Evening schools.

Quality the work,

Mr. Harvey:

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Evening schools are still flourishing, but the attendance is disappointing Large numbers give in their names, but either do not put in an appearance at all or attend with great irregularity. It is curious to note that in some country districts evening schools commence with much vigour, then die down in two or three years, but make their appearance again after the lapse of a few seasons. One session satisfies the aspirations of many who begin with enthusiasm. This is to be regretted, as the teachers complain that each year it is the same old drill at elementary work with scholars who have fallen below Standard V. mark, instead of progressive and more advanced study with pupils who have attended for several years. The greater freedom of the curriculum has increased the popularity of the evening classes. Shorthand is a great favourite, with the idea, no doubt, that proficiency in this subject is a special recommendation for gaining admission to a legal or mercantile office. Comparatively few, however, gain practical command of shorthand."

Mr. Waddell :

"While I have personally visited several of the evening continuation schools, and been, as a rule, favourably impressed by what I saw, it is my assistant, Mr. Wilson, who has as usual overtaken by far the greater part of the work connected with them. From the detailed and interesting report which he has drawn up I make the following extracts :

'As to the quality of the work, reading appeared to make least headway, probably because too little time was devoted to the practice of a branch in which the pupils never at any time showed special aptitude, or because of the difficulty experienced in the selection of suitable text-books. The greatest inducement to read occurred in connexion with periodical school newspapers and standard works of fiction, both of which proved sufficiently attractive if not always adequately instructive. It was seldom that arithmetic was practised more elementary than that required of the 5th Standard in the day school. The prescription of the 5th and 6th Standards was prevalent, rules in advance of this being taught under the name of higher arithmetic, which, however, has not yet attained the place which it deserves in the evening school curriculum. Composition and penmanship made good progress, the elements of the former being dealt with more methodically than hitherto, and the latter being more and more viewed as imparting an appropriate finish to good sentence-making. As a rule, all the specific subjects were well taught to appreciative classes. Such branches as book-keeping and shorthand made good progress. Languages were confined to a few schools and to a limited number of pupils. Owing to the fact that they were generally being studied for a particular reason, they almost invariably showed well. In no case was this more obvious than in Alloa Academy, where French and German were practically taught by a master able to converse in both of these languages. The number of classes and pupils receiving instruction in cookery has increased.""

GENERAL REPORT, for the Year 1895, by T. A. STEWART, ESQ.,
M.A., LL.D., one of Her Majesty's Chief Inspectors, on the
SCHOOLS in the NORTHERN DIVISION of SCOTLAND.

MY LORDS,

Aberdeen, January 1896.

I HAVE the honour to present my report on the Northern Division of Scotland.

SCHOOL SUPPLY.

At

In the city of Aberdeen the projected work as sketched in last year's City. report is fully before the board, and steps are being taken to have it completed. It has been decided to place the important enlargement and reconstruction of St. Paul Street Public School in the forefront. considerable expense a neighbouring church has been acquired, the removal of which will provide space for suitable playgrounds in a very congested quarter of the city. The plans for new schools at Westfield, Kittybrewster, and Old Aberdeen have been prepared and submitted to the Department. A large school at Torry is in course of erection. Hanover Street School is to be enlarged, and the remodelling of St. Clement Street School is also under consideration. When these schemes have been carried out it may be said that the school supply of Aberdeen is on a satisfactory footing for the time, and afterwards only the increase of population in this prosperous city will require to be met by the construction of new buildings.

Maryculter.

In the county of Aberdeen handsome new schools with modern fur- County. nishings and appliances have been erected at Tarland and at the Bridge of Don. The school at Maud Junction will soon be ready for occupation, and when it is completed two of the worst of the obsolete school Sir William Cunliffe Brooks, Bart., of buildings will be blotted out. Glentana, with splendid generosity, has agreed to build a school and Glentana. schoolhouse at his own expense cn a site also granted by him, and doubtless the character of the buildings will be worthy of the munificence that brings them into existence. At Maryculter two of the schools have been enlarged and reconstructed in excellent fashion. Peterculter. At Peterculter, handsome new building on an excellent site will soon be ready for use, but at Cults, action appears to have ceased At New Deer a new infant New Deer. owing to some difficulty about a site. school has been built, and the public school has been remodelled internally, while a dwelling-house for the teacher has been supplied. Important structural alterations or additions have occurred at Rathen, Sandhaven, Ellon, Methlick, Kintore, Kemnay, Inverurie (where the Market Place School has been doubled in size so as to contain the pupils attending the West High Street School, which will now be used as an infant school), Kirkhill, Torphins, Huntly R.C., Lesmore, Garlogie, and Forgue (where practically a new school has been provided). Nothing as yet has been done at Kinnoir and Kildrummy. A very fine structure has been erected beside the Gordon Schools, Huntly. Huntly. It is to be devoted entirely to the teaching of secondary subjects. In

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many other cases the internal accommodation has been improved by modern fittings and furnishings, pianos, pictures, apparatus for science teaching, drill, &c., &c., with the effect of transforming dingy and dismal Unsatisfactory rooms into centres of light and attraction. There still linger some buildings. unsatisfactory premises which one drops on occasionally with a feeling of surprise that they have been tolerated so long by parents and school boards, but it would almost seem that unless Her Majesty's Inspector attacks the buildings they are allowed to go on however ripe for demolition they may be.

Aberlour.

Mr. Macleod:-
:-

"The premises in several schools have been enlarged since I wrote my previous report. Increased attendance necessitated some of the enlargements, and others were made for new secondary departments. The schools to which the principal extensions have been made are Milne's Institution, Fochabers, Rothes, Grantown, Plockton, Achtercairn, and Inverasdale Public Schools. "The situation of the Auldearn School, or rather of the building in which the upper section is being taught, having been declared unhealthy by medica! authority, the school board wisely resolved to erect new premises for the whole school on an admirable site close to the present junior school.

"Buildings separated from the main premises have been put up at St. Andrews Lhanbryde and Mosstowie for cookery and laundry work. This is a valuable improvement on teaching the processes of cooking and ironing in one of the class-rooms. It is not always convenient to make cookery the last work of the day, and when it is followed by the ordinary studies the temperature of the room is found too high to be healthy."

Mr. Muir :

"The new school in Montrose, to which I referred last year, is far from completion, and may not be ready till 1897. In Shetland there is talk of two new schools. I understand that in the island of Yell the propriety of erecting another school at or near North-a-Voe has been urged on the Board. This is in addition to eight fully organised schools (and two schools under Art. 19 D. (a.).

66

In a secluded corner of Nesting, far from roads, an unsuccessful attempt has been made to teach a large number of children under Art. 19 (D.) a. in unsuitable premises. A new school will probably be required."

Mr. Andrew :

"A new school on an excellent site is to be erected in the course of the year by the Aberlour Board, to take the place of the present public school, which has become altogether unsuitable both through lack of accommodation and its objectionable situation. An infant room has been added to the Orphanage school at Aberlour. Considerable additions have been made to Findochty, Shielburn, and Cullen Public Schools. These have been rendered necessary, not so much by any increase of population, as by the earlier age at which the infants now come to school. In Orkney a class-room has been added to Stronsay Central Public School, and an addition to the infant department of Stromness Public School is under consideration."

Mr. Calder :

66

By the completion of the second part of the enlargement of Mitchell Street Public School the Dundee Board provided 340 new places.

"A new building, to take the place of the old parochial school, was opened in the parish of Mains.

"At the close of the year extensions are being made to St. Joseph's R.C. Schools, Dundee, to Broughty Ferry Southern Public School, and to Forfar Academy, and a new building is being erected for Lochee Epis. School. Plans have also been submitted for the enlargement of St. Mary's R.C. School, Lochee, and for Monikie Public School, the latter being necessitated by the closing of the last of the Free Church Schools in the district.