REPORT OF INSPECTOR BURNS.

NELSON, B. C., Nov. 12th, 1898.

"SIR,-I have the honour to lay before you my report on work of the school-year 189798, and in so doing have more especially referred to the schools of this Inspectorate.

"During the latter part of 1897, I visited the schools of the Okanagan Valley and of the Boundary Creek District, finding these, generally speaking, making good progress, as well as increasing in numbers and attendance.

"On the division of the Province into Inspectorates, in January last, I came to Nelson, and during the rest of the school-year visited all schools in my district, except those in East Kootenay and South Yale, these being omitted only for lack of time.

In

"In the graded schools of this Inspectorate, good work is being done. At Rossland and Nelson much difficulty has been experienced by the constant demand for increase of accommodation. This need has now been met by the Government, but until suitable rooms and furniture were provided, much progress could not be made, nor good grading carried out. almost every instance I have found the teachers striving to do their utmost to advance the moral and intellectual progress of the pupils under their charge, and any suggestions given for improvement in method or in work have been generally carried out. The discipline of the schools has usually been found satisfactory. In some instances where pupils accustomed to the life of the mining camp, have been required to conform to school regulations, there has been opposition, but these cases are becoming fewer in number. I have much pleasure in saying that from the progress already made, I feel confident greater progress will be made during the present school-year. The teachers in this Inspectorate labour under many disadvantages, and even with hard and earnest work, the general standard of the schools is not so high as in the other parts of this Province.

"My experience during this year has convinced me of the absolute necessity for a Normal School for training our teachers. A considerable proportion of those employed in this Inspectorate have been educated in the schools of British Columbia, and although there can be no question regarding their knowledge, yet they are deficient in ability to instruct and to use modern methods of teaching, unless by several years of experience they have attained this ability and practicable training at their pupils' expense. Their comparative isolation also deprives them of the opportunity to obtain advice or assistance from other teachers when any difficulty arises. Hence, frequently, with the best intentions and with hard work, poor results are obtained.

"The lack of interest shown by parents in their children's progress and attendance is also very noticeable. Irregularity is complained of in most schools and it is generally found that this irregularity could be avoided were the parents more anxious about the children's attendance at school.

No

"The constant moving from one mining camp to another presents another obstacle. one who has had experience in school work need be reminded of the results of such changes. "It is evident that in a new district like Kootenay, and this also a mining district, these removals are unavoidable, yet in determining the status of a school and the value of work shown, they must be given due consideration, more especially as the difficulty of advantageously classifying an ungraded school is thereby increased. Thus in some schools I have found in the same class, pupils who have never attended school before, yet who are able to read and write well, but could not do simple multiplication, and who know nothing of other branches of study; others, from the United Kingdom, deficient in Canadian subjects; others, from the United States, deficient in grammar and Canadian subjects. To bring such a group into a condition that the class can be taught simultaneously with advantage, is a difficult task for the most experienced teacher. Nor must it be forgotten that these pupils do not join the classes at the commencement of a school term, but come in at intervals during the whole of the year, adding thereby constant interruption to steady progress.

"Recognizing these conditions, it has been my aim to encourage the teachers, and to assist them in their work wherever possible, rather than to add to their frequent discouragement by a close criticism on the results shown.

"In March and April, entrance examinations were held in all schools where there were candidates. These examinations have formed a model for both teachers and pupils, and are thus helping very materially to raise the standard of work in our schools. It is probable that a yearly increase in the number prepared and presented for examination will take place, and it is to be hoped that as soon as the number of pupils required by statute is obtained, the Government will establish a High School in one of the cities of Kootenay. At the present time many pupils are sent to the High Schools on the Coast, to Eastern Canada, or to the United States in order to obtain a higher education than that given in our Public Schools. This expense, however, many parents cannot afford and the children have to suffer. Before concluding my report, it seems proper to refer briefly to the different grading adopted in the schools of the United States, and in those of British Columbia, because public attention has been directed to this matter particularly in Rossland and the neighbouring districts. In American schools eight grades are recognized and several subjects commenced at a later date than in our schools. When a pupil from one of these schools enters one of ours, he is necessarily placed in a nominally lower grade. This has caused complaints of unfair discrimination to Board of Trustees and to your Inspector. A little consideration will show that no injustice has been done. For example, a pupil in the American fourth grade has a knowledge of reading, spelling and writing about equivalent to that attained in our second class; in the subjects of general geography and arithmetic he is not usually so far advancd, and probably knows no grammar. To place him in the Fourth Reader, with all the collateral subjects required, would not be only a hindrance to his own future progress, as it would be beyond his power to keep up with his class-mates, but an injustice to the rest of the class, who would thereby be hindered in their progress. I have, therefore, supported the action of the teachers in placing such pupils in nominally lower grades whenever the matter has been referred to me.

REPORT OF INSPECTOR COWPERTHWAITE.

"VANCOUVER, B. C., Nov., 1898.

"SIR, I have the honour herewith to submit the first annual report of Inspectoral District No. 2.

"This district comprises all the schools of Vancouver and New Westminster (80 divisions), the schools along both banks of the Fraser, as far up the line of the C. P. R. as Ashcroft, Howe Sound, Cariboo, and Cassiar. As may readily be seen, it is too large. Since being appointed to the district, about the beginning of January, I have inspected most of the country schools twice, spending about half a day in each. To do this I have been on the road early and late, have travelled by express train, by freight, and by cattle train, by stage, by private conveyance, by steamer, on horseback, and on foot, have sometimes gone hungry when travelling from one school to another during the noon hour, while at other times the chef of a C. P. R. hotel has ministered to my wants.

"Each division of the Vancouver and Westminster schools has been visited four or five times, though it now takes ne sixteen (16) days to make the round.

"It being a thousand mile trip to inspect the Cassiar or Cariboo schools, I went no farther in the latter direction than Clinton and Lillooet, and did not get to the former at all. The expense would have been great, and time required, long.

"Speaking generally, the schools of the district are in fair condition. Most of the teachers are doing good work. Some of them know little of the art of teaching, and do not strive hard enough to improve themselves. The responsibility resting upon them as builders of character does not seem to be of great moment to them. 'Not by levity of floating, but by stubborn force of swimming, shalt thou make thy way.' Until we have a Normal and Model School, nothing else can be expected but that the work done by some young teachers for the first year or two will be experimental. A few, however, succeed almost from the first.

"There are about twenty-five teachers in the district of whom, in my judgment at least, any province might well be proud. These energetic, painstaking, faithful teachers are doing a work for the youth of British Columbia for which mere money cannot pay. It is Cicero, I think, who says that there is a sufficient recompense in the very consciousness of a noble deed. Nevertheless, an increase of salary from time to time would not detract from the efficiency of those who are doing so well by their pupils.

"I am of opinion that under our present conditions, the salary of inexperienced teachers should at first be smaller, but that a regular increase be given as the teacher proves his efficiency. This bonus for good work need not be large, but should be certain.

"All the subjects on the course receive a fair amount of attention from the teachers. Reading has, I think, been worse taught than anything else, but I am very much pleased to note, in some schools at least, a great improvement in this important subject. Since the pupils have to gain a great deal of their information from books, it is highly important that they be taught to read with ease and fluency. People like to do what they can do well, and if it is a pleasure for a boy or girl to read, the chances are that books will not be entirely thrown aside when school days are ended. I regret to say that I find a lack of interest taken in our schools by the people, possibly education is too cheap. What one gets for nothing is apt to be lightly prized.

"It might be well to cut off the grant for incidental expenses. If the people had to unite to get the winter's supply of wood, or dig a well, or grade the grounds, they might possibly take more pride in the school premises and in the work of the teacher as well. Where there had to be an actual outlay of cash, such as providing lead and oil for painting, or lumber for a fence, the occasion might be met by special grant. The grant of forty dollars ($40) is in a few cases badly spent money. People will scarcely nail a picket on a fence or do a hand's turn about the school without being well paid. One cannot blame them much either, while the Government provides, or may provide, everything.

"Some trouble has been caused in this district by parents who object (properly, I think) to the preparing of pupils for teachers' certificates in the country schools. Of course in a mixed school where this work is done, the most of the instruction should be given after school hours, and indeed is so given. This, however, is a great drain on the nervous energy of the teacher, and eventually the younger pupils pay for the education of the teachers' class.

"The establishment of a Normal School would tend to settle this question. The High Schools of the district could accommodate more pupils than are at present enrolled, and if the curriculum for teachers' certificates were slightly changed, the High Schools would, I think, be glad to have the extra pupils.

"Heartily thanking you, sir, and many teachers and trustees of the district, for favours and kindnesses shown me during my year's work of inspection.

"I have the honour to be,

66 Sir,

"Your obedient servant,

"S. D. Pope, Esq., LL.D.,

"Superintendent of Education,
"Victoria, B. C.”

"F. M. COWPERTHWAITE,
"Inspector of Schools.

REPORT OF INSPECTOR NETHERBY.

-:0:

"VICTORIA, November, 1898.

"SIR,I have the honour to submit for your information the following general report of the work done in the schools which I have inspected during the school-year ending June 30th, 1898.

"I am pleased to be able to state that the majority of teachers whose schools I have inspected have worked energetically and intelligently, not only to advance their pupils in the different subjects, but to improve themselves in the art and science of teaching, and have been in both cases fairly successful.

"In each school a time-table, carefully drawn up in accordance with the prescribed course of study, is followed by the teacher, the result of which is regularity and precision in the daily work of the school.

"The classification of the pupils has been carried into effect in nearly all the schools, and promotion from lower to higher grades has been made at least every half year.

"The order and discipline in the schools, generally, are all that could be desired. Obedience seems to be given by the pupils willingly and cheerfully, and few, if any, complaints have been made of improper conduct by the children on their way to or from school.

"Corporal punishment is not practised by the teacher, except when necessity requires, and after full explanation has been given to the pupil why it should be inflicted.

"Complaint is made by some teachers of irregular attendance at school, but I know of no district in which there is employed a teacher whose whole soul is in the work where this evil is not remedied. The responsibility of the work engaged in impresses such a teacher so powerfully that nothing is left undone which human agency can do to benefit the school of which he has the oversight. He makes short visits to the homes of the parents of the pupils and points out with so much earnestness the evils of irregular attendance, the necessity of keeping the children regularly at school, that they are constrained to comply.

"Permit me to say to teachers and parents that it is not enough that pupils receive instruction in the ordinary branches of education. The development of the moral nature is of such importance to the individual and to society that its culture should receive careful attention. Every opportunity that presents itself should be improved in training pupils in such habits as will help them to become, and to continue, truthful, honest, self-governing and law-abiding citizens. Our social relations, the necessity and dignity of labour, our mutual dependence, the privileges of society, the benefits of government, should be taught by easy and familiar lessons and illustrations suited to the capacity of children.

66

Reading is well taught in nearly all the schools, and while all the pupils are not good readers, a very large majority read fluently and understandingly. I have given close attention to this subject, having seen from an early period in my experience the necessity of teaching it well, and have found it to be a general rule that the teachers have paid close attention to the correction of mistakes, and have not permitted the pupils to pass on in a hurried and blundering manner.

"Proper attention has been given to the teaching of spelling. Oral and written lessons have been given daily, and the eye of the pupil has been directed to the difficulties that are constantly arising in the handling of this subject. We find, therefore, that the results are fairly satisfactory.

"Great care should be exercised in the teaching of writing. The pupils should be compelled to occupy a proper position and to write with a free and easy movement, and the teachers should see that all exercises handed in are written in the pupils' best hand. In this way satisfactory progress may be made.

"Arithmetic has received careful attention from most of the teachers. The pupils have been taught to do their work with neatness, accuracy and dispatch; and while I am willing to admit that in a few schools inferior work is still done, yet even in these improvement is visible.

"It seems to me that frequent reviews are necessary in order that the principles already taught may be firmly fixed in the minds of the children.