Appendix D. The first six are purely rural schools; the sixth a town school. Rural Attendance schools for boys present no instance of success approaching to that of the aud School- girls' schools named above; indeed, the growing ascendency of the feminine element in the schools of this district is worthy of particular notice.

fees.

Dr. MacSheehy,

Mr. Coyle.

There are now twenty country National schools for boys and girls, taught by females, the boys living near these having no "male" National school within ordinary distances.

In the district recruiting for vacancies in the rank of master is an utter failure. During the last two years the district has supplied only two new male, as against ten new female principal teachers. In the same period thirteen classed schoolmasters came from other districts, but it is remarkable that six of those have already left the district.

Further, I have at present no male, nine female first class paid monitors; no male, ten female second class monitors, for final examination, being in their fourth year of service.

Of 113 male paid monitors nominated by me in this district only 7 are now serving as teachers (3 principals, and 4 assistants), and, I believe, not one of the number is in the Board's service elsewhere; 29 are still serving as monitors, 12 of them reckoning less than a year's service. While the females are hopeful, and apparently contented, the majority of the masters seem to be still dissatisfied and restless, and I apprehend that it will not be in the Commissioners' power to offer such further inducements as might enlist in the service an adequate number of young men, suitable in intelligence and physique, and drawn from "strata" of the humbler class, equally respectable with those which furnish our female teachers.

The state of circumstances to which I have adverted is, I believe, common to very many Irish school districts; and since it is thus probable that the instruction of both sexes will before many years elapse fall mainly into the hands of females, it appears to be a question worthy of serious consideration whether the Commissioners should not follow the example set by the Universities in encouraging young women to study advanced arithmetic, geometry, &c., so that since they do, and will, teach boys, they may be qualified to do so with thorough efficiency.

District 41, Portarlington; Mr. Coyle.-Considering the circumstances of the people, the high rate of wages, causing land occupiers to employ their children in agricultural business, and causing the labouring classes to seek employment for their children in the same pursuit, I think the condition of the schools satisfactory. The struggle for a livelihood is great, yet the desire for knowledge, which the poorest have, induces an effort to give the children some chance of school instruction. The duty of parents is rarely evaded, except in towns.

There is an opportunity for all-the very poorest to get a fair elementary education, the schools being widely spread and evenly scattered over the district, the school books and stationery being cheap, and well supplied, and the charge for admission not too high for a pauper, or, in too many instances, not exacted at all.

Many of the male teachers are not sufficiently qualified, and the salaries given are not likely to diminish the number, but, at the same time, it must be admitted that it is the National League, and not the Government, that has failed on the point. The agitation on this subject is supported and advanced by several parties, whose patronage as a class is not on a par with their fervid eloquence; who exhibit generosity and patriotism in urging claims that cannot be entertained. If Ireland

wants to pay the teachers adequately, Ireland ought to contribute the Appendix D. funds.

Attendance

fees.

The teachers are not properly paid, and while that is the case men of and Schoolability will shun teaching; but the deficiency should be remedied by increased local contributions.

District 42, Gort; Mr. Nicholls.-(a.) The attendance shows an im- Mr. provement on 1872, but does not equal that of 1871.

Nicholls.

(b.) During the year ended the 31st March, 1874, I examined for results 105 schools, poor law union schools not included. The following table contains a summary of the results examinations in my district :—

The amount earned for each pupil examined varied from 2s. 1d. to 98. 5d. The latter amount was attained at Ruan. The next in order of success was Tulla F., where 88. 24d. was the average fee earned. The following schools earned more than 78. for each pupil examined :— Bodyke F., Killaloe M., O'Callaghan's Mills F., and Tulla M. (c.) The school-fees are slowly increasing, as the following return will show:

(d.) The progress made in reading and writing since the introduction of payments by results, has been very great. In spelling there has also been a considerable improvement; but in arithmetic and grammar the teachers generally have not achieved a success commensurate with their exertions. They do not as a class appear to have recognised it to be their duty and interest not merely to study these subjects, but also to study how to teach them. It is true that when a schoolmaster loves the labour of instructing, and is in earnest, he by teaching learns how to teach-but after how many errors made, how much time lost to instructor and instructed! Unfortunately, the opposition of the Roman Catholic clergy to their teachers attending the Training School is likely long to retard the professional improvement of the latter in this district.

(e.) There is no change in the general character of the management of the schools. As before, the real management generally devolves upon the Inspector, except in the matter of religious instruction. Very

Appendix D. few cases occur in which the manager exercises a vigilant and efficient Attendance supervision over his schools.

and Schoolfees.

District 43, Thurles; Mr. D'Arcy.-The literary condition of the National schools in this district gives evidence of steady progress. All Mr. D'Arcy. the children of the poorer and middle classes, with some few exceptions, are now attending these schools, and are receiving a sound and useful education.

Mr. Adair.

The position of the teachers is much improved; the substantial increase to their incomes arising from results fees, has enabled them to make their homes more comfortable, and consequently they discharge their duties with increased zeal and efficiency.

The results examinations have been attended with good effects; they have induced managers and teachers to make more exertion in securing regularity of attendance on the part of pupils; they have led to the teachers lending all their energies to the preparation of their classes, and they also have promoted a healthy emulation among the children.

District 44, Athy; Mr. Adair.-There are in my district in all 104 schools, with 103 roll numbers-one of the schools is an evening school, with the same roll number as the day school. One of the schools is on the suspended list, the attendance having fallen so low as not to warrant payment of salary to the teacher, but as the school is a vested one, it is still retained on the roll.

My district embraces a portion of four counties-Kildare, Kilkenny, Queen's, and Wicklow. The average distance of the schools from my centre is fourteen miles. They are all under clerical management, except the Athy Model Schools, and four others.

From 1st April, 1873, till 31st March last, I examined for results 101 schools. Three of the entire in my district were not eligible for such an examination, one being closed, and two, in which the accounts had not been kept for a sufficient length of time, new schools.

In general I found all things in connexion with the schools fairly satisfactory, the necessary forms in readiness, and made out with neatness and accuracy. I am sorry to say, however, that in a few instances wilful falsification of accounts was discovered, both by the Head Inspector and myself. I hope and trust, and have reason to believe, that in future we shall have few such cases to report. The punishment inflicted upon those found guilty will serve as a salutary warning both to themselves and others. I say to "others," because I find such matters get abroad in the neighbourhood of the schools, though the Inspector may have said. nothing about them.

I am happy to say that in holding the results examinations during the year I have not been in the least interfered with by any one. The teachers and managers have invariably left me to myself in determining whether the answering merited a "pass" or not.

On the whole, I have to say the schools in my district are in a healthy state. Without doubt, the system of results has given a stimulus to the teachers, and will improve the quality of the attendance in the schools. I do not anticipate that it will very materially increase the aggregate number of school-going children to be found in the schools, but it will very much increase the aggregate attendances of those who do go to school. I have found an improvement in the condition of the school-houses and premises during the past year, and I attribute this very much to the foreseen visit of the Inspector, and even a good "doing up" of the premises once a year is something. I am glad to say that not one teacher in this district has to pay rent for the schoolhouse; but I should like to see more schools locally endowed. Of this

class there are very few indeed, and these few endowments amount to Appendix D. but a small sum in the aggregate.

Attendance

In almost all cases the school-room accommodation as to area of floor and Schoolis sufficient. There are a few schools in which it is not adequate, but fees. with respect to two of these I have every hope that suitable new houses Mr. Adair. will soon be built.

In many of the schools the furniture and fittings are far from what it is desirable, and even necessary they should be. It is not every manager that will purchase maps, diagrams, black-boards, &c., when they are needed, and provide suitable desks instead of bad ones, and it is hard to insist on the teachers doing this out of their limited means.

I have found the schools, with very few exceptions, fairly or well supplied with books and other requisites for sale to the pupils. The teachers now find that without these things they cannot get on.

District 45, Ennis; Mr. Loughnan.-The general condition of the Mr. schools in this district may on the whole be characterized as satisfactory. Loughnan. An increasing interest in their welfare is evidenced by managers and parents, and the spirit is extending itself to the children, whose improved attendance in many localities is very marked. Thatched and clayfloored cabins are rapidly giving way to slated, ceiled, and comfortably boarded school-houses. During the past year five new schools have come into operation; of these, one is vested in the Commissioners, and three in trustees. They are all commodious and excellent houses, and already command a large and increasing attendance.

The teachers have discharged their duties during the past year with exemplary assiduity and very fair success. The departures from rule and serious breaches of discipline which have come under my notice, and which from time to time have been reported for the information of the Commissioners, were few. The estimation in which the teachers of this district as a body are held, and the appreciation of their services by their neighbours and the public may be inferred from the fact that only in three instances were charges imputing to them neglect of duty, preferred, and these on investigation proved to be of a frivolous nature, originating in other than bona fide motives, and hardly calling for the interference of the Board.

This state of things goes far to show the approval entertained of the present educational system as administered in Ireland, and proves that locally at least its merits and the rules, subject to which its requirements are carried out, are both recognised and acceptable.

So far,

District 46, Tipperary. No report. Inspector not long enough in district. District 47, Kilkenny; Mr. Molloy.-Having taken up the inspection Mr. Molloy. of the schools of this district only nine months ago, I am not at present in a position to speak with confidence of their condition. however, as I have had an opportunity of observing, I may state that the schools in the city of Kilkenny are on the whole efficiently conducted. A similar statement may be made of about two-thirds of the remaining schools of the district. Of late a marked impetus to primary education here has been given by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Ossory, Most Rev. Dr. Moran, who takes the deepest interest in the well-being of the schools. In his mensal parish he has lately expended nearly a thousand pounds in the erection and furnishing of a splendid building containing school-rooms, which in size and equipment surpass many of the Board's Model Schools. In other instances throughout the district exertion is being made to erect new buildings or improve the condition of the existing school fabrics.

Appendix D.

District 48, Youghal; Mr. Harkin.-As I did not enter upon the Attendance inspection of this district until the end of July last, I am not in a and School- position to give anything like a full statement of its condition. Judging, fees. however, by the increase made by results fees upon the previous year, Mr. Harkin, in all the schools I have examined, I am led to conclude that satisfactory progress is being made.

Mr. Lane.

Mr. J. G.

District 49, Waterford; Mr. Lane.-The schools of this district are of the average kind; a few only receive local contributions, and, with few exceptions, the managers are the only local co-operators or encouragers. There is a very slight diminution in the average attendance, and in the payment of school-fees, as compared with last year.

The system of results has rendered the teachers less liable to change, and has acted as a stimulus to more exertion on their part, and to a better condition of the schools generally.

District 50, Enniscorthy; Mr. J. G. FitzGerald.—The introduction FitzGerald. of the system of payment by results has had the effect of causing a more regular attendance of scholars at the National schools in this district. Both managers and teachers have more earnestly employed their influence to that end; but I regret to have to say that in some cases the introduction of the system has been the cause of diminishing the teachers' school-fees-cases having come under my notice of parents altogether objecting to the payment of fees, alleging that "the teacher is paid twice"-i.e., by salary and results fees.

Dr. Potterton.

Mr. Steede.

A want sadly felt in the district is that of suitable residences for the teachers, unprovided except in a very few cases.

I am glad to be in a position to state that the general conduct of the teachers in the district, and their discipline, is entirely satisfactory.

District 51, Limerick; Dr. Potterton.-The general condition of the schools in this district has not yet, as regards no inconsiderable proportion of them, attained to any very creditable standard; but, as compared with their general condition in former years, I can confidently notice a reasonable share of progress. The buildings are kept in better repair, the furniture in many cases has been much improved, the supply of requisites for sale to the pupils has been generally well sustained, and the supply of maps or other permanent requisites also shows a growing disposition to keep the schools adequately equipped. Again, as regards the diligence, faithfulness, and efficiency of the teaching staff, I had but in very few instances to draw the attention of the Office to any deficiency or neglect, and even then it was very rarely indeed for any at all serious delinquency. I may just observe in conclusion, that in no instance did the intimation of official displeasure exceed a mere reprimand for the past and admonition for the future.

District 52, Newcastle; Mr. Steede.-The introduction of the system of supplementing the salaries of teachers by results fees, consequent on an annual examination of the pupils of their schools, has furnished a motive to teachers for continued attention to the interests of their pupils and zealousness in the discharge of their duties, which merely penal action could never have effected. As a proof of this, I have known in many cases the elder pupils to have been detained in school after the junior classes had been discharged for the day, in order either to give them further instruction in an ordinary subject of the school programme, in which they might be backward, or a lesson in an extra branch, for which the teacher expected payment on the result of their