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Appendix D Commissioners. I will not deny that some good may be done in these Attendance schools, but I believe it is very much overestimated. The "passes and School- recorded at the results examination of an evening school seldom, if ever,

fees.

Mr. John
Browne,

Mr. Oborne.

Mr. Eardley.

indicate work done therein. The method pursued appears to be this :a boy who left a day school two or three years ago—often, it may be, very much less-and who was then enrolled in fourth class, is on admission registered as in third, or it may be in second class. Thus at the date of admission his proficiency is such, that whether he makes progress or no, the teacher secures the results fee. It is thus for work done years ago, and probably under a different teacher, that the fees are in reality paid. It is, I believe, impossible for an evening scholar more or less wearied from his day's labour, in 45 attendances of two hours each to make the same progress as is expected from a day scholar in 90 attendances of four hours each. Again, the teacher of a day school is never secure against detection in the falsification of his accounts; but what check can be devised against such falsification in the case of an evening school? I would recommend that in future aid be refused to such schools unless they have (1) been not less than six months in operation; (2) that the average attendance in each case be not less than thirty; (3) that no pupil under fourteen years of age be included in this number; and (4) that no results fees be paid in case of any pupil who has made fewer than 60 attendances at the evening school within the year.

District 16, Armagh; Mr. Osborne.-There are a few schools in this district which are thinly attended, poorly conducted, and might without much loss to the cause of education be removed; but in general the schools are fairly attended, vigorous, and well conducted, and there are a considerable number of really useful and highly efficient schools, so that taking the district generally there is not much to complain of.

District 17, Ballinahinch.-No report-Inspector ill.

District 18, Monaghan; Mr. Eardley. The prospects of elementary education in this district are at present very cheering. There is scarcely any opposition to the National system, and the district is studded with schools. The two most influential classes in the community, viz.-the landlords and the clergy are most favourably disposed, and I believe it would not be an exaggeration to say that all or nearly all the children who could be at school are there. The landlords, who are themselves the patrons of schools, endow them with sums varying from £5 to £20, and a residence free. For the most part the clergy have not the means of following this course, and their assistance is chiefly felt in influencing the parents to keep their children regularly at school. They also provide the school-houses, and bear the charge of any expensive repairs. Since I received charge of this district nine years ago, the following new vested school-houses have been built at a cost of £2,374-two-thirds of the expenditure being borne by the Board of Public Works-1. Radeerpark ; 2. Coranny; 3. Cordoola; 4. Tappa; 5, 6. Drumsheeny Male and Female; 7, 8. Ballybay Male and Female; 9. Aghnaglaire; 10. Billeady. Three other similar school-houses are in process of building, and will be completed in the course of the year at a cost of £742 108. These have been built by the Roman Catholic clergymen at an amount of personal inconvenience known only to those acquainted with the difficulty of procuring suitable sites, and of raising the necessary local subscriptions. The managers, as a rule, were present at the results examinations, and this did much to encourage both teachers and pupils. Strange that on such occasions the parents of the children rarely attended, though notice was duly given in each case.

The teachers in general are an earnest, hardworking, and exemplary Appendix D. body. They are not satisfied with the amount of improvement effected Attendance in their position by the introduction of the system of payments by results. and SchoolThe great majority appear to be satisfied with the principle, but wish the fees. scale of fees to be higher.

It is to be hoped that at no distant date pensions will be substituted for the present retiring allowance, the prospect of which is I believe quite ineffectual in retaining the services of skilful and intelligent young teachers, many of whom appear only too glad to exchange into other situations.

Besides improving the position of the teacher, the operation of the results system has been beneficial in two ways-1st, in improving the attendance at school, and 2ndly, in accelerating the progress of the junior pupils. Among the plans adopted by some of the teachers to ensure a more regular attendance, the following struck me as being the most effectual. A class list is made out and suspended in the school; opposite each name is entered the number of attendances actually made; the number remaining to qualify each pupil for examination is announced publicly every month. By this means the public opinion of the school is brought to bear on the pupils, and indirectly on the parents, who are naturally unwilling their children should be on a worse footing than those of their neighbours. In this way the number for examination has been in many cases increased 25 per cent. In addition, the schools are kept open a greater number of days, Christmas vacation shortened as the attendance then is at its highest, and secular instruction on Saturdays given for four hours.

District 19, Newry; Mr. Porter.—No remarks.

Mr. Eardley.

Mr. Porter.

District 20, Ballina; Mr. Purser. The average attendance for all Mr. Purser. the schools in this district has increased about three beyond the number returned in my last annual report, but then I had to notice a decrease of two from the previous year; so that during the last three years the average attendance has been about stationary. Teachers guilty of falsification of accounts in 1872 were treated with great leniency, which emboldened many at the beginning of this results year to attempt the In the case of 34 schools the teachers were admonished for falsification of a more or less pronounced type, and in nine of these heavy fines were inflicted amounting in the aggregate to £29 6s. 6d. As most of the falsifications occurred at the beginning of the year, and comparatively rarely latterly, I believe the teachers have taken the lesson to heart, and are now keeping the accounts more accurately.

same.

The number of pupils presented for examination during the past twelve months was 4,279 against 3,779 during the previous year; and the number remaining away on the day of examination decreased from 305 to 174. The total of passes attainable was 18,236, and of passes actually obtained 13,880, or 76.1 per cent. If only a few schools had fallen below this the general condition of the district might be pronounced pretty fair; but unfortunately out of 92 schools in full operation during the year only 43 pass 75 per cent. in the pupils' answering. Of the rest, 30 schools in which the per-centage is over 65 might be reckoned as at best middling, and the remaining 19 would have to be set down as hopelessly bad.

Of the infants 50 per cent will have to be presented as classed pupils in 1874-5; and of the classed pupils 83-2 per cent. will have to be removed to higher classes.

The average age of the pupils in the different classes was as follows

Appendix D. infants, 5 years; first class, 8 years; second, 9 years; third, 11 years; Attendance fourth, 123 years; fifth, 13 years; sixth, 14 years. This is rather and School- high for the middle classes, but fair for the others.

fees.

I think the backwardness of the schools is due (1) to the deteriorating Mr. Purser. quality of the teachers, caused by dissatisfaction with their present salaries, and by lowering the standard of examination; and (2) to the apathy shown by most managers with regard to their schools.

Mr. Molony.

Of 79 mixed schools in this district, 53 are under male teachers; and 26 under female teachers; and all the assistants are females except one, in which case, however, the principal is a female. The number of female teachers is steadily increasing, for notwithstanding that the requirements of programme for third class teachers have been reduced so low, that a fifth class pupil should pass creditably in them; yet, the difficulty grows greater daily of procuring a male teacher to succeed another in any but the best country schools; while the candidates, male and female, who do come forward, as a rule, only tend to lower the standard already reached. Few of the teachers show any ambition to rise to the higher classes, and having passed their examination, they cease to study, and in a very few weeks forget what they learned in as many months' " cramming." Unmarried male teachers of fair ability are constantly on the look-out for a better opening elsewhere, and, as a consequence, devote only half their energy to their schoolwork. I do not think the class of teachers can be improved without raising the standard of examination, and requiring those in the present lowest grade to pass a qualifying examination within a certain period. At the same time the standard cannot be raised without increasing the teachers' incomes, which, in this district at least, are quite too small. If the class salary allowed to the higher grades were considerably increased, and no unnecessary checks imposed upon the teachers seeking promotion, the number of them in the lowest grade would probably diminish pretty quickly. An important addition to their incomes has been made in a few cases by results fees, but with most the increase has been small, and has too generally been purchased at the expense of some, or even all, the school-fees. The average amount received by each principal this year (the best they are likely to have) is £10, but fully half of them do not receive £8, and 10 of them not even £5. The average amount for each assistant is only £6, and 8 or 9 of them receive less than £4. Pensions after a long term of service are generally claimed by the teaching body; and it does appear a hardship to ask a teacher, who has perhaps spent 30 or 40 years in the Board's service, to retire on an allowance on which he cannot hope to subsist more than a few years. Yet the presence of such teachers is often injurious to the schools.

As a further means of procuring suitable male teachers, I would suggest greater encouragement being given to male monitors.

The

The Managers show little interest in their schools. Most of them visit very rarely-many not as often as even the Inspector. latter finds the same defects in the house, furniture, proficiency, &c., visit after visit, which would not be the case if the Managers would visit frequently, and see that some attempt was made to remedy defects, and if they would encourage the teachers and pupils in doing their work, and use their influence to bring idlers and absentees under regular instruction. Until something of this kind is done, half the labour expended in working the schools will be expended in vain.

District 21, Swineford; Mr. Molony.-In some respects the district is peculiarly circumstanced. Owing to the great poverty of the bulk of the population, nearly all the male adults of the labouring class migrate

annually to England, leaving in February or March, and returning in AppendixD. October or November; and during the interval, the care of cattle, Attendance sowing, tilling, and harvesting the crops, fall to the lot of the women and and Schoolthe more grown children. In fact from the middle of March to the fees. middle of September the great majority of the pupils, except in the Mr. Molony. towns and villages, are very young children, who, from their tender years, want of clothing, and other causes, seldom attend school in the winter or spring months. There are thus two great classes of pupils, one attending during the summer half year, the other during the corresponding winter period. Taking into account these unfavourable circumstances, which are beyond the control of the Commissioners or local parties, I consider the state of education in this district, as on the whole, satisfactory. Whilst the number of schools that may justly be described as bad, are very few, indeed, the vast majority of them are fairly efficient, some of them very much so, in affording a good practical knowledge of reading, writing, and arithmetic, with the elements of grammar and geography. To the efficiency of the schools there are, however, some serious drawbacks, among which may be enumerated:-(1.) The want, in many cases of suitable and properly-furnished school-rooms. Many of them are much too small to accommodate the numbers in attendance during the winter months; and on this account the business cannot be conducted in the orderly and methodical manner necessary to insure success. Again, in not a few instances, the rooms are scantily and unsuitably furnished. The local parties should remedy these defects. (2.) The teachers, in numerous instances, suffer great inconvenience from want of residences near their schools. Many of them are obliged to walk six or more miles daily in discharge of their duty; and it is evident that this labour, more especially in the case of females, must exercise a depressing influence on their energies in school. The erection of suitable residences in connexion with their schools would add substantially to the comfort of the teachers, and tend powerfully to strengthen the ties that bind them to the State. (3.) The prevention by the Roman Catholic clergy of the teachers under their control from availing of the advantages afforded by the training institution. This disadvantage is becoming more serious every year, and is now affecting the great majority of the schools in this district.

The teaching-staff consists of 128 principals, 87 males, and 41 females, 88 assistants, 22 males, and 66 females, 123 monitors, 58 males and 65 females, and 7 workmistresses; they are a respectable body of people, attentive and diligent in their calling, demeaning themselves with becoming modesty and propriety, and by their steady and correct conduct exercising a salutary influence in training and forming their pupils to good habits. They are much and justly respected by the Managers and the public generally.

The introduction of the system of results payment has proved a strong motive to increased zeal and energy in the staff generally; and, of this striking evidence is afforded by the fact that in about one-half the schools the teachers are now voluntarily giving four hours to secular instruction on Saturday, thus making it a regular school-day. Nor is this the only evidence of increased activity in the schoolwork of the district. Both Managers and teachers are thinking more about the business and keeping up a more constant intercourse with the parents who are thus induced to send the children more regularly to school. Great and in many cases successful exertions have been made to secure an attendance of at least ninety days in the year by the pupils, and thereby render them eligible for results examination. In another way, too, the parents have shown their readiness to co-operate with the Managers and teachers in the work of education. Very few of the

Appendix D. pupils who had made the necessary attendances were absent on the day of the examination; and when such absences did occur they were almost and School- invariably from unavoidable causes.

Attendance

fees.

I may add that during the year I have been in the district, I have Mr. Molony, never heard a word in disapproval of the results system from parent, teacher, or Manager; on the contrary, they, one and all, regard it as an element of strength and vitality in stimulating and promoting the education of the people.

Mr.

The teachers in this district complain of the inadequacy of their salaries, the hardships under which they labour from the want of residences in connexion with their schools (a point to which I have referred in another part of this report), and the poverty and privation to which they are exposed, when obliged from old age or infirm health, to resign their situations. These complaints appear to be amply justified; and I believe it would be a wise exercise of duty on the part of the State to apply to them a just and generous remedy.

Of the one hundred and twenty-nine operative schools in the district, two are under the management of Boards of Poor Law Guardians, twenty-eight under that of lay gentlemen, one under that of a lady, and the remaining ninety-eight under the management of Roman Catholic clergymen. In the working and success of the schools the Managers, generally, and more especially the Catholic clergymen, take a warm interest. These gentlemen are making successful exertions to establish schools where required in their respective parishes. As an instance, I may mention that one parish priest has, during the past year and a half, built without any State aid six suitable and very fairly-furnished schoolhouses, which are now connected with the Commissioners.

In closing this report I feel it my duty to bear my warm testimony to the kind and generous co-operation cheerfully given by the Managers of the district in connexion with the results examinations during the past

year.

District 22, Boyle; Mr. M'Callum.-I am not prepared at present to M'Cullum. offer any remarks on the general condition of the schools in this district, as the whole system of primary education is in a transition state, owing to the introduction of the scheme of payment by results. For so far, however, I have not observed any considerable change in the schools, consequent on the new arrangements; the good teachers continue to discharge their duties zealously and well, and those who were inefficient and careless before are inefficient and careless still.

Mr. Healy.

In my report for last year I took occasion to animadvert upon the wretched state of the school-houses in many parts of the district, and the apathy of the Managers in regard to this. I regret to have to say that there has not been any considerable improvement during the past year. Two new houses (both intended for double schools) have been built; one house, formerly a thatched cabin, has been enlarged and slated, and almost entirely renovated; while in some others boarded floors have been laid down, and additional desks and other necessary fitting-up supplied. (I should add that the new furniture was generally provided by the teachers at their own expense.) With these few exceptions, the houses are in precisely the same state as when I wrote my last report. Several managers propose to set about the erection of new houses during the coming summer; but I know by experience that very slight obstacles interfere seriously with the accomplishment of such good intentions.

District 23, Cavan; Mr. Healy.-Number of Schools.-The number of schools in the district is at present 136. There is no part of it where a school is not within easy reach of the children. In some places the

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