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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 85

Repopt of the Examiner

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Repopt of the Examiner.

Wellington, The Board of Governors, Girls' High School, Wellington. Gentlemen,—

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We have had the honour of conducting, according to your instructions, an examination of the pupils in the Girls' High School, a task which has been to us one of peculiar pleasure, because of the high state of efficiency in which we found the several classes examined.

The large majority of the girls have done so exceptionally well that we did not see our way to single out any by name for special commendation, for fear of doing injustice to others almost equally as good. The marks earned by the girls speak for themselves, and do not require to be explained or enlarged upon by more than general comment. Suffice it to say that they show in all classes most satisfactory progress, and in some surprising proficiency.

The examination was conducted partly in writing and partly orally.

Of the work of the Fifth Form in English we can speak in terms of high commendation. The papers set for this Form in History, Geography, and Grammar were equal in point of difficulty to the University Matriculation papers, and were quite as severe as any set this year for the Fifth Form boys of the Wellington College. The whole of the Form came up to our requirements for a pass, and a large number obtained a very high percentage of marks in the several subjects. The answering, for fullness and accuracy as well as the method and style of the work, was in very many cases excellent. The English Literature paper was well answered, and showed upon the part of the pupils a good knowledge of the history of our literature throughout the period studied.

Some of the essays submitted are above average merit, and show independent thought as well as grace and felicity of expression. We congratulate the Lady Principal on the work done by the Fifth Form, and we fully expect that when the results of the Matriculation Examinations are known, the members of this Form who presented themselves will take a good place.

Of the work of the Third and Fourth Forms we can speak in favourable terms. The answering of the Fourth Form in Geography, Grammar, History, and Literature was very good, and the Third Form did excellent work in the same subjects. A few of the pupils in each of these Forms show weakness in spelling. The writing and style of work was all that we could desire.

The answering of the First and Second Forms in History, Geography, and Grammar was both intelligent and accurate. A few of the First Form showed weakness in Arithmetic and an imperfect knowledge of their tables, and a few in the Second Form did the question in Numeration poorly; also we note that the spelling of some of the pupils in each of these Forms was weak. However, a large majority of the girls did their work well, and showed that they had been thoroughly drilled by their teachers in the essentials of each of the subjects. The writing of the candidates in each of these Forms is fairly good, and we were pleased to see page 6 the neatness with which their exercise and copy books are kept. The piece given as a reading exercise was read fairly well, and the girls showed that they had been taught to read with their minds awake as to the meaning of what they read.

In French, the two divisions of the Fifth Form and the Fourth Form were examined by paper, and acquitted themselves most creditably, although the questions are acknowledged by the Examiner to have been of a searching nature. The Fourth Form succeeded in scoring an average of over 80 out of possible 100 marks, the highest being 92 and the lowest 73. In one or two instances the marks allotted do not do justice to the pupils, who had been at a disadvantage through their absence from the class. Notice has been taken of these cases in memoranda appended to the lists of marks, which fact should be taken into consideration.

The remaining Classes were examined orally, and displayed equal excellence. In the Third Form (a large one of 23), three girls gained 90 marks and over, five girls 80 and over, six girls 70 and over, and only one got less than half marks. A similar result attended the examination of the Second Form and Form 1A. The best marks of all were gained by Form 1 b, in which one girl gained 100 marks, another 90, and all the remainder 85, giving an average of 88. The "Preparatory" section of Form I was also fortunate in showing most successful results.

Three pupils were submitted to examination in German, and acquitted themselves satisfactorily. We would wish to point out the advisability of encouraging the study of this language, which opens up a literature of great wealth and sterling value, and which is at the present day (next to English) the most important and widely spoken tongue of the world. We recognise with approval the commencement of its study in this School, and would strongly recommend its diligent pursuit in this and other cognate institutions.

In Latin, the two highest Classes have gone through a large amount of work during the session, and withal have done it very carefully. The passages from the authors read—Virgil, Horace, Livy, and Cæsar—were translated with great accuracy and in very good style. The same may be also said of the unseen passage which was set them. In the Grammar and Composition paper the answers were on the whole satisfactory. The rendering of some English sentences into Latin was very fairly done by both Forms, and shows that they have been taught to appreciate the niceties of the language. There were, however, inaccuracies in the grammar that one could scarcely have been led to expect from the general correctness of the translation. In the Junior Classes the girls are being carefully grounded in the rudiments, and show a very creditable knowledge of the accidence, and considerable facility in turning easy sentences from Latin into English and from English into Latin. It struck us they were better up in their conjugations than in their declensions, and we notice this in order that the matter may be attended to next year; for we believe, and it cannot be too often reiterated, that in a thorough knowledge of its grammar lies the great secret of attaining high proficiency in any language.

Coming now to the Mathematics of the School, it affords us much pleasure to be able to report, that although this is usually considered to be a subject for which girls have not much aptitude, the result of the present examination does not bear out or justify that view. The whole School was examined in Arithmetic, and, excepting in one Class, the work was very satisfactorily done. The pupils generally displayed an intelligent acquaintance with the principles underlying the various rules, as well as the best methods of solution. The Third Class alone failed, with a few exceptions, to come up to our requirements.

Three Classes were examined in Algebra and acquitted themselves to our entire satisfaction. The two higher Classes show a thorough mastery of the work they profess; while the lowest Class has made a very fair and promising commencement with the subject. 'The Classes examined in Algebra were like-wise examined in Geometry, and in this subject, as in the former, the more advanced pupils showed very considerable proficiency. The highest Class has done all the work in this subject, and in Algebra, required of candidates for the Junior Scholarships in the University. The lowest Class has got well through the first page 7 book of Euclid, though some of the girls are not as yet able to reproduce any save the very simplest propositions. They have now made a fair start with the subject, and are beginning to understand the nature of mathematical reasoning.

In conclusion, we beg to congratulate the Governors on the high state of efficiency of the Girls' High School, as shown by the recent examination. The methodical manner in which the work was done, and the neatness and tidiness which characterized it, proved to us the careful training which the pupils had undergone. At the same time the high state of discipline in this school, and the enthusiasm of the pupils for their work, showed to us how well the staff had succeeded in establishing their authority over the girls, and interesting them in the subjects taken up.

The kindly relations existing between teachers and pupils particularly impressed us, as evidence that the former are admirably suited for their respective posts, and that the latter do not find their studies irksome, and that both are fond of their work. It is, we are assured, entitled to rank in the first class among Girls' Schools in the colony, and well deserves the encouragement and impetus which its projected removal to a larger and more commodious abode will give it, by enlarging its resources and widening its scope.

We have the honour to be, Gentlemen, Your most obedient servants,

W. H. West, B.A., LL.B.

J. W. Middleton, B.A.

A. Macgregor, M.A.