attend that the school was established at the cost of trouble and expense to the Department, and now little hesitation is shown by them in repudiating their obligations to the Department and to their children. I know no remedy for such an evil except an enforcement of the compulsory clauses of the Education Act. I consider that parents who wantonly deprive their children of the benefits of education when placed within their reach, are deserving of the severest penalty that the compulsory law can inflict.

INSTRUCTION. A second year's experience of the new standards has brought the classes more into line with the work. In reading, if fewer pages were prescribed, I think greater advantages would accrue. Except in a few of the best schools, I do not find that anything approaching thoroughness in the pupils' reading and knowledge of lessons prevails. There should be time for full and careful exposition of the text, aud for cultivation of taste and expression by means of model or sample reading. I doubt if the number of pages now required will allow the average teacher to accomplish the work I describe. In some schools the Fourth and the Fifth classes read, week about, a lesson in each book, a plan that produces good results. In schools or in classes where the teachers are gifted with enthusiasm and sentiment, the reading is brought sometimes to a high degree of excellence. On the occasion of my last visit to a certain school in the district, I listened to a reading lesson given by the principal assistant to a draft of about thirty boys and girls. Throughout the whole lesson, which occupied about forty minutes, every pupil in the class, with eyes riveted on the teacher, seemed to be filled with his enthusiasm. The correctness with which they reproduced the teacher's style, and almost his tones in reading, the readiness with which they grasped the meaning and spirit of the passages read, and the keen interest exhibited in the lesson by pupils and teacher alike, were intensely edifying. It was a perfect model lesson in reading, calculated to leave lasting and beneficial impressions in the minds of the pupils. This man's style of teaching, as shown in that lesson, accounted largely, to my mind, for the excellent results which have attended his efforts in all branches of school work. Far otherwise is it in some schools where the reading, though correct and fairly fluent, is yet mechanical, cold, and dry as dust. The work in arithmetic has shown fair improvement in most schools, and sound improvement in a few. There were found fuller acquaintance with the fundamental rules, and fewer abortive attempts to cover in too short a time the entire work of the standards. Yet there are schools in the district where the mistake still occurs of trying to build up knowledge on insecure foundations. What sheer waste of time must result when the rules of discount, percentages, and advanced mensuration are undertaken by pupils who prove themselves unable to tell the value of 75 of any concrete quantity, or unable even to reduce that simple decimal to a vulgar fraction! Such was found to exist in one fairly important school, and in another school the work of triangular and rectangular areas was engaging the attention of a class who showed themselves to be ill-acquainted with the tables of long and square measures. To such schools my remarks on the subject of arithmetic as recorded in last Annual Report still apply. In the branch of mental arithmetic there was, as a rule, very noticeable improvement; there was more intelligent handling of practical problems, while the work in calculation had improved in speed and accuracy. In the geography of the Fourth class for the third half-year of enrolment, I was sometimes disappointed at the paucity of the information possessed by the classes regarding such a country as the United States of America. Some teachers, fearful, I suppose, of going too far afield, taught their pupils the name of the capital, Washington, and left untouched all reference to the larger and more important centres of settlement. It will at once be seen how incomplete would be any description of the United States that would leave out of consideration such towns as New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, New Orleans, San Francisco. I do not find that in the after parts of the standards any further reference is made to the geography of the United States, and I cannot think that, having in view the spirit of the regulation, any such incomplete knowledge as the foregoing would suffice. I am happy to say that it was only in a few schools that the teaching was carried out on such narrow lines, and that the majority of the teachers displayed "breadth of view and common sense" regarding the curriculum when applied to such a case as the geography of the United States of America. In history, the knowledge given in the lesson books, such as it is, has been fairly well "got up" by the pupils. If these lessons were collated from standard authors such as Freeman, Green, and Lecky, instead of being compiled from ill-written and untrustworthy dame school histories, the information would be more readable, more improving, and certainly more believable. In some schools the book-work in history is supplemented with valuable information gleaned from authors such as those named above, and set forth in the form of instructive and interesting oral lessons, not by task hearing. By such lessons, the study of history in our schools may fulfil its aim in "improving the understanding, amusing the fancy, and strengthening virtue." The practice of cramming children with lists of dates or mere statements of bald fact, apart from cause and effect, is of slight value in attaining the ends described in the foregoing extract. In most schools vocal music shows deterioration. The singing attempted was, as a rule, commonplace and tuneless, consisting of a few drill songs or hackneyed airs repeated ad nauseam in school after school. Among the fewschools where singing is still pleasingly and effectively taught, may be specially mentioned:-Allenstown, Mount Morgan (upper classes), North Rockhampton (boys), Mackay (girls and infants), and Port Curtis Road. In most of the remaining schools the music as taught is scarcely worthy of the name. The results in grammar show a greater variety in the different schools than those in any other subject. In a few schools the teachers were found to be ill-informed on the subject, and as a consequence the grammar was then badly taught. In the large majority of schools the results in grammar range from moderate to very fair; but in only a few of the best schools is it taught with that degree of skill and thoroughness which renders the subject of grammar a very powerful agent in mental culture. When grammar is well taught, all other intellectual branches are correspondingly well taught, and I know no other branch in the treatment of which the intellectual teacher distinguishes himself from the mechanical plodder. I think that the omission of derivation as a branch of class work is a matter for regret. Even the elementary knowledge of Latin and Greek roots acquired under the old schedule was of the greatest advantage to pupils in dealing with the meanings of words. English composition shows satisfactory improvement in many schools. One can now get from pupils two or three slates filled with sensible matter fairly well expressed, where formerly there was difficulty in getting pupils to produce more than a dozen lines in even tolerably correct English. I would urge upon teachers the desirableness of continuing their efforts in the teaching of composition, considering how indispensable in the after life of the pupil is the "art of writing well." Except in rare instances the teaching of object lessons but indifferently satisfies the aim and end of such lessons. The pupils'

knowledge of what has been taught is generally meagre and confused, thus proving that the methods of teaching such lessons have not been full, impressive, or well-ordered. For the lower classes the picture cards should be brought more into use. In only one school, Rockhampton Central (infants), is pictureteaching utilised with a high degree of success. I see no reason why pictorial illustrations should not be extensively used in most of the work connected with the teaching of object lessons. "If we have to get ideas into the mind, the best means of entry is through the gate of the eye." The most satisfactory work in the teaching of mechanics was found at the Mount Morgan school, and at the Rockhampton Central (boys) school. At Mount Morgan the lessons on physics from Grieve's text-books are taught to the girls as well as to the boys-a commendable plan when practicable, as it is in all large mixed schools. The home exercises are now much reduced in quantity, and are set more within the compass of the pupils' knowledge and understanding. The result is that the work is more carefully done, and that there is greater prospect of peace and happiness in the home lives of the children.

SPECIAL OBSERVATIONS.-For proficiency in attainments and excellence of discipline, the schools at Mount Morgan and Cawarral hold the first places. Some half-dozen other State schools in the district make fair approach to these, but none come into line with them. The worst work among the State schools was found at Coningsby. Among the Provisional schools, the one at Warden Bend showed the most progress, and was decidedly the best Provisional school examined during the year. It was fairly well approached by the Provisional schools at Mirani, Normanby Gold Field, and Grasstree. The worst Provisional schools were those at Geraldton and Mount Headlow. There is but one separate infants' school in this district, and concerning the work of this school I have to report that the results have always reached a very satisfactory standard. In the training of infants it is essential that a high degree of skill, combined with sympathy, judgment, and cheerfulness, should be possessed by those charged with the work. At each visit of inspection to the Rockhampton Central (infants) school, there is found very clear evidence of the possession of these qualities in the head mistress and her staff. In this school a beginning has been made with Kindergarten work, which gives good promise for future progress.

During the year eight Roman Catholic schools were examined. These showed a total attandance on the days of inspection of 735 pupils, detailed reports of whose work were duly forwarded to the Department.

Concerning school committees, I find little to report in justification of their existence. Only in rare instances do they visit the schools or examine the records. Mostly they are lifeless, and in some instances they afford opportunities for local busybodies to interefere unduly with the teacher's work. It will be a pity for the teacher of independent mind if ever the principles of local government extend to the control of our public schools.

(a) i.e., Children in the neighbourhood between 5 and 15 that are not educated up to the standard, and that do not attend any school,

(a) i.e., Children in the neighbourhood between 5 and 15 that are not educated up to the standard, and that do not attend any school.

NORTHERN DISTRICT.

REPORT OF MR. DISTRICT INSPECTOR GRIPP.

Brisbane, February, 1594.

Sre,-I have the bonour to submit to you the following General Report for the year 1993:—

DISTRICT.

The past year was the fourth in succession in which I was in charge of the Northern District. At the beginning of the year the boundaries of this district were slightly altered, as, owing to the gradual increase in the number of schoola, it had become impossible to visit them all. The following schools were aceorinzy transferred to Mr. Canny:-Inose in the Burdekin delta, the Roman Catholic schools in Townsville, the schools on the Herbert River, that in Cardwell and that in Geraldton.

My schools now are scattered, in many cases at wide intervals, from Thursday Island in the North to Ravenswood in the South, and from Townsville in the East to Camooweal in the West.

The total distance travelled by me during the year in the execution of my duty was 6,660 miles, of which 3.291 were by rallwa7, 1,646 by steamer, 1,637 by coach, and 96 by other means.

SCHOOLS IN OPERATION AND SCHOOL CHANGES.-The number of schools in operation during any part of the year was 70, of which 30 were State, 34 Provisional, and 6 Roman Catholic schools.

Five new schools, all Provisional, were opened during the year-viz., at Camooweal, near the South Australian boundary; at Homestead, on the Northern Railway, 45 miles west of Charters Towers; at Mareeve, the present terminus of the Cairns-Herberton Railway; at Rochford, near the Burdekin River, about midway between Charters Towers and Ravenswood; and at True Blue, on the Croydon Gold Field. A new Provisional school is in course of erection at Castleton (Big Reef), 35 miles from George

town.

An application for a Provisional school from the Coen River, Cape York Peninsula, and another from Rossville, 27 miles from Cooktown, were refused, there not being enough children in the localities mentioned. Steps have been taken to get a State school at Richmond Hill, Charters Towers. This school is very desirable, as it will tend to relieve the overcrowded central schools.

In consequence of increased attendance, the Watsonville school was restored to State school rank, but the attendance at Kuranda having fallen off, the State school there was reduced to a Provisional school, while, also on account of diminished attendance, the Thornborough Provisional school was closed, only temporarily it is to be hoped, as I believe that there are children enough on the field to maintain a school.

Seven of the Provisional schools in the district had an average attendance of over 30 during the month preceding inspection. One of these (Cloncurry) ranks as a State school from the beginning of the present year.

APPORTIONMENT OF TIME.-Excluding Sundays, Saturday half-holidays, and gazetted public holidays, there remained 276 working days in the year. Of these I spent 126 in inspecting schools, 501 in writing reports of inspections and of inquiries and in compiling my Annual Report for the previous year, 424 days in work connected with the examination of teachers, 37 in travelling, and 15 on leave of ab-ence, the remaining 34 being lost in waiting for a steamer at Thursday Island.

All the State schools, and all the Provisional schools except three-viz., those at Camooweal, Table Top, and Torrens Creek, were inspected in detail, and five State schools were visited a second time.

Camooweal had only just been established when I was in Burketown, the port from which it is reached; and Table Top and Torrens Creek were not in operation when I was in their neighbourhood.

ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS.-Of the six on my list at the end of the year four were inspected— viz., Cooktown, Cairns, Ravenswood, and Townsville West. The two schools in Charters Towers were withdrawn from inspection owing to the prevalence of measles. The Ravenswood and Townsville West schools were inspected for the first time. The latter has now been transferred to Mr. Canny's list. Examining and reporting on the 352 pupils presented in these schools occupied it all 9 days. Eight inquiries were held by me during the year in connection with the following matters :(i.) Establishment of new schools (ii) Removal of school to a different site

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At the following places for various reasons new buildings were erected to take the place of others formerly in use-Thursday Island, Carrington, Nigger Creek, and Pentland; the first a State school, the remainder Provisional schools. The new schoolhouse and the residence at Thursday Island are placed on an eminence from which a beautiful view of sea and land is obtained. The building at Carrington I have not yet seen. The Nigger Creek school is built in accordance with the departmental plans, and the school at Pentland is a better building than is required by them.

In most of the schools there is ample room for the number of children in attendance, but the following are more or less overcrowded:

In reference to the foregoing table it is necessary to state that the average attendances as given for the Charters Towers Boys, Charters Towers Girls, and the Queenton schools are below the normal average, as they refer to months during which measles were raging among the pupils.

The urgent need for adding to the accommodation for the girls and infants at Charters Towers will be apparent. It is much to be regretted that the new building for infants, plans of which were prepared early in the year, was not erected. Should the projected school at Richmond Hill be established it will relieve the central schools, but, I believe, not sufficiently so as to do away with the need for

additional accommodation there.

The necessity for enlarging the remaining six schools named in the list is not so great as in the case of the schools just mentioned, though such enlargement would add much to the health, comfort, and efficiency of those who have to work in them.

The State school buildings are on the whole in good order. The schools at Townsville West and Charters Towers (girls and infants) were painted during the year. Several others need it very much, particularly those at Cooktown and Maytown.

The ravages of the white ants in the Millchester school still continue. The original building stands on low stumps unprovided with capping except along the outside rows, and as the ants have now firmly established themselves it it, it will be an expensive matter to get rid of them, and to make such alterations as will be needed to guard against their return.

One room of the new wing at the Croydon school has no window exposed to the prevailing wind, and is thus rendered needlessly hot.

The unsatisfactory condition of a State school being held in a rented building still exists at Kamerunga.

Hatroom and lavatory accommodation was found insufficient or unsuitable at several schools, particularly at Charters Towers Girls, Charters Towers Infants, and Cooktown (boys).

Playsheds are now found in connection with nearly all State schools that require them. A new one has lately been erected at Irvinebank. At Millchester two old sheds, injured to such an extent by white ants as to render them dangerous, have been pulled down, the iron of the roofs being packed away. With this on hand, the cost of erecting one new shed should not be great. The girls' shed at Cooktown needs new seats.

The residences were generally found in good order. The one at Townsville Central school is getting old and ricketty. It was pointed out to me that some of the stumps were decayed and had sunk away from the bearers.

New closets for boys are required at Charters Towers (infants), at Craiglie, and at Townsville (girls and infants) schools.

All State schools are fairly supplied with water. At Hughenden a branch pipe has been taken into the school ground from the railway main. The water was turned off from the Charters Towers schools by order of the Waterworks Board, pending the supply of meters.

Good fences have been erected at Queenton and Black Jack. Craiglie, Irvinebank, Maytown, Montalbion, and Kuranda are still unfenced. The fences at Cairns, Cooktown, and Port Douglas need a thorough overhaul, while those at Charters Towers Boys, Charters Towers Girls, and Townsville (central) need to be replaced by suitable new ones.

The grounds were generally found to be as tidy and neat as the natural conditions would allow. Nearly all the schools were well supplied with the necessary furniture and apparatus for teaching. The articles most frequently asked for by teachers were blackboards.

PROVISIONAL SCHOOLS.-These are on the whole fairly suitable buildings. Those recently erected are much superior to such as were built in former years. During the year considerable improvements to the buildings were made at Homestead, Kirk River, Laura, Limestone, Mareeba, Marton, Reid River, Welcome Pocket, and Woodstock. The committee of the Homestead school deserve special commendation for the energy displayed in personally erecting verandas and playshed in their spare time.

The buildings at Burketown, Cloncurry, Cumberland, Thornborough, and Kingsborough were originally put up for State schools.

The Department has either contributed or promised to contribute towards the cost of erecting the following Provisional schools:-Mareeba, Pentland, True Blue, Camooweal, Nigger Creek, and Rochford, the first five to the extent of £50, the last £20.