THE Dublin (2) Limerick Waterford Mr. DICKIE: "Within a few months of the issue of the Revised Programme, most of the schools in District 29 were provided with two sets of Readers, and the teachers were doing their utmost to introduce the new subjects and methods. The Cookery training classes, held in Trim and subsequently in Oldcastle, were attended in a manner which, considering the novelty of the subject, must be considered as satisfactory, and when, at a later date, classes in Hand-and-Eye instruction were established in Navan and Oldcastle, the anxiety of teachers to attend was so great that the meetings were quite overcrowded. A still more marked evidence of desire to improve is to be found in the fact that the Meath teachers, at their own expense, started classes in Physical Drill at the same two towns. "I may here remark that the efforts made by these teachers to introduce the New Programme are all the more praiseworthy as, in the great majority of cases, the expense entailed had to be met by the teachers themselves." Mr. NEWELL:- "The great majority of the teachers I have met during the year appear most anxious to work the New Code effectively. Most of them are energetic and intelligent, and interested in the welfare of their pupils. By all the substitution of the New for the Old Code was received with satisfaction. "In a few of the subjects some of the teachers are themselves only moderately proficient, but a very general desire to make good this shortcoming is strongly in evidence. As regards Singing, Drawing, Manual Instruction, Science, and Cookery, for instance, they have frequently travelled long distances, and at considerable expense, to try and improve themselves. The organisers' classes have been generally well attended, and in several cases also, when regular organisers were not available, teachers have arranged with some competent persons in their own localities for private instruction in the branches referred to." Mr. M'ALISTER:— "The great majority of the teachers whose schools I visited continue to perform the duties assigned to them with regularity and care. With few exceptions, the various changes in the programme in English and Arithmetic were subjected to intelligent consideration, and methods of instruction were modified to suit them. A teacher might misinterpret, or misunderstand, a minor point; but the general scheme was understood, and its freedom welcomed. Men who had worked under a rigid system as machines, found themselves at last obliged to think and act for themselves. "The teachers of County Wexford were fortunate in the early opportunities afforded them of acquiring some working knowledge of the new subjects of the Programme. Classes of instruction in Cookery, Tonic Solfa, Hand-and-Eye, and Science, have been in operation in Wexford, Enniscorthy, New Ross, and Newtownbarry. A most laudable anxiety was shown to take full advantage of the lectures; long drives did not deter the teachers; extra work and personal expense was disregarded; it was, as a rule, only those not summoned who professed a grievance. Several teachers in the neighbourhood of the town of Wexford formed a class among themselves for drill and calisthenics. TEACHERS. "I was able to attend some of the official classes at their inauguration, THE and once or twice throughout the course, and at all my visits, was im pressed by the orderly manner in which they were conducted, and by Waterford the regularity of attendance. "Lectures in Cookery and Singing were given in Newtownbarry and Wexford in the winter of 1900-1901; examinations were held at the completion of the courses, and in all schools where the teachers satisfied Mr. Goodman, singing has been started; the result in the case of Cookery has not been so satisfactory. The initial expense of apparatus, the difficulty of providing material, are alleged in explanation of delay. "In, I think, all the Convent schools in this county the senior girls, at all events, are receiving regular instruction in this most important subject, though I have not yet found Laundry taught. "Teachers in attendance at Hand-and-Eye and Drawing Classes appear, in general, to grasp the method of Mr. Bevis with fair facility, and at most of my inspections, where the subject had been introduced, I found evidence of a successful start in Paper-folding, and in what, for convenience sake, I may call Newer Drawing.' "The course in Elementary Science presents more difficulty to the older teachers among the men, and perhaps to the female teachers generally." Mr. COYNE:- Circuit. District. "The average educational standard is not high, yet there are few Cork (1) schools in which useful work is not being done. The teachers manifest Circuit and a laudable desire to discharge their school duties well, and I found Cavan them always willing to act upon suggestions. Nearly all endeavour to work in the spirit of the Revised Programme; this I know from the little conferences I used to hold with them after the completion of my examination or inspection. "A course of lessons in Singing, on the Tonic Sol-fa system, was given in Cavan in May last by one of the Board's sub-organisers, and was attended by about thirty teachers. These introduced singing into their schools at once. A course of instruction in Cookery and Laundry, and a course in Hand-and-Eye (Paper-folding and Drawing), given at Oldcastle, were attended by most of the teachers of schools convenient to that centre. Paper-folding and Drawing were at once introduced into their schools by these teachers, but owing to want of equipment, Cookery was taken up in only three schools, as mentioned above." Mr. CUSSEN :— "As a rule, the teachers possess considerable intelligence and are Cork (2) fitted for their office. The number of incompetent teachers is not Circuit. large; but many are rendered less useful than they ought to be by engaging in outside pursuits. "Nearly all the teachers incurred expense (sometimes considerable) in providing their schools with materials and themselves with the books required for the new subjects, and in securing instruction in drill, singing, &c., where necessary." Mr. M'ENERY : แ Speaking generally, I found the teachers zealous, earnest, and con- Clonmel scientious in their work, anxious to improve, willing to take upon Circuit. themselves extra trouble, and not slow to utilize the good features of THE Clonmel Waterford Killarney the new methods. There is also evidence of a gradually developing disposition among teachers to keep themselves prepared for their daily work. Teachers' note-books are more in evidence, work is frequently found written on the black boards, and all arrangements completed be fore the regular work of the day begins, whilst pupils' exercises appear more systematically and carefully corrected than was the case heretofore. I admire the way the teachers as a body faced the additional work imposed upon them by the new system, and I believe, that in the end, the preparation made for this work and the effort made to overtake it will prove in every way beneficial to them. I find that the good teachers regard the new system with much favour, as it allows them greater freedom to follow their own methods and devices, and renders it possible for the work of their schools to be carried on upon more truly educational lines. "Regarding the work done in schools as a whole, there is, I think, much real ground for satisfaction. ' Mr. P. J. FITZGERALD : The excep "The teachers are for the most part fit for the office. tions are not numerous, and these are being gradually reduced in number. They are highly esteemed by their Managers and respected by the parents whose children they educate. They set a good example of punctuality, and in many cases keep their schools well. They are, however, sometimes too tolerant of slovenliness and untidiness on the part of their pupils. "Evidences of the desire on the part of the teachers to equip themselves for the introduction of the new subjects are abundant. They have cheerfully responded to the summonses to attend the organizers' classes, often at inconvenience and expense. They have come long distances in cold weather at late hours, and have forfeited their wellearned leisure ungrudgingly on Saturdays. "The members of the Coachford National Teachers' Association engaged the services of experts in music and drill, and even attended classes in Manual Training conducted by some of the teachers who were summoned to the first course of lectures in this subject in Dublin. "The promptitude with which the teachers of the Mill-street District responded to an invitation to meet and discuss new methods of teaching the New Programme in English and Arithmetic, afforded me ample proof of the deep interest they take in their work, and convinced me that if the Revised Programme does not achieve all that is expected from it, its failure to reach expectations cannot be attributed to apathy, much less hostility, on the part of the teachers." Mr. WELPLY : "As a rule, the teachers are fairly competent. Within so large an area as I have traversed during the year one would, as a matter of course, meet with teachers who, from various causes, such as advancing years, want of skill, or even sheer neglect, do not discharge their duties adequately; but, with very few exceptions, they have endeavoured to adapt themselves to the conditions of the New Programme, and some have expended considerable energy and incurred no little expense in their efforts to teach the new subjects efficiently." Mr. LYNAM : 66 THE Speaking generally, the teachers are quite fit for their office. Many would be a credit to any profession. Those who, either by their Cork Circuit. moral character or by their intellectual or social characteristics could be described as unfit, form a smaller proportion of the whole than would probably be found in any other profession in this country. "Of their own initiative, the teachers have formed classes for themselves and engaged experts in Singing and Physical Drill; and they have attended the sub-organizer's classes, where such were established, at enormous inconvenience to themselves." Mr. M'MILLAN :— Circuit. "The great majority of the teachers are conscientious and hardwork- Castlebar ing, many being, indeed, highly competent, and, in the face of numerous difficulties, accomplishing very successful work. Except in one or two instances, the teachers in this district have had as yet no opportunity of being trained in the most important branches of the new work, but all are, I believe, desirous of becoming qualified as soon as may be. A teachers's class for improvement in Drill was held in the Ballina Boys' School, and was of much assistance to those who attended it. A number of teachers attended at Swinford the classes held by Mr. Robinson, a sub-organizer of Singing sent round by the Commissioners, while others who have not had such opportunities are striving to fit themselves to give instruction in Singing. Only a small proportion of the teachers are regularly qualified in Freehand Drawing, but many have taken it up, and I have seen some very fair pattern copies done on the blackboard by teachers." "The teachers made an earnest effort to introduce the new sub- Portarlington Circuit. jects. "They had not the advantage of attending classes in the special branches; but by studying journals, by discussions at their associations, or by hints.gained from any quarter, they endeavoured to familiarise themselves with the new subjects." Mr. MANGAN : "As evidence of the desire to improve, I may mention that the Ballinasloe female teachers round Loughrea and Portunina attend on Saturdays Circuit. at the Convents there to get instruction from the Nuns in Singing. Classes have been formed in Athlone by the teachers in the vicinity for learning Drill. They have done this at a good deal of inconvenience and some expense.” MONITORS. The general opinion of the Inspectors seems to be that monitors are MONITORS. not sufficiently trained in the practice of teaching, but that the instruction given to them is adequate and efficient. A large proportion of monitors are, however, defeated in the competition for King's Scholarship. This is not as it should be. Monitors, if carefully selected, and well instructed during their five year's course, should beat all other candidates and be the best subjects for the Training Colleges. Otherwise there are no grounds for keeping up the monitorial staff. For the mere sake of assistance in the schools the money spent on MONITORS. Killarney Castlebar Cork (2) Limerick Dublin (2) monitors might easily be better employed. It is very undesirable that On this topic Mr. HYNES says: "The successful training of monitors has long been a marked feature of the work done in Kerry schools, and there seems to be no tendency towards falling off. A healthy spirit of emulation is excited by the competition for the Reid Prizes, twelve in number, amounting in the total to £205, awarded annually to the best answerers amongst the male monitors of the Third and the Fifth years of service." Mr. M'CLINTOCK : "The thirty-five monitors examined by me in District 47 were, with three exceptions, very well prepared as a rule. The manner in which the practical test was performed, though satisfactory in some cases, admitted of considerable improvement. I have not yet examined any of the twenty monitors in the part of Mayo under my immediate charge, but the time-table arrangements for their instruction in the schools I have visited are satisfactory, and the teachers appear to be doing their duty conscientiously towards them. The only pupil-teachers were two employed in the Kilkenny Model School. Their training was good." Mr. C. SMITH : "So far as I can see, teachers discharge with very fair success their duties in connection with the literary instruction of their monitors, but I do not think that either sufficient care or labour is bestowed on the practical training of monitors in the art of teaching." Mr. DALTON :- "The teachers, as a rule, devote a good deal of care and attention to the training of their monitors, and I do not often find instances of negligence or remissness in the discharge of this important branch of their duties." Mr. CONNELLY : "Monitors generally contemplate entering a Training College. They should, I think, be given the preference over extern candidates for Training Colleges. The object of the Commissioners in appointing monitors is to enable them to prepare for teacherships, and So, I presume, keep up the supply. If, in spite of sufficient merit, and five years' practical experience, such as it is, in helping to teach a school, they are passed over in favour of others who, though they have been able to score a higher percentage, yet have had no practical knowledge of the working of a school, then the labour and money bestowed upon their five years' training is wasted." |