Dame Elizabeth Rata: Episode 5 - School Property, Attendance And Discipline 1877-1899

In the video below Episode 5 is about how school inspectors, parents, and teachers contributed to setting up an entire national system in an under-developed land. The inspectors wrote vivid descriptions of crowded classrooms, poor ventilation, grounds covered with logs. They also described saddle sheds, sanitation, attractive school grounds and gardens. Children's nourishment and health was a major concern with strong connections forged between the systems of public education and public health.

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).