Appendix D. school-houses, and this, besides being injurious to health, obviously leads Attendance to the decay of the maps. This defect it would, in many cases, be hard and School- to remedy, owing to the general character of most of the district, which fees. is flat, badly drained, and moist.

Dr. Conwell.

District 29, Trim; Dr. Conwell.-The following schools, being out of operation, were not, of course, examined for results fees, viz.:-Ardenew, M., Batterstown, M., Carnisle, F., Crossakiel, Kill, M., Killyon, M., and Phillinstown N. schools.

The following table shows the numbers on rolls of the remaining 117 schools on the last day of the month preceding their respective examinations :

Of these the following numbers made ninety or more attendances in their respective classes :—

And of these the following numbers attended and were examined on

From this table it appears that in the entire district 427 pupils, who were qualified for examination by having made ninety or more attendances during the previous twelve months, were absent on the appointed days. The following are the numbers examined in the different subjects :— Proportion per cent. of passes.

Numbers
examined.

Number of

passes.

Excluding extra branches, and supposing there were no failures, AppendixD. £1,717 198. might have been available from the above examinations, Attendance while the sums actually realized in results fees amounted to £1,488 198. 6d., and Schoolor 86.6 per cent. of the amount which might have been earned.

fees.

Dr.

The school-fees received throughout the district during 1873 amounted to £549 68. 5d., being, on an average, £4 88. 7d. in each school. The Conwell. amounts, however, varied much in different localities, for in one school the whole school-pence received only amounted to 4s. 9d., while in another they realized £34 78. 7d.

District 30, Dublin, North; Mr. Gillic.-Making allowance for the Mr. Gillic. great drawback-irregularity of attendance-the condition of the schools in this district may be described as fairly satisfactory.

The results system has stimulated not only the teachers, but the pupils to increased exertion; and the latter are now imbued with a spirit of emulation which makes them regard the honour of a good mark with quite as much anxiety as their instructors.

District 31, Ballinamore; Mr. Donovan.-I consider that education in this district has made good progress during the past as well as preceding year. I will refer to a few statistics which lead me to this opinion. And first-in comparing the present state of the district with what it was when I first came here I desire not to be misunderstood. Probably in the same time before that the district had made equal or greater progress; but as I am only familiar with it since 1871, I cannot trace the progress before that time. First, in reference to the schoolhouses. In 1871 there were only 132 schools in operation. In 1873 there were 137. In a district like this-where the schools are rather too numerous, I attach little importance to the mere numerical increase of the schools. But I do attach considerable importance to the fact that the character of these school-houses was in every instance fair, and in many instances good, far beyond the average character of the school-houses of the district. They were also in every instance built on suitable sites, near roads, and I may add that in no single case is rent paid by a teacher. Now these facts tend to show that the managers are beginning to enter into the spirit of the age as regards progress, and that in future they will be ashamed to ask the Board to receive into connexion miserable cabins, badly lighted, badly ventilated, without space-room, without desk accommodation, built in bogs, with rivers and hills to cross before being reached, and rented by the teacher who is unfortunate enough to be placed in that locality.

I may add that in the few instances in which the managers expected the teachers to pay some rent, the Board by its firm attitude at once stopped the attempts.

Secondly, the average attendance of all the schools of the district was in the year 1871, 36-7; in 1873, it was 40 16. This proves that the multiplication of the school-houses was not at the expense of the schools already existing, and further that the general attendance of the pupils was substantially increased; and when I add that in 1872 the average of all the schools was 38.8, it will be seen that the attendances increased as steadily as substantially. In 1871, out of 132 schools, there were 43 under 30. In 1873, out of 137 schools, there were only 34 under 30. Now as schools with these small averages are usually inefficiently worked, it is certainly a healthy sign of the district to find the number of this class so materially diminished.

Mr.

Donovan.

Appendix D.

Thirdly, the classification of the teachers in 1871 was as follows:

I. Class,

Mr.

Probationers and Junior Literary
Assistants,

I think, on comparing these two classifications, it will be admitted that the second represents a more healthy state of the district, so far as the classification of teachers can indicate. And, if these promotions were the result of honest work in the schools and successful study on the part of the teachers, as I think I can testify they were, then I would say that the natural inference is that the district has improved.

Fourthly, as regards the monitorial staff, to which I attach great importance. Under any system, whether of results or any other, the staff of monitors will always be necessary to supply the schools with qualified teachers. The monitors are the apprentices of the National system, and according as the teachers under whom they serve their apprenticeship are skilful or unskilful, careful or careless, so will the future teachers, now acting as monitors, be in their own schools. With regard to this staff I cannot point to an increase in numbers as regards the present staff and what it was in 1871. On the contrary, in 1871 there were 54 monitors in the district, while at present there are only 23. This diminution in the number was due to two causes. The first was that the majority of the monitors who were in the district in 1871 were so badly taught by their teachers that 15 were dismissed in the single examination of 1872. Now as the Inspectors were required by a strict rule of the Board to limit appointments of monitors to deserving cases of succession, it was impossible in the great majority of the cases when vacancies arose, to fill their places. This rule of the Board was itself a relaxation of another rule which for a time put a complete stop to the appointment of monitors. This limitation on the part of the Board was then the second cause. But at present the chief obstacle is the difficulty of finding teachers, outside of a small circle, able to instruct monitors properly. I cannot therefore at present point to the monitorial staff with much satisfaction; but I think that it is on the proper road to being a good staff. The teachers who now have monitors, have in most instances proved their capacity for training monitors, and in every appointment, I have consulted these teachers before making any recommendation.

I will merely add that the results realized in this district last year, although in the majority of cases fair, and in the case of the good schools generally far in advance of the preceding year, would still not represent the real progress made in the schools. Next year's results will, I hope, be a much closer test of the progress made by the schools. In 1872 the schools, at the wish of the Board, were indulgently examined. This system of examination, while, perhaps, very proper while the system was new, would, if continued, end in the ruin of all real sound teaching. I examined the schools in 1873 more strictly. The results realized last year were well deserved by the teachers of this district, and I venture to predict that next year unless the rate of progress expected be too rapid, the teachers of this district will reap the fruits of careful teaching.

District 32, Tuam; Mr. M'Sweeny.-The year just ended was one of Sweeny. the few happy years in the lives of the teachers. Every effort was made

to secure a

regular and punctual attendance with a view of making the AppendixD. teacher's golden number of attendances, 90.

Attendance

The teachers plainly saw that two things are required to improve their and Schoolcondition, and to improve their schools. These are skill and earnestness fees. in the discharge of their duties. Every reasonable and laudable effort was Mr. made to increase the number of attendances in the schools. For this M‘Sweeny. object Saturday was opened for secular instruction in many of the schools, and the ordinary vacations were diminished. To promote the success of the pupils at the examinations, classes were held in the teachers' apartments after school hours, and in this manner all that could have been done to improve the children and to secure regular attendance was the object of the teachers' earnest care. So far the system of examination for results has been successful, and I hope nothing shall ever arise to interfere with its usefulness, or to check the hope of fair reward which it holds out to deserving teachers.

Mr. Simpson.

Mr.

District 33, Mullingar; Mr. Simpson.-Having been little more than nine months in this district, I am not prepared to offer any remarks regarding it. District 34, Galway; Mr. Hamilton.-Very few of the ordinary rural schools of this district are largely attended, and many of them Hamilton. are most unfavourably circumstanced, situated in remote and poor localities. The schools are quite in keeping with the neighbourhoods to which they belong. The houses are mean and bad, insufficiently lighted, with damp earthen floors, and with roofs that are frequently in much need of repair. The furniture is inadequate, or badly formed, and in bad repair. Few of the teachers have had any previous training for their work, while their literary qualifications are so slender that many fail to get classed at the annual examinations. In fact, since probationers ceased to be recognised several of these schools have been closed, and at present there is little prospect of their being re-opened. But the schools of this class which continue in operation show symptoms of improvement. Although the teachers' salary is still very small, it is much larger than it was two or three years ago. No doubt, £24 is not a very large sum, but it is considerable when contrasted with £18 or £15, while the results fees form an addition of some importance, and at the same time constitute an effective stimulus. The connexion between work and wages, between labour and its legitimate reward, is felt as it was never felt before. The teacher is thus brought under the direct influence of the powerful motive of self-interest. Accordingly, except in the few cases in which the teachers are incurably indolent, or apathetic, schools, which formerly ranked very low in the scale of efficiency, have begun to improve. On the other hand, recent changes have not produced so marked an effect on schools which were formerly rated as more efficient, and perhaps the influence exerted has not been wholly must be considerably below the degree of excellence easily attainable The minimum proficiency which will secure a pass is, and under careful and efficient teaching. In former years many schools reached or approached this higher standard. The question is-Will they continue to maintain their superiority? I confess I do not think they will without some change in the mode of awarding payment for results. At present the teacher has every inducement to devote to other branches the time and skill which were formerly employed in raising the general proficiency of his pupils above the ordinary level. From a particular standpoint every hour spent in teaching any subject beyond what will secure that the pupils shall pass seems to be so much time wasted. This,

beneficial.

fees.

Mr.

Appendix D. to be sure, is not a very exalted view of the teachers' duty, but it has Attendance some important practical results. The relatively large amounts paid for and School- extra subjects, added to the fact that the teaching of them is much less irksome than the drudgery of elementary instruction in first or second class, will certainly tempt some teachers to devote an undue amount of Hamilton. time and attention to subjects with which the great majority of the pupils have no concern. If a teacher can earn more money by preparing three or four boys in extra branches than by securing intelligent reading and correct spelling on the part of four or five times that number of junior pupils he is under a strong inducement to devote himself to the work which he finds more agreeable as well as more lucrative. Add to this the fact that the pupils learning extra branches are almost certainly those who from age and social position are required to pay the highest school-fees, and it will be seen how strong is the temptation to make the advancement of the many subordinate to the interests of the few. However this state of things may affect the incomes of the teachers, it is certainly undesirable on public grounds. After all, reading, spelling, writing, and arithmetic, are the important subjects in primary schools, and a school of this class in which these subjects are efficiently taught, thereby more completely answers the purpose for which it was established than if it attained the highest success in teaching extra branches, to the neglect of the humbler, but really more essential subjects. The parents who desire to have their children taught extra branches are in general able, and should be required to pay for this instruction.

Mr.

District 35, Ballinasloe; Mr. MacMillen.-With that first educational MacMillen, requirement, the school-house, every part of this district may be said to be supplied, as there are very few townlands inconveniently distant from a National school. Under these circumstances I am surprised to find several hedge schools-mostly small-scattered through the district. The existence of these is generally ascribed by National teachers to the prejudices of the people, and to some extent correctly; still, I believe, if some of our teachers were to stand less on their dignity, and adopt a more conciliatory manner in their intercourse with the people, they would find these prejudices less deeply rooted than they now suppose, and in a little time might easily drive their more judicious rival from the field. The number of teachers who fall into the mistake of believing that they will improve their status by taking up a high position, and feigning to treat the people, the parents of their pupils, and their opinions, with indifference, is very small. Most of them, I am happy to think, are sensible men, and know the position which a man will hold in the opinion of those among whom he moves, will mainly depend on his character and attainments, and is little likely to be advanced by his asserting, in a disagreeable way, his own importance; and, while on this subject, I may discharge the agreeable duty of bearing testimony to the good behaviour of the teachers generally during the year. With very few exceptions, their conduct as citizens has been all that could be desired, Of the majority I should speak no less favourably as public officers; but, and I write it with shame, not a few showed themselves, in the matter of accounts, deficient in that high sense of honour and sterling honesty which should characterize those to whom the education of the rising generation is committed. The fines which the Commissioners inflicted to show their deep disapprobation of such conduct were in every instance merited; but I cannot help expressing my belief that, had it been announced at the commencement of the year that the names of all teachers guilty of falsifying their accounts would be liable to