Reports on the State of National Education, Mr. A. Purser. New System. "Cookery and Laundry have been coldly received, and attempts to form teachers' classes in Armagh, Loughgall, and Tandragee have failed for the present. "Irish is thoroughly taught in the Crossmore School, conducted by the De La Salle Brothers. It is the only school in which it is taught at present. A class however was formed recently in Armagh, and numbers now close on a hundred members, including twelve teachers who, I understand, purpose introducing the Irish language into their schools as soon as possible. I shall welcome their efforts in this direction as a praiseworthy attempt to provide most appropriate material to give warmth and colour to the life of the National school. The majority of the managers seem to regard the revolution which is taking place in the educational system of the country with complacent acquiescence, almost convinced that in many ways the change is for the better, but absolutely certain that in some respects it is impracticable. Their attitude is that of respectful and expectant on-lookers. The new system addresses itself directly to the school management, and what is called the New Programme is, on the face of it, nothing more than a general guide to managers, insisting upon little else than this: that school organisation and school programmes shall suit the schools for which they are intended. "The active co-operation of the managers is, to my mind, absolutely essential, and if it is not now secured, a large measure of the motive power latent in the new system will be wasted for want of proper direction. Turning to the attitude taken up by the teachers and the manner in which they are preparing for their new work, there is every sign of promise. I have had numerous opportunities of meeting them, both collectively and individually, and in all our conversations and discussions I have been struck by the absence of any apparent inclination to criticise, and by a very evident desire for information and guidance. My proposal that we should meet each evening for about an hour after the Singing class to discuss the new school work in its different bearings, and that prepared model lessons should be given for criticism and mutual improvement, was well received, and the attendance, not only of members of the Singing class, but of others, testifies to their appreciation of the usefulness of such meetings. "The work done on these occasions included model lessons on (1) Composition, (2) Analysis of Sentences, (3) Decimals in Third Standard, (4) the Construction of the Metric Tables, (5) the Metric System, (6) the use of the Demonstration Frame in teaching Needlework, (7) New Programme Drawing, and (8) Paper-folding and Sticklaying, by teachers trained under Mr. Bevis; also Object Lessons suitable for junior and senior standards, and a Kindergarten lesson. Specially prepared Time Tables were exhibited on blackboards and discussed, and a definite and detailed programme of work for one month was also submitted for discussion. Each evening I was able National to lay before the meeting a large number of publications, Historical Reports on and Geographical Readers, Object-lesson and Elementary Science the State of Text-books, Drill Instructors, &c., while the teachers themselves Education. brought in a goodly assortment. The usefulness of this little temporary library of reference became very apparent, and I have suggested Mr. A. Purser. that the local branch of the Teachers' Association should get together New System. something of the sort on a large scale, to be kept permanently at their place of meeting. "A small committee was formed to examine series of Readers, and to give the meeting its views as to their comparative merits, as well as to suggest how standards might be grouped for geographical and historical reading. Another committee has undertaken to receive lists of ordinary and local solecisms, objectionable forms of expression, &c., with a view to compiling a fairly exhaustive guide for the district. แ At one of the first meetings it was proposed that a Saturday Drill Class should be formed, and Mr. Smith, of the Killylea School, who has a good knowledge of military drill and gymnasium work, kindly undertook to instruct the class, which has been in operation since the middle of October. "The evening meetings were necessarily discontinued when the Singing Classes closed, but the Drill Class still affords an opportunity of meeting on Saturdays. The average evening attendance was fifty, and the average Saturday attendance is fifty-three. Twenty-two meetings have been held so far. I have referred to these useful little conferences at some length as they appear to me to be a step in the right direction; while the almost enthusiastic manner in which they have been taken up leads me to hope that the good work begun may be continued in some form or other by the local branches of the Teachers' Association. I am informed that the matter has already been before a meeting of the Armagh branch." Mr. M'ELWAINE:—. "Page 7 of the Revised Programme of Instruction, 1900, suggests that school excursions could be beneficially undertaken. Country walks might be an auxiliary to Object Lessons. "Pupils in cities or in their neighbourhood have the benefit of Libraries, &c. museums, art galleries, public buildings, public gardens, &c., which could be made a means of intellectual expansion. All these are to be found in this City of Belfast, and I have no doubt that if the authorities who have control of them were approached in the proper way, arrangements could be made by which schools could take advantage of these institutions. "If these visits were treated as mere visits of curiosity or sightseeing, they would be of little value, but it should be understood beforehand what in particular was the object of the visit, and this should for some time before be the subject of study. "It would be necessary to fix a maximum for these visits out of school. One each month might be allowed. They should reckon as attendances in school for all pupils present at them for the full time. "The only schools in which a school library is to be found are the Newtownards Model Schools. Teachers and pupils are co-operating Reports on to make the scheme a success. It is to be worked by the pupils the State of themselves. The boys elected a committee of management from their National Education. own number, and the girls did the same. Each committee then elected its own secretary and librarian. A number of bye-laws have Mr. A. Purser. been drawn up by the committees for approval by the principal teachers. The library is open twice a week for receiving and giving out books. Membership is voluntary, the charge fixed being 1d. per month. A sum of money is required to start a library, but in this case there happened to be a nucleus of books which belonged to an old library. These have been increased by presentations of books from teachers, parents, and others. There will be careful oversight as to the selection of books for the library. Model Schools. "It is not so easy to start school libraries in this district as it would be in many others. There is a free Public Library in Belfast, the use of which pupils enjoy through their parents, and I understand that a branch is to be opened in Ballymacarrett, the part of the city which is in this district. Many of the schools are connected with churches which have libraries for their Sunday schools, and the majority of the pupils attending the National school attend the Sunday school also. "The suggestion that I have endeavoured to spread abroad is, that a number of schools might combine to form a common library." "Local sympathy would find an excellent field for its exercise in helping forward the establishment of school libraries. Without local funds, either in the form of voluntary subscriptions or rates, or, failing these, a small special grant from the State, there is little prospect of any general establishment of school libraries." Mr. EARDLEY:— " The six Model schools in the circuit maintain their high efficiency as elementary schools, and give besides to pupils who remain sufficiently long, a course which makes them successful at Intermediate Examinations." Dr. MORAN :— In view of my previous reports, little need be said of the Model schools of the circuit. I am well acquainted with the splendid work they are performing. "I am in a position to say they are amongst the finest schools I have ever examined." Dr. BEATTY :- The Newry Model School maintains its high character for efficiency. Of the skill, energy, and harmonious co-operation which characterise the work, I can speak in very high terms." Mr. Ross: "The three departments of the Carrickfergus Model School are doing superior work, and the education given in each is well balanced, physical exercises and games receiving adequate attention; while the the State of proficiency in the ordinary literary programme may fairly be described Reports on as excellent. A wide course in extra and optional branches was pre- National sented at the last annual examination, including for the boys Algebra, Education. Geometry, and Mensuration, Latin, French, and Book-keeping; for the girls Hygiene and Domestic Economy, Practical Cookery, and Mr. A. Purser. French. Both boys and girls are presented in Music and Drawing. Facilities are afforded to the senior pupils for special instruction in Instrumental Music, and in Typewriting and Shorthand." Dr. BEATTY: " The Workhouse schools are very small. They furnished, between Schools of them, seventeen children for the last examinations. The five Convent schools differ considerably in size and, to a certain extent, in the success of the teaching; but they are all doing good work." Dr. MORAN: "During the past year I have had an opportunity of examining the Convent school at Cavan. The answering was in every respect excellent; and a few weeks ago I examined the new Convent school at Clones. "Excellent work was traceable in every subject that could possibly be improved in a short time. The attendance has nearly doubled. In September last we got an important accession to the educational machinery of this part of Ireland. St. Mary's Training College opened in this month with 100 female students." The two Evening schools are St. Michan's and. St. Vincent's. Both are doing good work." special class. The Secretaries. I am, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, A. PURSER. III-GENERAL REPORTS upon all the TRAINING COLLEGES, by GENTLEMEN, Dublin, November 9th, 1900. We have the honour to submit for the information of the Commissioners this our General Report for last session upon the Training Colleges : There were examined in the five Colleges in the month of July last Number 267 masters and 222 mistresses in the subjects under Column 3 (or Examined. "B" papers), and 202 masters and 176 mistresses in the subjects under Column 2 (or "C" papers). The latter have still to undergo Reports on the State of National Messrs. LL.B., and S. E. Stronge, another year's training, while the former have completed their training courses. Of this large number (867), only ten failed to pass the examination—a result which must be regarded as very creditable. Of the 489 who were examined on "B" papers (or Column 3), 387 passed with special distinction, i.e., answered at least 65 per cent. M. Sullivan, Thus, almost 80 per cent. of the Queen's Scholars who had completed their training courses showed more than an ordinary mastery of the subjects in which they were examined. These figures would alone be sufficient as an evidence of the useful work done in the Colleges in deepening and rendering more thorough the knowledge of the students in those subjects which they are to spend their lives in teaching. Many of the students come up with but a superficial and one-sided knowledge of the subjects of their course, and it requires the earnest and unremitting efforts of the College professors to supplement, and give a basis and form to this scattered and unassimilated knowledge. The "special distinction" regulation has been omitted from the New Programme. The expediency of doing so was obvious. The students will have more time to devote to the acquisition of the art of teaching, and the professors will have more time to assist them in their efforts towards this end. The Queen's Scholars will, therefore, we hope, in future aim at excellence as teachers and conductors of schools rather than at acquiring book knowledge for the purpose of making a high percentage at their examinations. Work of the Entrance Lectures on Hand-and-Eye Training were given regularly during last session in Marlboro'-street Training College by Mr. Crane, and this subject now forms a part of the course for all Queen's Scholars. The work done in the Training Colleges continues to be two-fold. (a) The Queen's Scholars are taught all the subjects which, as principals of National schools, they will require in after life. (b) They are taught how to impart the knowledge which they have acquired to others, and this includes due training in "school management." (a) A candidate for entrance to a Training College must first pass Examination. a preliminary examination. As, however, the number of candidates is far greater than the number of vacancies, the examination really becomes competitive, and the Colleges select the most desirable candidates. This they do by taking those candidates who answer best at the examination. Candidates who answer 80 per cent. or 75 per cent., or 70 per cent. are, of course, more desirable than those who merely "pass," that is who answer only 50 per cent. The only weak point that we see in this mode of selecting candidates is, that unless effective precautions be taken, it may lead to personation. In very many cases the candidates are wholly unknown to the persons who conduct the examinations. In some of the Colleges there is an entrance examination held at the opening of the session-in September-and this serves as a useful check on the Easter examination. From time to time we have heard the remark made by persons connected with the Colleges that they did not know how the high percentages of some Queen's Scholars at the Easter examination were obtained, as, subsequently, these same Queen's Scholars were found to be comparatively weak in proficiency. We are not aware of any instance in which personation has taken place, but we are of opinion that the precautions already in force should be continued, and even strengthened. It would be easy to suggest various ways by which personation would be rendered much more difficult than it is at present. |