. InspectorGeneral, 46.
Apparatus:
Maps and black boards generally well supplied.
Elkington, 58.
Average Attendance:
Does not exceed three-fifths of the number actually
on the rolls for a given period. Elkington, 58.
B.
Books:
Deficiency of. Brown, 48.
Buildings:
Some wooden buildings require that their places should
be supplied by new ones. Gilchrist, 53·
Generally in very fair order. Brown, 47; Sasse, 48 ;Sircom, 51:
Are, as a rule, inferior. Elkington, 58.
Bush S~hools:
Are under a disadvantage in consequence of bad
roads. Sasse, 49·
c.
Change of Districts:
May have had some effect on the results. Sircom, 51.
Chinese:
Instruction of. Elkington, 57.
Clmsification:
Of the pupils on the basis of reading only, in the first
instance, has acted injuriously. 1::\asse, 48.
Clerical Work:
The great amount of, impedes the inspection.
Gilchrist, 52.
Comparison:
Inspector Siicoii! cannot' draw a true comparison
between his results and those of his predecessor.
Sircom, so.
State of the Castlemaine district cannot be compared.
with its condition in former years. 11-Iain, 54·
Schools in Sandhurst district compare favorably with
those in other parts of the colony. Elkington, 58.
D.
Discipline :
Is creditable throughout. Main, 54·
No. 39, e.
E.
Education:
Compulsory is objectionable. O'Brien, 56.
Evening Schools: ·
Ought to be encouraged. Brown, 48.
Examination for Certificates:
A want of uniformity exists in the results ; remedy
suggested. Inspector.General, 45·
Very beneficial results follow from the examinations
/ of teachers every six months. Gilchrist, 53·
Country teachers have no opportunity to prepare
themselves for examination. Sasse, 49·
Examination:
Results of, in Castlemaine district, do not reflect credit
on the skill of the teachers. Main, 54.
F.
Free Children:
The great abuse of the system of payments might be
much reduced. Inspector-General, 53·
The abuses of the system appear to be incre~ing.
Inspector-General, 46 ; Main, 55·
The whole subject needs re-consideration. InspectorGeneral, 46.
The abuse of the system should be checked. Gil. christ, 53.
·
The number of, is unduly high. Brown, 48.
The method of signing certificates of destitution is
objectionable. Sircom, 5I.
The issue of certificates is hurtfuL Elkington, 58.
Fees:
Rule as to rate of, might be altered. Brown, 48.
A system is growing up of accepting payment in kind.
Main, 55·
Furniture:
Gc)lerally of a proper kind, and sufficient in quantity.
·
Gilchrist, 53·
Poverty is now the only excuse for faulty furniture.
.
Gilchrist, 53·
Defects will not be remedied in some cases unless aid
be withdrawn. Gilchrist, 53·
As:a rule, is good. Brown, 48; Sircom, 5r; Main, 54·
Most common want is that of a gallery. Bro,m, 48 ;
Main, 54·
rn rfitting up new desks and forms reference should
be made to the general average. Main, 54.
G.
General Remarks:
General state of Ballarat district satisfactory. .Gilchrist, 52.
·
Reguli!.tion requiring teachers to verify their returns
by a statutory declaration should be modified or
abolished. Gilchrist, 53·
42
"
H.
0.
Honor Examinations:
Organization:
Pr"actical benefit of, is very small. Inspector 7General, 44·
A change in the rules recommended. InspectorGeneral, 44·
I.
Industrial Schools:
.Very inferior time tables still exist. Gilchrist, 53 ;
Sircoi:u, sr.
The defect of having too many classes and sub·
divisions in small schools is frequent. Gilchrist, 5~·
The disposition 'to ignore the programme is productive
, of mal-organization; remedy suggested. Brown, 47·
pn the whole, satisfactory. Main, 54·
Were inspected twice during past year. Inspector- .
General, 46.
P.
Infr:-'l!t Sc}iools:
Mistresses of should be subjected to a speCial examination. Gilchrist, 53.
Infants:
Slate writing not good; defects pointed out. Gilchrist,
53· ,
Inspection:
,
.
St11te of; can hardly be looked upon as m~re ·satisfactory than during previous half- years. InspectorGeneral, 43·
Might effect a greater amount of practical good. Inspector-General, 43·
Cause of the unsatisfactory state of. In.spector- .
Gener11l, 43·
Result of, has become more uniform. . InspectorGeneral, 4 3·
The circumstance that two systems are. required, viz.,
one under standards and the other under programme, appears to be an anomaly. ,'InspectorGeneral, 44•
Ballarat district could not be completed 'in the time·
allowed. Gilchr ist, s.:~..
Of all schools in . Eastern district impossible.
Brown, 46.
. ! .
,Instruction:
Slate writing not good; defe~ts pointed out. Gilchrist, 53·
Grammatical analysis is taught in some schools.
·
Gilchrist, 53.
Newspapers used instead, of readi~g books. -J3rown, 47·
..Penmanship worse ~aught than' any other subject.·
Brown, 47.
·
··
··
Unsatisfactory. in 'southern dist:.:ict, Sasse;•48, 49·
Not satisfactory in ri1any country'schools. Sir~om; sr.
Castlemaine district is below the requirements of
standards and programme. Main, 54·
Reading appears to be tlJe best' taught. Main, 54·
Technical terms ought not to be 'used ,to children.
O'Brien, 56 ..
Itinerant Teachers: , .
Necessity of. Gilchrist, 53; O'Brien, 56.
L.
Local Committees :
Apl!-~liy shown by.
·,·,.
O'Brien, 56.
M.
Maps:
Generally well supplied... Elkington, 58.
Mi:z:ed Schools!
Appear,' from the testimony of the te.a.chers, to be
beneficial. Main, 55·
N.
Needlework:
Tolerable needlework among the ·girls is rare. In·
spector-General, 44·
New Schools:
Number added t6Ballaratdistrict in x867: ,Gilchrist, 51.
Eight in the Eastern district. Drown, 46.
In Western district. O':&ien, 56.
In Sandhurst district. Elkington, 57·
German school deserving of speciaJ remarlF. ·Elking·
ton, 57·
·'
·
Plans';
Issued by the Board ought to prevent the erection of
• unsuitable buildings. Main, 54·
Programme:
The disposition to ignore the programme is productive
of mal-organization. Brown, 47·
Pupil Teachers: . .
Eighteen schools in Ballarat district licensed. Gilchrist,
The system does not work well· in_ the, Sanqhurst
district. Elkingto?, 52.
Pupds:
:
..
.~
Their general behaviour is satisfactory: Gilchrist, 53·
R.
Records:
'' Falsifieq in Borne instances. O'Brien, s'6.
Not satisfactorily kept. Elkington, 58.
Re-classification:
The elder children are falling more and more·behihd
...L, ·!''their standards. Gilchrist, 53·· • 't
Regulations inadequate._ Sasse, 48 .
,.
Result System:
Payments shQuld .be. mad~ 11pon the r~s~lt ofthe examination' under programme: Inspector-General, 44·
Requires alteration. Sasse, 49·
Administration of, should be greatly modified•
Sasse, 49·
. .. 1,
Has caused an increased amount of energy in practical
teaching. Elkington, 57·
't•'
s.
Schools:
Reduction of the ·number of.· Inspector:General; 45:
May be divided into three classes. Inspector:Gel\eral,
46.
Amalgamation of. Inspector-General, 45, 46; Gil.
christ, 51.
Several small schools will never become efficient under
present rules; remedy suggested. Gilchrist, 53.
Close proximity of schools is productive of. many
evils. · Sircom, 51 •.
Mixed schools appear to be beneficiaL Main; 55·
Several worthy of special mention. O'Brien, 56.
Several should be specially censured. O'Brieh, 5,6.
Standards:
Re-adju~tment of, necessary. Brown, 47·
Rule 2 3 tends to reduce the proportion of passes in
highest standard. Brown, 47·
,
sth and 6th are failures. Sasse, 49· - ·
Subjects riferred to informer. Reports:
•
t
Payments under rule 1 6· should be made upon the
examinatiou under programme. Inspector-General,44 •
He-classification of schools. Gilchrist, 53·
Re'Yislon of stan~rds: ..Drown, 47:
'j
Tasmania:
Enquiries of Royal Comm,ission into the state of the
public schools. O'Brien;'j6.
''
43.\
Tr;aining Institution:
Teachers in training on the rst December, x867,
· Inspector-General, 4+
Cost of training the teachers who left the institution
between 1st September, x862, and the 1st December,
x867. Inspector-General, 45·
Sup~ri~tend~nt 'should .be an officer of the Board.
Inspector-General, 45:
Should be phiced on a :firmer and more extensive
basis. Inspector-General, 45·
··
Teachers: ·.
A much 1!)-rger proportion o(good te~c,1ers in Ballarat
district than in either of his former districts. Gilchrist;sz. :
' · ·
·
A greater number will be disqualified this year; reasons for this. Gilchrist, 52.
Withdrawal of salary from those who f~il to· obtain a
certificate has been followed by beneficial results.
Brown, 48.
.
Number unclassified in the Sandhurst district is larger
than it should be. Elkington, 5&.
u.
Teaching:
Result system has caused an increased amount of
energy in practical teaching. Elkington, 57·
,
.
Uncertificated Teachers:
Number in Sandhurst district is larger than it should
be. Elkington, 58.
·
.
'
(z.)-R. HALE BUDD, ESQUIRE, B.A., CANTAB., INSPECTOR-GENERAL.
I propose in this report 'to
re~ark
upon those subjects which have come..u~der my observation during the year x867.
INSPECTION.
.
-
The state of the inspection of the schools during the past year can hardly be looked upon as more satisfactory than
during previous years. It was, du'l'ing that period, ordered by the Board that every school should be inspected once every
half-year for the· payment on the result of examination under st.'1ndards, and that, at one of these examinations during the
year, a further examination under the programme of tlie course of instruction in schools (Appendix C) should take
place. But this arrangement has not been carried ·out, large arrears of inspection having accrued at the end of each halfyear. The necessity of a change in this respect has been admitted by the Board, and I am informed. that endeavours are
about to be made to get the yearly work of inspection completed within the year.
It appears to me, however, that the .in~pection generally would effect a greater amount of practical good to the
schools if it were made the business of the Irtspectors not only to examine ipto and report upon defects, but also to take
measures for correcting them. This at present they are almost unable, from want of time, to effect. If the regular visits
of the Inspectors were made·lesS•·freqnently;·and the time thus saved were•spent in instructing teachers in their duties,
and in visiting the schools without notice, I think that a greater amount of good organization, effeetive teaching, and
regularity generally, would be produced than exists at present.
The cause of the unsatisfactory state of the inspection has always appeared to me to be the want of proper
organization in the Board's office.
The practice rendered necessary by the present system of giving notice of an Inspector's intended visit is inimical
to proper inspection. Under this system the teacher has everything prepared for the Inspector, who has thus no opportunity.of seeing what is really the daily aspect of the school, and the state of the records. My <luty occasionally takes me
into schools without notice previously given, and it is not an' uncommon thing to find teachers absent, schools opened at
irregular hourF, rolls unmarked, and other irregularities.
The great abuse which exists of the system of payment for destitute ehildren would, I believe, be much reduced,
if the circumstances of those satd to be destitute were made the subject of more minute inspection. The very fact that
inspection into such matters would be made, would have the effect of rendering those who give certificates more careful
in what they do, and would rouse local committees to a sense of their duties in this respect.
The result of inspection under standards has become more uniform in the difl;erent districts than it was in r866.
The following table shows the percentage of passes given by the different Inspectors during the first half of the year 1867.
For facility of comparison I give that for 1866·which appeared in my report fo~ that year:TABLE
FOR 1867•
Percentage· ot Passes in-
Writing.
Reading.
...
...
...
...
...
"
76'94
71'I8
68'95
78'54
59'65
61'13
76"$7
63'01
...
...
...
...
...
...
I
67"83
64'35
64"84
71'84
6n6
65'24
6:ru
70'00
I
TA..BLE
•· I
Inspector's Name.
Inspector. Geary
Brown
",, Sasse
Sircom
" Gilchrist •••
Main
O'Brien
"
"
"
I
Arithmetic.
Grammar
and
Geography.
I
Percentage of Passes in-
Grammar~
Geography.-
i
General
Average.
..
...
Inspector Geary
,, Brown ...
Sasse
" Sircom
" Gilchrist
"
...
~bin
"
O'Brien ...
" Elkington ...
Percentage
examined in
.1
~spector•s Name~
.,
!
·Percentage
44'19
46'33
49'35
52'57
47'23
4478
46'53
50"35
o~ Passes in-
. .
Reading.
Writing.
Arithmetic.
80"40
70'58
79'84
74'23
59'23
70'32
65'24
78'o8
51·6o
41'10
6!"24
44.31
41'23
43'25
41'65
64"57
7'il"3 2
65"39
67'53
65'40
52'63
58'96
54'98
66'69
57"17
51'92.
59'70
56'47
56'07
65'91
65·o8
70'83
64'01
6o·o6
65·II
66·8o
61•81
6o·88
6o·go
67'85
57'33
56'92.
62'1:1.
61'12
FOR 1866.
- - .. ----~-..·---..---:-- ..·----'--!
68·g6
23"57
2478
25'69
30'18
24'06
20"32
23'05
zi·28
Percentage i ·,Per.centage of Passes in- !
examined in :
Grammar -----~---­
and
Geography:
Gram=r.
Geography.
30"1!
21"93
35'40
2.5'78
2078
2I'IO
22'52
59"62
55'66
6p3
52'07
53'10
48"61
59'2.7
General
Average.
6s·s7
66·6s
6n8
74'59
58'91
72'$8
6!'45
54'97
s&·sx
52"25
57'32
57"75
·sns
6!'43
44
·
The difference _per hundred passes between the highest and lowest number given was, for r867, r6·u, against 24-'27
for.x866.
.
Tbe falling off in the number of passes given in x866, as compared with those in x865, was pointed out in .my last
report. For the year x867 the percentage of passes seems slightly ·to have increased; the average of the averages for
x866 !J.cring been 6nx, and for I867, 6I'96.
EJU.)HNATIONS oF ScHOOLs.
Tbe opportunities which I had, during the past year, of observing the effect of the present system of examination
under two systems, and payme_nt under one of them, have not altered the opinions which I have hitherto expressed upon
the subject. The mere fact of every child being examined individually, and the result of such individual examination
having a money value, is sufficient to account for the increased zeal of the teachers under the present system, and the
consequent progress of the children in the subjects, or rather, I should say, the part of the subjects paid for. But nothing
else is attended to. It is a rare thing to see decent copybooks in a school, and tolerable needlework among the girls is
as rare. It seems to me that the circumstance that two systems are required-namely, one under standards, which is
virtually a classitiGation according to
and under which payments are made; and the other under programme (Appendix
C), which is a classification according
ability, and according to which schools are expected to be taught-is an anomaly.
Both c_annot give true results. If the standard examination gives true results, then that under programme is unnecessary;
and if it does not do so, but the program':lle examination is required besides, in order to ascertain the true state of the
school, it seems anomalous to pay upon what gives confessedly incorrect results. I must again, as in my last report,
recommend that ,payments be made upon the results of the examination under programme, which gives the true state of
the instruction of a school. The standard system, proceeding, as it does, upon an untrue assumption, that children can
progress eq~ally from year to year, does not give true results.
.
I have, in my last report, sketched a system by which this can be done; and the•scheme then proposed received the
approval of the Education:commission.
.
ExA:IriNATioN FoR HoNons.
Th(j examination of the teachers for honors has again come unde~ my notice, with results of a kind similar to those
of previous years. I append a table showing the number of persons in each year who have sent in their names for
examination, the number who attended, and the number who obtained a classification:Number Classltied in-
Number
who signified
intention
to attend.
Year.
I865
1867
I868
...
...
...
...!
...
...
2I
2428
Numliec
who attended.
First Class .
9
I I'
•IJ
Second C!Ms.
3.
'3
Not yet ascertained.
0
0
My opinion remains unchanged, as expressed in my last report, that, while the honor examination is attended by
expense to the Board, and much loss of time to the examiners in drawing up the papers, its practical benefit is very small;
more especially as it only vouches for the literary knowledge of the very few who obtain classification at it, without any
referenee to their experience o:r ability as teachers.
.
·
.
I recommend a change of the rules on the subject, and that, if an examination for honors be retained at all, the
number of.literarv subjects be reduced in number, so as to ern brace those only which are of practical utility in the schools,
or those, a sound 'knowledge of which gives proof of early education and sound mental training; and that experience and
'
ability in teaching be a preponderating element in determining the classification.
TRAINING.
The Board requested me, as usual, to conduct the examination of teachers in training.
The number of teachers in training on ISt December, I866, was
Admitted during I867
In training during I867
... <_.
Left the institution from ISt December, I866, to 1st. December, I867
In training ISt December, I867
Jlfules.
Females.
Total.
I2.
I6
I7
IO
29
26
28
I3
27
I2
25
IS
IS
JO
---------·---55
The following statement shows the classification of the.25 persons who left the institution during the 11;bove-named
period
First class of second year
Second class of second year
First class of first year
Second class of first year
I
4
6
8
19
or·the 6 who left the institution without obtaining a classification, I subsequently obtained the classification of first
division of competency, and I that of the second division.
Of the 30 teachers in training on the Ist December, I867, 10 were classified at the examination held during that
month, viz.:First class of second year
Second class of second year
Second class of :first year
IO
Between the 1 st of September I862 when the Training Institution came· into connection with the present Board of
Education, to the Ist December,\867, ; 35 teachers received instruction at it. Of these I 35, m1 the Ist December, I86730 were still in training.
94 had taken situations in schools.
u had left the institution without obtaining employment in schools.
IJ5
\
45
The following statement shows the classification obtained by the 105 persons who left the institution between the
dates above given:First class, second year
5
8
Second class, second year
16
First class, :first year •.•
Second class, :first year ...
19
Second class honors
First division of competency
Second do.
do.
No classification
...
It must be remembered that there was no examination for classification of teachers in training under the present rules
until December, 1864. Consequently those who left the institution before that date had no means of obtaining a elassiftcation, unless by going into the ordinary examination.
From the date of the commencement of the examinations to 1st December, 1867, 69 teachers left the establishment,
of whom 4s were classified, as shown in the four first lines of the above table; and 21 left without obtaining classification,
chiefly on account of want of funds to enablE; them to remain until they had obtained it. Of these to obtained classificatiens
at the ordinary examinations of teachers.
The cost of training the res teachers before mentioned was as follows :s. d.
Paid for maintenance and bonusses on dasoification
Paid for superintendence and instruction
9 7
5 9
----·--
giving an average cost per head of £7o 18s. sa.; or, if the total expense be divided amongst those only who obtained
employment in the schools, the cost per head was £79 4s. sd.
The above estimate includes the expense incurred from the date at which the institution came into connection with
the Board. When, however, the present. rules came into operation, the expense of training the teachers was materially
diminished.
o
The number who left the institution under the operation of the present rules was, to the zst December, x867, 69, of
whom 6o obtained' employment in _the schools.
The cost of training these 69 teachers was as follows:£
s. d.
Paid for maintenance and bonusses on classification
2,787 11 s
Paid for superintendence and instruction ·
1,017 15 9
This arnoimt gives the average cost per head for the 69 teachers £ss JB.; or, dividing the expense among those only who
obtained employment in the schools, it appears that the training of every effective teacher cost the State on an average
£63 Ss. 5d. The abeve estimate is too high, since the whole of the expense of superintendence, &c., is here debited to the
account of those who left the institution, whereas these should be shared by those who remained in the institution.
I have in former reports alluded to the need which exists of placing this institution on a firmer and more extensive
basis. I repeat the main features of the plan which I would recommend.
,
The superintendent of training should be an officer of the Board, assisted, if necessary, by subordinates. Arrangements should be made with the committees of suitable schools for the use of their schools as practising schools; and these
schools should be of different kinds, so as te give teachers an opportunity of seeing the difficulties with which they will be
called upon to grapple in the schools of the colony generally. The arrangements should be such that any one of a good
moral character and sufficient ability may have an opportunity, on the payment of a small fee, of being trained as a teacher.
Further arrangements should be made for the maintenance during training of such persons as may prove themselves worthy
of the expenditure of money upon them, and for tlie proper supervision of them during their period of training. The
present programme of subjects for study and for the classi:fica,tion of teachers in training should be revised, so a.s to make
a certain amount of experience in teaching essential to the obtaining of a. certificate, and te insure sounder knowledge of
elementary subjects than is at present required; and a money value should be given to the various grades, for the purpose
of encouraging teachers to proceed to the higher classes, and to spend a longer time under training than they otherwise
would. Most teachers are at present contented with the lowest classification, and leave the institution as soon as they
have obtained it.
EXAMINATIONS ~·oR DivisiON oF CoMPETENCY.
Cases connected with the examination for division of cqmpetency have been brought under my notice.
These examinations appear at present to be conducted by an examining board of three inspectors, and te be held
twice in every year. The number of teachers examined is necessarily large, many being obliged to come up for examination several times before a elassification is obtained, and, in consequence, much time is consumed in looking over the
replies to the examination papers. One examination in the literary subjects would be sufficient in a year, and more
attention might be paid to the art of teaching as seen in school ; and the numbers of those who a.ttended the literary part
of the examination might be diminished by the rejection of those who did not exhibit any aptitude for it. Much time
would be saved by the adoption of the above suggestions.
I have also obser1red that a want of uniformity exists in the result of the examinations; a different standard of
excellency seems to be adopted at different examinations. I think that uqiformity would be secured, and the time of the
inspectors economised, if the examination of teachers were made the duty of one competent officer, assisted by subordinates.
This officer would either draw up the papers, or direct them to be drawn up, on one uniform system, and would see that the
replies were also valued in the same manner. Uniforrnity will hardly be obtained from a board of co-ordinate officers
without a head who has power to give directions. And the subjects of ordinary examinations are not of such a kind as te
require any very high scholarship to qualify a person to examine in them. Practice in the art of examining is the most
valuable acquisition in such cases,
'
REDUCTION OF I'HE NuMBEn o~· ScHooLs.
My attention has been directed to the subject of how to reduce the number of schools at present receiving aid from
the State, and ·thereby to increase the efficiency of those which remain.
It is hardly necessary for me to point out to those experienced in the organization of schools that a given number
of children under a given number of teachers can be better classified, and, consequently, better taught, in one large school
than if they were divided into a number of small schools. They would also, to a. certain extent, be a saving of expense
by the amalgamation of existing schools; though this would not be very great, since, wherever the children went, nearly
the same number of teachers would be required as at present. There would be this difference, that fewer head teachers
would be required and a larger numher of assistants.
'
·
The foregoing observations will be illustrated by the following example :-Three schools of 120 children each would.
require, under the present regulations, a staff of three head teachers and six assistants. If they were amalgamated into
one school of 360 children, the requisite sta:ff would be one head teacher and seven assistants. There would be a saving
here of the difference between two head teachers and one assistant. As regards organization in each of the schools there
would prqbably- be five classes; or fifteen classes in the three schools under nine teachers. In the amalgamated school there
would be 360 children to eight teachers, which wou,lq adf!!it <?f ~ elassification in ei!l'ht qiyi~lons, and of each division
o
having a teachej.,:t<>~itself.. ·:In addition. there .wguld.acctue · all·the. advantages .consequent:upoll. QQ-qper::tt\qn, S\l.Ch as· good
buildings and apparatus. The number of schools in the large towns which possess suitable .•buildings,_playgroup.ds, and
apparatus is small.
.
. ,
.
The public schools maylbe divided ~nto three classes:-. . : . .
...: ..
I. Those which·possess sites vested in .trustees for educational purposes, whether those.trustees be the Board or other
parties.
,
.
..
· . .
··•'
·
z. Those which possess• no sites, but are held. in buildings rented or lent for. the p:urpose-iri most cases places of
worship-'-but are still public· schools, inasmuch as they are .manage'd. by committees elected by a more or less public
constituency.
, ..
.
.
. ..
.· _,.
3· Schools the site of which is.either the actual property of the teacher,- or rente_d,by, him, and in which, for the most
part, the committee is virtually-selected by him. These are in reality private schools.
In dealing with the subject of the amalgamation of schools it will be 'necessary to work with the material already
at hap.d, that is, with existing sites and buildings. To ignore all those which are not vested in the Board, and to purchase
new.sites,an<;l tq,~,rec~1 :t;tPOA- them ne~ _h.uildings, ,woulq require a large amoun~ of money from the State, and, under the
prf!sent. system,• a. large il,moun£ of local contributions, which it would' be impossible to collect in the face of t]le
opposition which would naturally be raised by the constituents of those schools which, would be superseded, who would.
include in their numbers.those. who take the greatest interest in educatiqnalijtffairs.' I have assumed above that sites would
hav~ to ·]le purcq.ased ;,.;.tn~. such is the fact,.since.sites for schools other than those now· existing are scarcely to be obtained
in tl].e .Jarge, towns. _'.
·
.
.
One difficulty which presents itself in the way of the amalgamation of schools is the impossibility of framing
any set of regulations which sh~ll be appliqable to all localities. Jj:ach locality in which the sc~ools are too numerous
would have to be treated upon a plan of its own, suited to its local circumstances.
.
.
·
Another and ·a. great difficulty exists in the clause of the Common Schools Act which prohibits aid for huildings
being granted to schoqls not vested in the Board of Education. ·It is very evident that, if sch9ols are closed, room must be
made for their pupils in .the .remaining s'chools ; and without aid from the Board the necessary additions tu the buildings can
hardly be effected. It i-'1 ,tq 21l, \~ished that this clause could be amended so as to permit of aid for building being granted
,to schools vested in tr'uste!)shef9.r.e 1st September, 186::.,
Certain g!lnera! p;r,inciples might, however, be laid down, hy whieh reductions in the numbers of the schools might be
made, wliich' miglit'b'e"modified to suit different localities, such as the following:.
. ·.
,
, .· In populous localities no school should hll permitted to exist which had not an average attendance of from 200 to 300
pupils, according tli 'the locality.
·
· .
.
·
'No school should tie permitted to be divided int<> boys' and girls' departments, nnlcss there were in each an a,verage
' attendance .of from 2oo to 3oo children.
.
.
Every school in sucli localities receiving· aid should be required to provide proper buildings, furniture, and apparatus.
No school should be perl!litted to receive children under seven yearR of age, unless a proper infant department; in a
separate room, were provided.
The present buildings could be utilized bv making the schools into schools for boys alone, girls alone, or infants, since·
it is not necessarywhero l:ioys; girls, and infant's are taught 'separately that they should be taught ~nder the same roof.
::VIere private schools receiving aid from the State should be got·rid of a·s soon· as opportunity' offers for so doing.
I believe that r·eglilatio~s..of the above tenor would have the effect of reducing the number of schools considerably.
~
~~
,
; S, '· ":'·
,
•
,
D!lSTITUTE CHILDREN.
:fl:e abu'ses -incident. to_ .the pr(!seut system !Jf.making payments for destitute childr!'n appear to be increasing to such
an extent as to call for, some action in the matter. I have reason to believe that, in mapy instan9es, •the fluty of enquiring
into the circumstances of persons applying for aid in this respect is left entirely to the teacher, ~vho, in cases which have
come under my. notice, has recom·mended for a certificate of ·destitution any child whose .parents refused to pay the fees, and
I have even known.cases of children returned as destitu~e whose parents .were unaware of the fact that they were so.
The local committer, to whom, by Rule 6g, certificate~ must be furnished, rarely see them, and seem in most instances
to take no inte~est in the matter.
,. :
. '
.
.
The whole ·subject of payment 'for destitute children' needs re-consideration; but, in the meantime, much may, I think,.
be effected, as I have already remarked, by proper inspection, and by making the local committee responsible when
undeserving cases .are discovered:
..
The IND!.'STRIAJ:, ScnooLs at Sunbury, Prince's Bridge,.and Geelong were inspected twice during the past year, and
have formed the -subject of ~eport to the Chief Secretary.
·
,
, ,
..
R HALE BUDD,
27th January;•186S.:
,,_ .,.
Inspector·GeneraLof Sphools•
.. ,
,.
'
~'
·''
' '',
I;.
' j;
~
'l•.,
(3.)...:...G. WILSON BROWN, ESQUIRE, B.A., CANTAB., ORGANIZING INSPECTOR,
··-. ":EASTERN DISTRICT
..
•• ·.;,,:•,.!_. '','
0:•
'
I"
.. t,.
~.
'I
. ....
Sni;
.
f · .•, .
Hawthorn, January, z868,
I have the honor to ,su]ln1it, for. th!l infqrnmtjon of the Board, my general report for the year r867.
.
During that period I .have been. occupied in the inspection of the Eastern district, of which I took charge at the
commencement of .the year:., .This d!~tri<;t, at the present time, comprises xog schools, inclusive of 8 new ones, to which aid
has recently been granted. It i.s possible that an addition will shortly be made to this numbeJ,", as I have qad referre\'1 to
m'e for report four other applicatious,:into the circumstances of which I have not yet had an opportunity of inquiring.
··In my last annual•report I apprised the Board of the improbability of my being able to inspect every school in my
district t•vice during the year, and my anticipations in this. respect have been fully realized. The duties imposed on me as
a member of the Board of Examiners have become so heavy, that during the first six months of the year-when, in additionto the ·.usual hall~y,early examjnatign of ..teachers, the annu:il examination of pupil-teachers for promotion had to be heldnearly one-third of my time was absorbe\'1 ,by them. From this cause I had inspected only 5 schools at the end of February,
and was.never afterwards ahle to overtake, q1y work. My first tour of the district was not accomplished till the 23rd July;
my second is still incomplete. ·
·
.
·.
The following statement will show the amount of inspection that I have been able to perform during the year:During six months ended 3oth June~ ..
l!.<v.; .;,; .~.-r,;J_~y.m~e;pf 4!Jplu::tip.~nt~,i~~p,ept~d.,:; .,.. ,,,
;:: ... ; 1 .
·.- ..
., Number of children present- .' ..
,
(a) Above 7 years'?~ age, and examined.
(b)_Under, 7 years of age...
. •.
.... •;
.J!:
':•'
''
...
' ''
r: ',~.;) i;
During six mouths ended 31st December..
,:,Numbjlr of departments inspect~d ,
101
,.'-;~u~]ler of children prese!lt·:
;,
.. , .
.(a) Above 7 years of age, and exammeq
(b) Under 7 years of age •••
'
.;
.
'.•
4,003
::1,203
- - 6,zo6
s,633
... ,
2,ss 5
-.- . 8,518
I
.'.47
The 18o inspections held as above embrace-( x1, ·g 3 schools, \v hidi were inspected· twice, ·Jiayiilg been examined' once
under' staliuards only, and' onC'e' under both standards and programme; (2), 3 schools, which were examined· once under
·
both programme and standards; and (3}, n schools, which were only·examined once under s~ndards:"l '
The results of my examinations of' all the schools in my ·district during my first visit to ·them are shown in the
subjoined table :- · ·
Standard I.
II.
" III.
·rv.
' ",, ··v.
"
'. '·~1
VI.
Total
.
...
No. above
7 years
Examined.
.
-
·'
Roodlng.l Writing, :. Arithmetic,
...
...
...
...
...
1,361
x,o28
1,154
768
435
270
936
85o
894
581
216
113
919
g6o
783'
399
173
l.6
...
s,o16
3.590
3,z6o·
575
490
584
397
194
90
2,330
I
Percentage of those Examined that passed in- .
.Passed in-
IG~~u•uu•
Geography.
...325
...
333
282'
2:H'
157
24'
'4
739
.t\'
'160
59
7
Reading~ Writing. ·!..:+"
--68'7
8z·6
77'4
75'6
49'6'
41'8
. 67'5
7I'5
64'9
----- ---833
93'3
67'8·
51'9
.
il
42'2
47'6
50'6
. 51'6
'44'6
39'7
9'6.
. 33'3
.
·46'4
Grammar. Geography.
...32'3
----.. .
n
31'6
24'4
' l.0'8
13'5
14'7
----x6·6
19'1
l.0'4
1'4•'
z·s
With reference to· tlie number that passed· in grammar and geography; it must be borne iri' mind that those only·were
examined who had passed in all of the other three subjects.
· ·
·
· .,.
·· · · · ·
., · · ·.., •
'l'he difference in the percentages of passes in the several- standards is very considerable; and seems to point to the
necessity of a re-adjustment of the standards. It will be seen that the difference between the extreme percentages is, in. Reading:-•·
·
4o•8 per c~nt. (
·' · ·
Writing.;.
83'7
·,
Arithmetic .
8·3
··:,·· ,...
Gnu;nma,r
30'9
,
''•~"'. ·~
Geography
2.9'1
,
..
It is noticeable that· in every subject of examination a smaller proportion pass in the sixth.standard .than in .. any
other, and that next in order the failures range highest in the fifth-arithmetic being the only subject in which it can show
·.
•
.
so large a proportion of passes as any other standard.
· The differences shown above must be mainly due to an inequality in the standards ; for so far as the results may be
affected by a greater regularity of attendance, or superior skill in the teacher, these causes, or the absence of them, will
operate. to raise. or lower the results gener.ally, and not those of the several standards relatively to each other; or if; indeed,
any difference can be looked for j'rom these causes, we,ought to fi1,1d the. best results ··attained .in· the J:!ighe.s~. standards,
.
, .
..
.•..
whereas the reverse is the ease. .
. ·' There. is, however, one. circumstance which does tend to reduce the proportion of passes in the. jlighest standards,
viz., the operation of Rule.23, on the injurious working of which I have taken occasion to express my opinion in previous
reports to the Board. But this will by no means furnish a sufficient explanation of the faet that, whereas nine out of every
ten children. examined for second standard pass in writing, not one in ten passes for sixth standard in the same subject.
The conclusion to be drawn from an inspection of the table exactly confirms the opinion,;w;_hi£_h I.Q.~ye,for SOII!e .ti)IIe
held, and which I expressed in my last annual repoJ;t, that the examination tests for second, fifth, and sixth standards, require
·
careful revision.
If the results produced do not appear altogether as gratifying as might
desired-if they fail to reach the standard
to which they had previously attained-I cannot attribute the shortcoming to any diminished energy on the part of the
teachers. In the higher classes, more particularly, special pains have been best!} wed to secure asatisfaetory: result.
In some schools .a newspaper is used by the more advanced schollirs.instead of the ·ordinary i:eading-book,:in ·order to
familiarize them with this unaecustomed means of testing their proficiency. As an occasional exercise, this may be
unobjectionable; but, if praetised very frequently, it must be at the expense of the information which they should be
.. .
'
deriving from a study of the Fifth Book.
•
Increased attention is paid to the cultivation of an intelligent style of reading poetry. In regard to this point, I
must remark that an Inspector's selection of passages for examination is sometimes unduly lip1ited by the circumstance that
they must be taken from "a reading-book used in the highest. class in the school.''· A teacher may consequently, by using
no book higher than the Fourth (which contains very little poetry), cause that his scholars be subjected to a much less difficult
examination than from their standing they should be called on to undergo. The objection would be met by allowing an
Inspector to use for his examination in poetry the book which the highest class, as judged by theh: attainments in other
subjects, ought to be reading.
.
..
'
In the lower standards attention should be directed to a not infrequent want of accuracy in reading, exemplified in
the slurring of the little wgrds, the substitution of singulars for plurals, and similar faults. Many who have acquired a
thorough mastery of the more difficult words, fail in examination from carelessness in these respects.
Penmanship· is, in my opinion, worse taught than any other subject. Indeed, my later. observations have led me to
the conclusion that in this branch a retrogression is taking place. The cause of this is to be.found in the fact· that no
regard. is paid to penmanship in the standard examinations, ·and that in the examinations under programme the want of
a definite standard by which to estimate it prevents deficiencies from being so prominently and uniformly reported as is
desirable: The most noticeable faults in connection with this exercise are-(1) a wa,nt of.system in proportioning the
difficulty of the task to the ability of the learner, and especia1ly,'as has often before been remarked, in :;.llowing children to
write small-hand before they are able to !orm the letters correctly; (2) an insufficiency of' pens, resulting from the praetice,
which appears to be gaining ground, of requiring children to bring their own pens-a most objectionable arrangement, in
consequence of which many frequently lose their writing-lesson altogether; and (3) a want of, proper head-lines, those
employed being often written by teaehers, themselves bad penmen, or by monitors, and' :fitted to serve as examples for
avoidance rather than imitation. In ,one school, indeed, I found that no copy-lines at all were provided for third and fourth
class, but that a sentence, generally consisting of geographical names, was dictated to them, and that they were expected to
improve in writing by imitating their own bad models, in which the rnles of orthography and calligraphy were equally
disregarded.
·
·
·
In reporting upon· schools, with reference to ·the programme, the cases in which I have been able to report every class
as satisfying its requirements are very exceptional. In a large· number of other cases, however;the deficiency has been but
trifling, frequently confined to one class, or even to one sul:I;Ject in a class: in many of ·the latter instances, I think the fault
has rested less with the school than· with the-programme, which expects a knowledge of money-tables -to be aequired in the
second class, whereas such know ledge, to be capable of intelligent application (as the nature of our questions assumes that it
should be), and not a mere effort of memory, requires an acquaintance with division, which is not taught till the third class.
The disposition which has been before remarked on; practically, though not professedly, to ignore the programme,
and classify solely with a view to the standard examination, is increasingly productive of mal-organization. Several-times
during the year I have experienced the greatest difficulty in ascertaining the classes of. the programme for which the various
children ought to be examined. More than once, after proceeding for some time with the examination of a. class, I have had
to commence anew on finding that the information by which I had been guided was incorrect ; not, of necessity, wilfully so,
for the teachers do not always know themselves. The evil would be to a great extent, if not altogether, remedied by
allowing te~chers to present only such children for examination under standards as they might please; for so long as they
are obliged to present all, they will, for the sake of their own credit, in order to show as large a number of passes as possible,
cram their pupils specially for the examination they have to undergo, without reference to their· previous atta~pments.
Were this inducement to bad classification withdrawn, as.suggested, teachers might safely be left· to place their schOlars in
the classes for which they were severally qualified.
· ··
·
• •. "
Tb.e school building!! a.re genera.lly in· very :fair order, though a. few of the woO"den structures are little more: ~th:if!.'
lie
48.
shells, and require lining to ~ake them comfortable. Two eases have oecurre<;I during the year in which the accommodation
provided was so bad as to call for the interference of the Board. In one of these, a commodious stone building has since been
erected, and efforts are being made towards the same end in the other case.
,
The supply of furniture is, as a rule, good. The most common want is that of a gallery. Too little attention is paid
to the proper regulation of the height of desks and forms, which are, in a large number of schools, much too high. This is a
point on which I have, found local committees least ready to carry out suggestions.
I ha¥e referred above to the occasional deficiency of pens, and a similar remark applies to the supply of copy-books,
and slates for the infants. Of reading-books, and the requisite text-books on grammar, geography, &c., there is seldom any
lack; where such has been observed, the explanation has generally been given that the books wanted are not obtainable at
the Board's store, a statement which I ha¥e found to be borne out by facts.
The number of children who obtain certificates of their inability to pay the ,prescril)ed school fees is still unduly high.
In a few instances greater strictness has been introduced in the issue of such certificates.; but in others I have found one
certificate to conr a long list of children, tbe certifier's signature being placed at some little distance below, with nothing to
prevent the list being added to at pleasure.
,
I think the regulations as to the rate of school fees might be advantageously altered, so as to admit of a minimum
rate of sixpence per week being charged at the discretion of the local committees. Cases have several times come under
my notice in which parents would willingly give sixpence, but demur to paying a higher rate, and the Board have
consequently to pay ninepencc in their stead, It must be remembered that the paying powers of the population are not so
great as they were a few years ago. In the case of families also, where (say) three children are paying, I would allow tpe
fourth to be admitted free. There is no doubt that this, though an infringement of the rules, is often done at present; it is
.
reasonable in itself, and had therefore better be legalized at once.
With regard to evening-schools, I have to remark that the Inspectors in conference have more than once expressed
an opinion that the establishment of these schools ought to be encouraged. How far such encouragement is afforded by the
present regulations, may be gathered from the fact that there is not one such school in the whole of my district. In my last
annual report, I pointed out how, by a slight alteration of the rates of payment, a considerable incentive would be offered to
their establishment.
·
It is worthy of remark that the long threatened action of the Board in withdrawing salary from teachers who had,
after repeated trials, failed to obtain a certificat-e, has been already attended with beneficial results. Some of the teachers
thus deprived of their schools have since applied themselves to study, and succeeded in passing the examination; others
ha¥e gone int.o training; whilst at the examination last held a manifest improvement was observable in the work of the
candidates generally. Rule 3 has certainly been efiective in raising the literary attainments of previously uncertificated
teachers, for the answering at the later examinations will bear very favorable comparison with that at the earlier ones. This,
remark will apply with equal truth to the candidates for pupil-teacherships.
The rapid increase which -is taking place in the number of schools, consequent on the, settlement of population in
localities formerly unoccupied, must soon bring the Board to deal with the question of amalgamating the schools in the
more populous districts. I think something might be done at once towards this end by the withdrawal of aid from some of
the smaller and less efficient schools in Collingwood and Fitzroy. The continuance of two schools at Broad meadows, within·
a stone's throw of each other, and with only a fair attendance for one school, is certainly unnecessary. At Kilmore, in close
oontiguity, are three schools, either :"'ational or connected with Protestant denominations, all of them struggling to maintain
the requisite average attendance of 6o. In this last case, if the Board would take action of the nature indicated, I have
eve:ry reason to believe that they would not only meet with little, if any opposition, but might rely on active co-operation.
I have the honor to he, Sir,
,,
Youl' most obedient servant, ·
G. WIJJSON BROWN.
The Secretary, Board of Education.
(4-.)-HARRY AUGUSTUS SASSE, ESQUIRE, B.A., MELBOURNE, FIRST-CLASS INSPECTOR,
SOUTHERN DISTRICT.
Melbourne, 2oth January, 1868.
I have the honor to forward to yQu my general report for the year 1867.
I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
H. A. SASSE.
B. F. Ka,ne, Esq., Secretary.
SIB,
BUILDINGS.
In general the buildings for school purposes are satisfactory, the improvements recommended are carried out as soon
as opportunity offers; they are as good as the other buildings of their class in the colony-many may rank as public
buildings. The tendency is to erect substantial schoolhouses of a respectable appearance. New localities have for a.
time to submit to inconveniences in their school rooms ; this ri:mst be expected.
CLASSIFICATION.
It is much to be regretted that, when the result system came into operation, it found the pupils in this d.istric
classified on the basis of reading ouly. That branch had been more attended to than the others, and, when the pupils were
first examined on standards, th~y showed deficiency in general knowledge. This has acted injuriously on them; for, as they
must take one step every year, they cannot recover themselves. The masters suffer materially in the grant for passes, which
may not be of any moment as far as they are concerned-for they should always have had their pupils properly classifiedbut is to be deplored for the sake of the children, who do not progress as they would have done had the teachers attended
to sound principles of organization.
·
I have now been a year in charge of this district, and I have seen sufficient to show me that the differences in the
amount of passes obtained by the schools do not arise so much from differences in the mode of examination as from the
grPater or less degree of proper classification adopted by the teachers. In this district, classification on general knowledge
is improving, but the e¥ils of previous hail classification are stillcxtensively felt; they might have been much reduced hail
the recommendations of the Inspectors in conference heen carried out: The regulations on re-classification are inadequate;
indeed, before the result system was put into practice, the preliminary step of a uniform classification throughout all the
schools should have been effected; and, in the unsettled state of a great portion of the population, it would be a matter for
consideration whether it would not be advisable, at (say) intervals of four or five years, t<> re-arrange the standards on the
basis of a general classification, for which six months might be allowed.
,
lNSTRUC:riON.
The infants are well taught.
In one-quarter of the schools the instruction of the pupils above eight years of age is equal to programme, in one·
quarter it is much below, in one-half of the schools it is below in some subjects only.
The reading and oral spelling are good ; the second class, is that which most uniformly gives satisfaction ; the third
·Class fails in arithmetic, grammar, and geography. The fourth class is better than the third in arithmetic, hut
also fails in grammar and geography. The .fifth class does not exist in many of our schools, especially in the
country ; it is not numerous, and generally passes a fair examination. As the classes for the purposes of inspection are
examined on the various subjects one step below that which they .arc learning, I think this• portion of my report may be
0
49
considered unsatisfactory. I attribute the want of proficiency to wrong classification. The teachers are now aware of the
advantage of arranging their sections according to the general information of the pupils, and not on reading only ; and I
.
hope for the future the report on instruction will be more favorable.
I have had to notice much carelessness in the manner of maki!lg figures, particularly 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, o. It IS ~f the
greatest importance that they should be properly made, as many of our pupils, on leaving school, have to attend to s1mple
accounts. Some storekeepers have complained to me of some unpleasantness with customers in consequence of a 4 bemg
made like a 7, &c.
I find that the girls, more than the boys, have much difficulty in working the compound rules of we_ights and
measures, especially practice sums. This leads me to long for the introduction of the decimal system, which would
materially simplify all operations in arithmetic.
TEACHERs' ExA!liNATIONs.
The number of unclassified teachers in our schools is still very great; there are not a few who come up time after
time for examination and are unsuccessful, yet they are allowed to continue in their employment, because the inspectors
report that they conduct their schools in a satisfactory manner. I must repeat an opinion previously expressed, that in
these cases it would be well to give these teachers special certificates for long and good service, which might be withdrawn
in special cases.
.
CountrY. teachers have no opportunity to prepare themselves for examination ; they have no one to read with and to
instruct them. In the large towns it hot unfrequently happens that a master will undertake to conduct preparatory
classes. Last year Mr. Jones, of the Central Schools, had a first success: some dozen of his pupils obtained certificates at
the last July examinations. The results of this year cannot be known for some time.
STANDARDS.
Under the head of "Classification" I have pointed out the defects which prevent the number of passes in most of the
schools in this district from showing so high a percentage throughout the subjects as might be expected. The .passes
for the second half of the year I867 are more numerous than those for the :first half. In the first of the tables annexed
will be found the percentages of passes for the first half-year. In the second table I have given a comparative statement.
As all the schools in the district have not been examined for the second half-year, I have given for both half-years the
percentages calculated from the same schools only.
PERCllln:.AGES OF PASSES FOR THI! Fllll!T B.!J:.F OF THillYilAR 1867, IN-
Reading.
69'77
I
Writing,
Arithmetic.
Grammar.
Geography.
Five Subjects, or
Colonial Standard.
68'02
50'49
20'08
23'67
rno
34'94
Five Subjects, or
Colonial Standard.
Three Subjects, or
Engltsh Standard.
!
Three Subjects, or
English St!llldard.
COMPARATIVE STATEMENT.
Reading.
Writing.
Arithmetic.
Grammar.
PERCENTAGES OF PASSES FOR THE F!BBT
Geography.
liA.LF
OF TilE
YE.Al! 1867,
PERcENTAGES o>' PASSES FOR TRE SECO!ID HALF oF TBE YEAR
77'21
60'40
•867·
44'45
Teachers would do well to strike the averages of their own schools, and to compare them with the general averages
.
given above ; they would derive much benefit from doing so.
The greater experience '"hich I have acquired of the working of the schools since I have taken charge of this district,
points to the necessity of having the pupils properly ch1ss~fied betore they can pretend to general success in the standards,
which at present cannot form a good basis for judging of their pro:ficiency, and do not provide the public with reliable data
for judging of their advantage or otherwise. If the result system is an improvement, then the mode of administering it
demands alteration, for at present I hear complaints from all teachers ; they seem to consider the system a failure.
No'v that payment on results has been four years in operation, it would appear reasonable to expect some decided
improvement in the higher standards. It will be remembered that correspondents in the newspapers, at the time the subject
was first introduced, upbraided our schools with inability to furnish pupils who could pass the sixth standard ; our
.
pupils certainly cannot do it now, for the :fifth and sixth standards are failures; very few pass in either of them.
It has never appeared to me that the juniors have been better taught since the year 1863. Great complaints were
then made about the low state of the instruction in the little classes. This complaint literally amounted to this, that the
children did not know what the State had never ordered that they should be taught; for instance, that it 'fas really
disgraceful to find so many children over seven years of age who could not write capital letters from dictation. 'l'he
programme of instruction then in use required the children to copy letters from the black-board ; at present the
programme is the same, and the children who fail at the standard examination can and do pass the programme examination.
The same thing occurred for the arithmetic. The strong corpplaints about the inefficiency. of. the junior classes in 1863 had
no foundation, and the implied superiority which the senior classes would show does not appear in the records.
The administration of the result system, it is felt, should be greatly modified. There is a proposal to carry it out
completely, and that the State, represented by a board, or in any other manner, should examine the children, and then pay
the grant allowed for passes in reading, writing, and arithmetic. By throwiug up its cqnnection with schools it would be
relieved of the duty of their supervision, of the training and examining of teachers, &c.; it would no longer make grants
for populous districts only, but would spread the bene:fit of its assistance over every part of the colony, and, by the simplicity
of its action, would re.wh the most distant localities and the most thinly·populated districts. Would not this scheme of
pure results, if carried out, extricate us from the denominational difficulties? Then all localities, however small, sure
of Government support, would be free to organize among themselves that instruction which would suit their requirements,
irrespective of an average attendance, which cannot be relied upon in so many places.
TRAVELLING.
By the present arrangements country schools are visited one half-year in the fine weather, the other half-year in the
winter months; in the latter case, where the roads are bad, or where the children are disseminated in the bush, there is much
difficulty in assembling them, and the teachers suffer from the reduced number of candidates for passes ; the travelling is
heavy, and often very slow, and sometimes altogether stopped for a day or two, or more. These disad\·antages would be
obviated by ~egnlating country inspection more in accordance with the seasons.
No. 39. f.
SI~,
Ge~lonf?, I3th ;ran~~ry, I86~,;
.. , •
I have the lionor to present to the Board my annual ~eport for the year 1867.
·'
In accordance with the couHe adopted in my former annual reports, I have given the work of the latter half~year
~nly, wMc~ ~mi.y):1e th~s-~ummed up'-: · .
·· '
,;·
·
·
.
··.·
'•'
..
GEELONG DISTRICT.
Schools i;J~'pected (se~arate departments) .,_ ..-. ......, . ·:.. :•·
~chool. Y!SJted (Moonh.ght,, 9.o5 ; new school). ,
••,,
" :.'.
. ..
. Schools closed at date of v1s1t (D.errimut, 192; West Geelong, 683) ...
School (Geelong, 284) insp,ected !)y,Mr. O'Brien :.;
...
•..
llchools inspected
and visited.
..•••
Total Schools, Geelong district
~7 .:, :..-.·
I • I
1 "
)
•
I~
--..
Total Schools inspecte? and visited
;.!J.~ -~~ '"J
Children examined1 Geelong ·
district.
•.11
112
'J ;.
f
.Above 7 ·years of age
·Above•? years·of:;tge (Geelong, 284-; Mr. O'Brien)
... •
... · , .... '
Under 7 years of age '...
Under 7 years of age (Geelong, 284; Mr. O'Brien)
...
...
Children passed out of sixth standard
Children passed· Qut of sixth standard (Geelong;284) ... · .;·~
Children in Infant Schoo}s, abov_e 8 y_ears of _agc,.nq~_ex:J,mined
Present at _M;oof!light, 905 ..
.:. · "
•••I
.....
:
~..
······
....
~
4,119 ..
I
.. .
·· ...
~·
for.re~ults
---2 •
45
.39
Total pre.sent, :Geel_o!lg d~~trict
6,424
ExAMhmn,- METROPOLITAN
CHILDREN
DISTRICT,
'
.Above 7 years of age
Under 7 years 9f age
Passed out of sixth standard
Children examined, Metropolitan district.
I32
I,96s> l'l
.. 7-1
56
, .... _ .. ·-·Total p:fesent,'·Metropolitan :district"
.
.
'J'····· •.
l.
.. Total-present in both distri!!ts
The hours spe~t in. offi~ial·w~~k w~~ ~ follow :Spent in schools
· ' - .. ·
· --- • ·
Spent in holding examinations ...
•..
Spent in Board of Examiners' work " ·. ':;; • ... '' '
·
.
Spent: in trav.elling
Spent in reporting, correspondence, &c.
Hours spent in
offlclal work,
532'75
I775
Z22'25
233'3
2I4'75
....
., ..... Total":;·; ·...
Number of riliies travelled
llfiles tr!lvelled.
Statistic tables.
1,2zo·8
The following tables will show the number of children who passed and failed; and the percentage of passes, in the
various subjects of examinatio~ :-
·.
-
"
1
... . ......
...... ............
...
...
...
.. ...
Total~
Writing,
...
838
760
829
664
283
I 50
...
3,5z4
...
...
...
...
P~s.sed.
F~llfld~
..
z26
I48
I35
I03
.67
48
727 ··-
I
Arithmetic.
.
I
·'-
.Passeg.
St!l.ndard I
2
" .. 3.
" 4
" 5
" 6
I
.,
Reading.
:'
Failed,
Passed.
8)6
886
7P
535
235
44
208
:u
:i.s2
6I5
55°
632
5I5
234.
93
J,1.68:
983
Z3Z
II5
I 54
2,639
Fo,iled.
449
358 ..
332
252
u6· ..
I05
1,611.
Number passed in Grammar.and Geography'.
Standard z.
Grammar
Geography
390
4I4
....
Standard l•
Standard 4·
Standard S·
Standard 6.
Total.
3I5
343
:1.93
266
'57
I04
I3
21
1,o68
I,I48
Writing;
Arithmetic.
Grammar;
Geography.
Percentage of passes inReading.
76'87
62·o8
36·
33'5
.
From a' comparison of these with the results obtained in the years r865 and r866, appended below..:...
8z.·g .
'
Reading.
Comparison of
resnlts.
Writing.
.
Arithmetic.
.
Grammar.
G€ogrophy,
I865
9I'85
. 94'45
79'5I
55·31
6o·61.1866
8o'5I
So·I6
6?"08
5~·o6
45'05
it will appear that, while the percentage in· reading has exceeded that in I866, the percentages. in writing and arithmetic
have fallen below it. In grafnmar and geography I am unable to draw a true comparison between niy results. and those of
my predecessor, as we .appear to have proceeded from different data. The number of passes in these subjects is certainly