I became greatly impressed by the inspectors as I read their comprehensive reports. Much of the credit for the quality of our schools goes to them. Mr Henry Hill (Hawkes Bay), Mr Vereker-Bindon (Whanganui), Mr. P. Goyen (Dunedin), Mr Smith (Westland), Mr Robert Lee (Wellington) and Mr W.L. Edge in North Canterbury all make an apperance in this episode. Others such as the wonderfully named Mr Ponsonby Peacocke appear in later episodes.
The inspectors investigated every area of school life including teaching methods, the syllabuses for each subject, and the school's moral tone. They addressed the girls' attendance problem and children's excessive work, especially the hours and energy required in milking cows. They had no hesitation in blaming neglectful and ignorant parents and unintelligent teachers. But there was encouragement too. Good-attendance certificates were awarded for regular attendance. Teachers were helped with sound advice about effective teaching methods.
Discipline concentrated on self-discipline. Self-respect, honour, behaving well, knowing right from wrong, and moral tone were encouraged. Teachers' discipline was to be firm but mild. The inspectors disapproved of undue harshness and certainly of food wastage.
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Professor Elizabeth Rata is a sociologist of education in the School of Critical Studies, Faculty of Education and Social Work at the University of Auckland where she is Director of the Knowledge in Education Research Unit (KERU).
The inspectors investigated every area of school life including teaching methods, the syllabuses for each subject, and the school's moral tone. They addressed the girls' attendance problem and children's excessive work, especially the hours and energy required in milking cows. They had no hesitation in blaming neglectful and ignorant parents and unintelligent teachers. But there was encouragement too. Good-attendance certificates were awarded for regular attendance. Teachers were helped with sound advice about effective teaching methods.
Discipline concentrated on self-discipline. Self-respect, honour, behaving well, knowing right from wrong, and moral tone were encouraged. Teachers' discipline was to be firm but mild. The inspectors disapproved of undue harshness and certainly of food wastage.
Click to view
Professor Elizabeth Rata is a sociologist of education in the School of Critical Studies, Faculty of Education and Social Work at the University of Auckland where she is Director of the Knowledge in Education Research Unit (KERU).
3 comments:
I remember being inspected - pretty scary, but a time when we were all serious about the need to maintain the attention of the children, acknowledge that they would learn at variable rates , but learn they would.
I remember the teachers at my primary school in Auckland in the 60s being very jumpy when inspectors came. They expected us to be on our very best behaviour and heaven help any kid who stepped out of line as that would be a bad reflection of that particular teacher.
I lived in Dunedin 1950-60s, with my grandparents , who were born in the late 19th Century, My grandmother was of Scottish descent and like me she attended Otago Girls High. She was the first NZ woman to gain entrance to the Medical School but she couldn't take it up because of the fees. To her laziness was a terrible sin, as was doing your job poorly or failing to study hard. This was the famous Calvinist /Protestant world view of work ethic of Scottish Education transferred into NZ schools and society. My school reports had a section entitled diligence. My Grandfather, a Methodist, was a school inspector and travelled around Otago schools on a motorbike .He was a strict class disciplinarian but emphasized his visiting schools was more to be helpful and give guidance to teachers than judge them. His school Mosgiel District High School was described in local historical documents in the 1930s as following Scottish traditions but actually true of all NZ schools at the time.
I believe earlier NZ education cannot be described fully ,without mentioning the Scottish influence .I am becoming aware this appears to be a general NZ academic oversight , I don't fully understand.
The Scottish 'love of work for its own sake ' created a classroom environment where diligence , moral rectitude , efficiency and delayed gratification were actively preached, by teachers. This Scottish obsession with education was the expression of their social justice with individuals being considered equal and with the expectation they could all succeed regardless of social status. Compare this with much English heritage with the wealthy taught they were born to rule and the poor taught to accept their station
Gaynor.
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