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1. Exam time - school inspector’s reminder of the Eketahuna School’s syllabus of work

This week we are celebrating the start of the new school year with a selection of records we hold relating to school life. Some will be presented on Flickr and some on Youtube, where we'll have great film footage to share later in the week.

When Mr Robert Lee visited Eketahuna School on 6 April 1892 he was given a list of the school’s syllabus of work. As one of two school inspectors for the Wellington Education District, the purpose of his visit was to conduct the annual examination of the school’s pupils. The list, mostly likely drawn up by the head teacher, Mr T. Bennett, identified the subjects, and the various topics covered within those subjects, that each class had been taught during the school year to date.

At this time in New Zealand’s education history school attendance was only compulsory for children between the ages of seven and 13, and free education was only provided at public primary schools. Pupils at every public primary school were divided into Standard Classes. The initial division was Preparatory and Class, with pupils in preparatory classes preparing for Class 1 (also known as Standard 1 (NZ’s current Year 3 equivalent)).

The syllabus was made up of: pass subjects, for which each pupil was examined individually; class subjects, for which each standard class was examined as a group by the inspector; and additional subjects, which were optional subjects a school could choose to teach and which were examined in the same manner as class subjects. To pass a class subject or additional subject each pupil had to be present in the standard class when the inspector examined it on the subject.

Why was the inspector examining the Eketahuna School pupils so early in the school year? The syllabus of work for public schools was set by the New Zealand Educational Institute, based on regulations drawn up by the Department of Education. On 12th October 1891 an Order in Council had prescribed a change to the syllabus. This was followed by a 6th January 1892 Order in Council which directed inspectors to conduct their examinations of schools during the 1st six months of 1892 so pupils had the opportunity of passing their Standards as they were taught based on the previous syllabus. Hence the early exam date!

The Eketahuna School pupils would have been examined as per the previous (16 June 1885) regulations. Under these regulations pass subjects for Standard 3 (NZ’s current Year 5 equivalent) included: Reading - Easy reading book, to be read fluently and intelligently, with knowledge of the meanings of the words, and with due regard to the distinction of paragraphs as well as of sentences. Arithmetic - Numeration and notation generally (one billion being taken as the second power of one million, one trillion the third power, and so on); long multiplication and long division; the four money rules, excepting long multiplication of money; tables of money, avoirdupois weight, and long measure; and easy money problems in mental arithmetic . Geography - The names and positions of the chief towns of New Zealand; the principal features of the district in which the school is situated; names and positions of Australian Colonies and their capitals; of the countries and capitals of Europe; of mountains forming the water-sheds of continental areas; and of celebrated rivers. Under the 1885 regulations, class subjects for Standard 5 (NZ’s current Year 7 equivalent) included: English History - The period from 1485 A.D. to 1714 A.D., and the leading events of the period known in connection with the reigns and centuries to which they belong, and in their own character. [Precise dates will not be required, though a knowledge of them may assist in referring each event to the proper reign.] Pupils may also have been taught, and examined on, the following additional subjects: Recitation, Singing, Needlework and Drill, Extra Drawing. These papers come from the Class schedules – 1892 M-P file created by the Wellington Education Board. The file is part of the Class schedules series of records containing class examination reports and school inspection reports for schools in the Wellington Education district, from about 1885 to about 1909. Archives Reference: ADEX 16412 EB-W8 6 / 13 www.archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=11820647 See also: ““The Education Act, 1877."-Inspection of Schools and Standards of Education.” (14 October 1891) 75 New Zealand Gazette 1121 “Regulation for the Inspection of Schools.” (7 January 1892) 1 New Zealand Gazette 2 ““The Education Act, 1877."-Inspection of Schools and Standards of Education.” (18 June 1885) 39 New Zealand Gazette 772

Stay tuned to our Twitter account for more updates on this special series of tweets and our On This Day in history segment: Follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/ArchivesNZ For further enquiries regarding school records, please email Research.Archives@dia.govt.nz