REPORT OF MR. DISTRICT INSPECTOR KENNEDY.

Brisbane, February, 1908.

SIR, I have the honour to submit the following General Report for the year 1907:-

DISTRICT.

Consequent on a re-allotment of districts at the beginning of the year, the West Moreton District, which had been in my charge for the ten years ending 1899, was again assigned to me for inspection. It included, as in the preceding year, a few schools in Brisbane and Ipswich; the schools on or near the railway line from Ipswich to Grantham; and those on or connected with the Fassifern branch line. The total number of schools within the foregoing limits was 103, of which 58 were State, 40 Provisional, and 5 Denominational.

The only new school that came into operation in the course of the year was a Provisional one at One Mile Lagoon, near Forest Hill; but the Provisional schools at Noogoora and Townson, which had been closed for a considerable time, were reopened; and an application for the establishment of a Provisional school at Mount Greville, about 17 miles from Boonah, was received and reported on.

Exclusive of three weeks' leave of absence, my time up to 21st February was occupied in valuing papers written at the preceding annual examination, compiling my general report for 1906, and attending a Departmental conference. On 21st October, I had to cease inspection in order to take up special duties in the Education Office, which, with work appertaining to the recent annual examination, engaged me till the close of the year. Between the dates mentioned, some interruption to ordinary work was caused by duties devolving upon me as a member of the General Committee appointed to make arrangements for the display of school work at the National Association's Exhibition; and a little time further was occupied in attending meetings of a sub-committee to consider the matter of adopting a uniform system of copybooks.

During the time available for work in the field, 84 schools were inspected, the remaining 19 being temporarily assigned to Mr. Inspector Gripp. In addition, an inquiry was held regarding the establishment of a new school; papers for use at the annual examination were drafted; and, with the permission of the Minister, I supervised three Commonwealth Public Service Examinations.

The pupils inspected amounted in all to 6,719, of whom 502 were presented by the 5 Denominational schools. The figures and remarks hereinafter appearing apply to only the 79 State and Provisional schools which I visited.

MATERIAL ORGANIZATION.

The school buildings generally afford ample accommodation. Those at Forest Hill, Tent Hill Upper, and Mount Forbes were found to be uncomfortably crowded at the time of inspection, but the two latter have since been added to; an addition has also been made at Ipswich West (Girls and Infants); and, while the Boys' and the Girls' schools at Leichhardt Street are not large enough for the attendance, the difficulty is in part met by working some of their classes in the Infants' school, which would otherwise be not more than half filled.

With the exception of the Provisional school at Springdale, which is a very rough structure, unsightly looking, and white-ant eaten, the buildings are mostly in good order and condition. During the course of the year painting and repairs have been carried out at many of them, included in the number being those at Ashwell, Boonah, Bundamba Upper, Burnside, Brassall, Ipswich West (Girls and Infants), Kelvin Grove Road, Ma Ma Creek, Mount Forbes, Normanby, Peak Mountain, Roadvale, Tallegalla, Tent Hill Upper, Franklyn Vale, Grantham Scrub, and Walloon; considerable improvements have been made at Milora; at College View a back veranda has been added; new fencing has been erected at Leichhardt Street; and, at Breakfast Creek and Ropeley, playsheds have been built. It is pleasing to find also that the teachers' residences have not been overlooked, additions having been made to those at Tivoli, Templin, Engelsburg, Tent Hill Lower, and Laidley North.

The great bulk of the schools were sufficiently provided with furniture and material, but in a few Provisional schools it was necessary to draw the attention of the committees to the disadvantages and inconvenience arising from the want of a second blackboard, this being the case at Woodlands, Fordsdale. Limestone Ridges, Gehrkevale, Franklyn Vale, Fassifern Valley, Mount Forbes, Coochin Lower, and Grantham.

There has been little reason to complain of want of cleanliness or of neatness in the schoolroom and its appointments, most of the teachers seeming to be fully seized of the important if unconscious influence which tidy and tasteful surroundings exercise over children. For excellence in this particular the school at Leichhardt Street (Girls), and next to that at Milford, hold the foremost place, but are closely approached by several others. The need for the removal of dilapidated stock, for clearing up the litter with which the teacher's table was encumbered, or for making greater efforts to brighten up the school walls, had, however, to be pointed out in a few instances.

Similar remarks to the foregoing are largely applicable to the grounds, though, on the whole, tree planting and flower cultivation have not been as extensively or successfully attempted, as my experience of the district in past years led me to expect. The well-kept flower plots combined with other

improvements at Leichhardt Street, the marked taste and care observable in every part of the grounds at Milford, and the many improvements made, and evident interest taken, in those at Ropeley, stand out prominently in my recollection of the schools visited; and mention may also be made of the experimental cotton-growing at Harrisville, and the fine gardens at the teachers' residences in Laidley North and Boonah. It should be observed that a portion of the garden at Laidley North, just alluded to, is allotted to and tended with much success by the pupils. Wire netting and gardening implements were supplied, through the Department of Agriculture, to four schools during the year.

INTERNAL ORGANIZATION.

STAFFS. In the 52 State schools inspected, there were employed at the time of my visit 167 teachers of all grades, their sex and status being as shown in the table hereunder :-

The average number of pupils per teacher in these schools, based on the daily attendance during the month preceding inspection, was 31. The most notable departures from this average were found at Tent Hill Lower (46°6), Milbong (45), Lake Clarendon (445), and Tallegalla (433), and the "Unclassified " State schools at Bundamba Upper (85), Burnside (16'5), Alfred (217), Ebenezer (23), Hillgrove (23), and Mount Walker (251). Three of the last-named schools were in the hands of the unclassified head teachers mentioned in the foregoing table, but one of these teachers received classification shortly after his school was inspected.

Fully half of the head teachers show good to excellent qualifications for their position; there are only eight whose efficiency fails to reach at least a very fair standard; and in absolutely no case has there been encountered any lack of diligent and conscientious effort. On very rare occasions some apparent want of energy on the part of assistants has had to be reported, but the great bulk are rendering efficient and loyal service. Of the pupil-teachers several are particularly capable, and there are very few who do not display at least fair promise. In this connection, I am glad to note a probability that at no distant date the children who become pupil-teachers will be afforded the opportunity of widening their attainments and increasing their general culture by a course of secondary education before taking up the active duties of their calling; and I venture also to express the hope that before long the wishes of the profession generally will be met by the establishment of a training college. The indisputable fact that under the conditions hitherto obtaining many highly successful teachers have been produced, is no adequate reason for regarding as unnecessary the increased facilities by which the same desirable results are likely to be secured to a still greater extent, and certainly more readily and surely.

The 27 Provisional schools employed 8 male and 19 female teachers, all of them unclassified; the average number of pupils to each (based on the daily attendance during the month before inspection) being 22 2, but this average being largely exceeded at Mount Forbes (385), Mount Whitestone (332), and Charlwood (32'8).

Seven of the teachers were doing very satisfactory work; 15 showed fair to very fair capacity; and there were 5 whose ability was below fair, marked inefficiency being displayed in at least one instance. Perfunctory or negligent discharge of duty is quite as exceptional here as in State schools; and, taking into consideration the very little previous experience or training which most of these teachers have had, the results produced by many of them indicate much natural aptitude, combined with vigour and common

sense.

GOVERNMENT.-There are very few schools in which the government is less than fairly satisfactory, in most it is good, and in many very good. As a rule the pupils were found to be orderly, attentive, and courteous, and worked steadily, cheerfully, and honestly, affording gratifying evidence of the healthy and beneficial school influences to which they had been subjected. In only two schools-both State-were these features conspicuously lacking; but it was occasionally necessary to comment on the over-passivity of the scholars, and to impress upon the teacher the desirableness of stimulating them to greater individual effort.

ATTENDANCE. The number of pupils present at inspection represented 872 per cent. of the enrolment at that time, a proportion quite as high as usually obtains.

The average daily attendance for the month preceding inspection amounted to 79'4 per cent. of the enrolment at the close of the month-that is, of every 10 pupils on roll, 8 were ordinarily present. Of the pupils enrolled during the quarter before inspection, 62'9 per cent. were present at least four-fifths of their school time.

For the district as a whole the foregoing figures are not at all unsatisfactory; but, nevertheless, the attendance at several schools was very seriously affected by outbreaks of whooping-cough, measles, and influenza amongst the pupils.

RECORDS.--Generally speaking, the records have been very well kept. Few inaccuracies-none of a serious character-have been observed, and in many schools a most praiseworthy degree of neatness is displayed. A little more care needs to be exercised in seeing that the promotions, and particularly the dates of leaving school, are regularly posted.

CLASSIFICATION. For the most part the classification was found to be judicious and suitable; though, in some half dozen schools, there were rather many drafts to be effectively worked by the one teacher in charge, while in three instances the grading was extremely faulty, many of the pupils being quite unfit for the status assigned to them.

INSTRUCTION. The time-tables usually showed a due appreciation of the relative importance of the different branches of instruction, the chief exception being that sufficient provision had not always been made for composition. It was frequently necessary, however, to direct that they should be recast in order to avoid an undesirable accumulation at one time of written work, and at another of what should be oral lessons.

On the whole, the programmes of work, as submitted by the various schools, indicated a fairly creditable appreciation of the aims and requirements of the present syllabus, though it was necessary to devote a considerable amount of time to further elucidation of this matter; but it was somewhat surprising to find that in several instances the lines in arithmetic laid down in the former schedules were still being largely followed. The work-book entries generally showed a satisfactory mean between, on the one hand, vague generalities which left much in doubt or to be inferred, and, on the other, a burdensome mass of trivial details whose very multiplicity tended to defeat their object. I am glad to notice an almost total abandonment of the plan of prescribing the work for several months-sometimes half a year in advance, as unforeseen hindrances-for example, extensive wet weather or sickness—often rendered worthless and misleading the programmes drawn up in this way.

The methods of instruction differ so widely that it is difficult to generalize regarding them; but it may briefly be said that, while in some instances they undoubtedly display a more or less pronounced lack of skill and a tendency to the over-mechanical, there are very many cases where they are particularly well adapted to cultivate and develop the pupils' powers of observation and reasoning, an essential to all true progress.

Under the present system of inspection it is possible to give the inexperienced teacher much more advice and assistance than formerly, and the inspections have thus become of greatly increased practical benefit. Even now, however, the time available for model teaching and the like is often found to be rather small, and in any case the majority of the schools are visited but once a year. The difficulty of providing fuller opportunities for instruction in method could perhaps be met by establishing, in certain selected country localities, small "Model Schools" under approved teachers, which the Provisional school teachers around might in turn be allowed to attend for a week or two, in order to observe the modes of successfully carrying on the work.

Taking everything into consideration, I am of opinion that in the curriculum as a whole fairly creditable progress has been made during the year under review. In Reading, fair fluency and expression are usually forthcoming, but the subject matter is not as well comprehended as it should be, a contributing cause of weakness lying in an attempt to cover too much ground. Silent reading needs to be more largely practised, with the view of training the children to extract for themselves, from the printed page, the information there presented. Having regard to the desirableness of imbuing children with a love of reading, it is greatly to be regretted that school libraries, however small, are rarely met with: the difficulties in the way of their initiation and upkeep are obvious; but many suitable books are now to be had very cheaply, and any funds locally collected for their purchase might with advantage be liberally subsidized by the Department.

In Composition the outlook is encouraging, but the proficiency is relatively more satisfactory in the junior than in the senior grades. More time might beneficially be given to oral composition, especially in the upper classes; where written composition is employed, the errors should not merely be corrected, but the reasons for the corrections should be intelligently explained, the faults of one child being thus made the means of correcting those of many others; and lists of words most frequently mis-spelt should be kept and receive special attention. A less mechanical treatment of Derivation has frequently had to be urged, and many specimen lessons have been given in order to show how the subject can be made

more interesting and useful. Arithmetic gives, on the whole, moderately satisfactory but very uneven results. Where the subject is properly handled in the elementary stages, the numbers used being well within the pupils' comprehension, and applied to objects with which they are familiar, the children's interest being thus secured from the start, a good foundation is being laid; but there are several schools where this is not the case. Collections of questions, dealing largely with local industries and interests, and, therefore, calculated to appeal and be of practical benefit to the pupils, are not yet as common as is desirable. It is hoped that the specimen lessons on mental arithmetic, frequently given during the year, will help to secure improvement in this important branch. Geography is fairly well done, and particularly so, as a rule, in Class II. Nature Study meets with only moderate success. The lessons as usually given convey a good deal of interesting information dealing with objects which in most cases are shown to the children, and in this way they are certainly an advance on many of the former so-called object lessons, where the object was often conspicuous by its absence; but there are few schools in which they appear to exert any special educative influence such as is claimed for them. In no portion of the curriculum are the results obtained more diverse than in History, the proficiency ranging from very bad to very creditable, and averaging slightly above moderate. The successful treatment of the subject demands in the first place a judicious selection of the "stories" to be attempted; then, their careful preparation so that the teacher may be able to place them clearly and vividly before the children; and, finally, sufficient revision to prevent the work gone over being lost sight of.

The Educational Court at the National Association's Exhibition of 1907 gave a good sample of the best work in certain directions that our schools are capable of, the display being admittedly a highly creditable one. This district did its share towards making the exhibit a success, and it may not be out of place here to express my appreciation of the zealous and energetic manner in which the committee appointed by the West Moreton Teachers' Association co-operated with that object.

As a result of the recent annual examination, State scholarships were awarded to a boy and two girls attending the Kelvin Grove Road schools; while Ipswich West (Boys), Tivoli, and Forest Hill each gained a district scholarship.

To the Under Secretary, Department of Public Instruction.

I have, &c.,

A. S. KENNEDY, District Inspector.

REPORT OF MR. DISTRICT INSPECTOR HARRAP.

Toowoomba, February, 1908.

SIR, I have the honour to submit my General Report for the year 1907.

DISTRICT.

The Toowoomba district was again assigned to me. Its boundaries have undergone no change since I took charge of it three years ago. It includes the schools in Toowoomba and its neighbourhood; along the railway lines to, and in the districts about, Crow's Nest, Helidon, Kingsthorpe, Oakey, and Pittsworth, and a few in the Brisbane District. The Salvation Army Industrial school was not opened last year, but, otherwise, the number of schools remained the same as in the previous year. They consisted of 43 State schools, 37 Provisional schools, and 6 Roman Catholic schools, making a total of 86. Of these, I inspected 83, and Mr. Radcliffe, on account of my long illness towards the close of the year, examined the remainder. I was also indebted to him for inquiring into an application for a Provisional school near Bergen, which he did not recommend. I held similar inquiries at East Lynne, near Kingsthorpe; Flemington, near Umbiram Railway Station; and Virginia, near Crow's Nest, at all of which places schools were authorised by the Department, and they will probably be opened during the current year. Applications for Provisional schools were also inquired into at Klienton, and at Southbrook, but were not successful. A similar result followed a second application for a State school at Newtown (Toowoomba), it being considered that the wants of the district are already well supplied by the existing schools. The following Provisional schools had an average attendance of 30, or over, for the month preceding inspection:-Pinelands, 379; Djuan, 36'6; Wellcamp, 36'2; Pechy, 353; Ravensbourne, 30'9; Gowrie Mountain, 301; and Jericho Estate, 30. Pinelands fell from 42'6 in the preceding year, and Djuan from 385; but Wellcamp increased from 31'4, and Pechy from 25. State schools will probably eventuate at one or two of these places in time, but there is no pressing necessity for a change at present. Gowrie Estate Provisional school, which had an average attendance of about 35 last year, and where application was made for a State school, which was granted, but afterwards cancelled, fell to 25, which is about its legitimate average. There was no improvement in the attendance at four unclassified State schools: at two of them-Postman's Ridge and Wetalla-it had decreased. The attendance at Gomoron and at Spring Valley State schools fell below 30, making a total of 6 State schools, of some importance formerly, which have fallen to the Provisional school standard of attendance.

MATERIAL ORGANIZATION.

The accommodation is generally sufficient in State schools, and abundant in Provisional schools. Fine new buildings have been provided at Toowoomba South Girls on another and more suitable site, and both teachers and pupils appreciate the change. Enlargements have been made at Harlaxton State and at Gowrie Mountain Provisional, and tenders have been called for a new schoolroom at Pechy, where one was badly wanted. The playsheds at the Woolloongabba schools are used as classrooms, or the cramped conditions there would be felt. The Djuan schoolroom is too small for the attendance, and it needs a back veranda.

The ventilation and lighting are generally satisfactory, but the light is bad at the Toowoomba North and Toowoomba South Boys' schools on dull days.

The chief improvements made during the year, in addition to those already mentioned, were:-A new residence at Drayton; improvements to those at Bergen and Gowrie Junction; and repairs and painting at about a dozen schools. The following improvements are in progress, or are authorised :New residence at Meringandan, and enlargements to those at Highfields and Merritt's Creek and repairs to the school buildings at Bergen.

The accommodation at some of the older houses is very limited, and the rooms are very small and comfortless, those at Helidon and Middle Ridge being among the worst. The unceiled and unlined kitchens at Southbrook and Umbiram, are almost uninhabitable during the cold westerly winds in winter.

The Department during the year gave a grant of material to help the teachers in agricultural experiments at Doctor's Creek, Flagstone, Helidon Scrub, Murphy's Creek, Plainview, and Wilsonton. Experimental patches were in good condition at Doctor's Creek (cotton), Glencoe (grasses), and Gowrie Road (cotton). A little was done at Highfields, Murphy's Creek, Southbrook, Umbiram, and Wilsonton. The work at Bunker's Hill was not so successful as formerly. Good gardens were found at the residences at Doctor's Creek, Gowrie Road, Murphy's Creek, Southbrook, Toowong, and Umbiram; and in the school grounds at Gowrie Road, Middle Ridge, and Woolloongabba. Drayton possessed the best collection of pot plants. There was little change in the playgrounds beyond the planting here and there of a few young trees they were generally free from weeds and undergrowth, and in neat condition. Some clearing was required at Goombungee, Helidon Scrub, Puzzling Gully, Wetalla, and Yarranlea. The useless specimens, and nature knowledge refuse, mentioned in my last report, were got rid of in most schools, and neatness and order generally prevailed. Few additions of importance were made to the school museums or libraries during the year. Woolloongabba Boys' school possesses a fine collection of geological specimens, and several other schools a serviceable mixed collection, and an intelligent use is made of them.