The Time Tables of both schools require modification; and in APPENDIX B. the next Report I shall give those now about to be introduced. I. Reports on Pupil-Teachers and Domestic Establishment.-Accommo- District Model dation is provided in the house for the residence of the Head Schools. Master, the Agriculturist, the four Pupil-Teachers, the four Dunmanway. Agricultural Boarders, and a female servant, the Agriculturist and his four boarders occupying the room which, as in Clonmel, and in the four other Model Schools which have no Agricultural department, would accommodate additional Pupil-Teachers. The number of pupils at present on the Roll of the Boys' school is 156, and there was an actual attendance of 140 on some days of last, and on many days of this year. The PupilTeachers being trained with the two-fold object of supplying an adequate and efficient auxiliary teaching staff in the school,and, at the same time, of forming a source from which to provide a higher class of Teachers for the ordinary schools in the country, it is clear that there is no valid reason why, because an Agricultural department is attached, that, with an attendance nearly equal to that in any of the seven Model Schools, and exceeding that in most of them, Dunmanway should have a teaching staff of only four, while each of them, except Bailieborough, has eight Pupil-Teachers. And with regard to the second object in training these young men, there is no part of Ireland that needs its application much more than this and the southwestern districts, as during the last four years upwards of 40 Male Teachers were removed in the single district in which the Model Schools stand, owing to want of qualification in the very elementary course prescribed for Probationers. Even this statement affords rather a favourable view of the case, as many of these Teachers got repeated trials to test their capacity and industry before removal, and a considerable number of unqualified persons have been retained as Teachers, solely from inability to procure others with proper qualifications. I beg leave, therefore, to recommend this most important defect in the schools to the serious consideration of the Commissioners, that steps may be taken to provide extended accommodation for an increased number of Pupil-Teachers. From the opening of the schools up to this date, twelve Pupil-Teachers have been admitted, four of these are at present undergoing their course of training, and eight have left the establishment. Of these eight five are in charge of National Schools, one has just left, and is recommended for a place on the Special Class in Dublin, one left after only four months' stay, to enter College, where he distinguished himself during two years' study, obtaining several prizes and certificates, and has recently entered the Agricultural Training APPENDIX B. I. Reports on Schools. Dunmanway. Of Department, Glasnevin, and one left after three months' stay, Two of the four now in training are six months in office, and the other two have been appointed only within the last month. They were all examined by me before admission, and they appear to be rather above the average in attainments for their time. They study or receive instruction from the Head Master, from half-past six to eight o'clock, A.M., are engaged teaching in the school from nine to three, get instruction in the Agricultural class from a quarter past three to four, work on the farm between dinner and six o'clock, and are engaged at study and instruction from six to eight o'clock. Their occupation of time requires revision in some particulars, and the new form will appear in next Report. They have all enjoyed good health, and their rooms, dress, and personal cleanliness always appeared most unexceptionable when I visited. I was present at some of their meals; their dietary, its cooking, and their conduct during meals, and in their domestic life, were quite satisfactory. Paid Monitresses.-There are four Paid Monitresses to assist in the Girls' school; these do not reside in the house, and their remuneration is very little more than that granted to those serving as such in ordinary National Schools. One of these has completed her second, two their first, and one is only in her first year of office. I have also recommended the appointment of a fifth, or additional Monitress, in consequence of the increased attendance in the school. Two girls who had been Monitresses left; one is living at home with her family, and the other is in charge of a National School. Another young woman, who had been acting as Unpaid Monitress, has got the situation of second Teacher in another National School in the town. Both the Master and Mistress give instruction to the Monitresses in the course of studies prescribed for them; they all show great tact and smartness in teaching; and the Mistress reports very favourably of their zeal, good APPENDIX B. conduct, and attention. I. Reports on Agricultural Department.-Although this branch of the District Model institution is under the superintendence of the Agricultural Schools. Inspector, Dr. Kirkpatrick, its success is so interwoven with Dunmanway. the interests of the schools; and as the Agriculturist gives instruction to the Pupil-Teacher as well as to a select class of the senior boys, I deem it my duty to offer a few remarks on its working, in relation to the general interests of the establishment. For the past year I gave considerable attention to industrial instruction, including that in the Agricultural schools in my province; during the year I opened the Woodstock and the Derrycastle Model Agricultural schools, and visited those of Gormanstown, Farrahy, and Glandore, as also the Gloungarragh ordinary Agricultural school. From careful observation in all these cases I perceive that the chief difficulty in the selection of an Agriculturist is to find combined in the one person manual skill and dexterity in the actual use of every Agricultural implement, and identification with his business, so that when necessary he will be found not only directing but practically exhibiting at the head of his boarders, industrial class, or of his paid labourers, how to use improved implements in the drain, the furrow, or the farm-yard; clear and distinct ideas of the details of the most improved systems of husbandry, so far as it is a mere art, the suitability of each to particular circumstances, and ability to carry out and direct this; and knowledge of the scientific principles of Chemistry, Geology, Animal and Vegetable Physiology, and of those sciences which are collaterally connected with Agriculture. These, if combined with the communicative faculty, would form the qualifications of a good Agriculturist. Considering all the circumstances that must combine to produce a person so qualified, I deem the absence of the scientific portion as of comparatively the least consequence, provided the Agriculturist is thoroughly versed in the remainder, has the faculty of imparting what he knows both as to hand and head, and is gifted with common sense. Twenty years' experience satisfies me, that in the absence of experiment and sensible illustration, boys can form no correct idea of even simple chemical changes, and therefore I deem it all bat an entire waste of time to put catechisms, &c., into their hands, from which they learn to speak familiarly of elements and combinations, of whose properties, beyond the acquisition of mere names, they have no clear idea. Until such time, then, as the Agriculturists shall have attended a full Course of Lectures on such subjects, and receive a certificate of competency to illustrate the elementary principles of Chemistry; APPENDIX B. I. Reports on Schools. Dunmanway. and until simple apparatus, and a small Museum be attached for the purpose to each District Model Agricultural School, I recommend that Dr. Clarke, whose success in the Clonmel Model School is so well known to the Commissioners, be appointed to give in each year a Course of Lectures on Chemistry, Geology, and Animal and Vegetable Physiology in the Dunmanway Model School. Last November, on the occasion of the visit of Mr. Cross, one of the Board's Secretaries, and of several of the Board's officers to the Clonmel schools, I had an opportunity of pointing out to Dr. Kirkpatrick the high and sound character of the scientific attainments of the boys in that establishment; and I am fully aware how warmly he approves of the suggestion already advanced. I heard Mr. Connor, the Agriculturist, examine his class on two occasions; and on these and on another occasion I examined them myself, and was much pleased with his zeal and mode of examination, and I found the general information of the class very creditable. I gave some suggestions in the mode of examination, and recommended steps to be taken for increasing the number of the senior school-boys in the class. It is to be always borne in mind, that the object of the Commissioners in this and other similar establishments, is to supplement Agricultural industry on the literary department; and, therefore, that unless this, the primary department, be efficient, well attended, and by pupils above the average age, who, from the conjoint inducement of superior intellectual instruction, combined with the advantages expected to be derived from the Agricultural department prolong the period of their attendance, the Agricultural branch must be inefficient, at least so far as it is a portion of instruction for the pupils. I had no opportunity last year of examining the Agricultural Boarders as to their literary proficiency, under the Head Master, but I hope, at my next visit, to inquire into this matter. Their conduct in the house has been very good, and their attention, and that of the Pupil-Teachers, to their religious duties, is spoken most favourably of by their clergyman. Visitors.-There was a large number of visitors, considering the backward situation of Dunmanway, since the schools opened, and all of them expressed great pleasure at the state of the schools, the farm, and the establishment generally. In the Autumn of 1849, the schools were specially visited by the Right Hon. Alexander Macdonnell, Resident Commissioner; and in September last they were visited by Mr. Cross, one of the Secretaries to the Commissioners. Influence of the Model Schools.-In 1849, and for some years previous, a National School, attended by boys and girls, existed in the town of Dunmanway, under the management of the parish priest. The average attendance in it did not APPENDIX B. exceed fifty scholars, and it was most inefficiently conducted. I. Reports on Such an impetus has education received from the new life District Model and energy of the Model Schools, that while about 260 pupils Schools. attend the latter, the ordinary National School has nearly Dunmanway. doubled its attendance; two efficient Teachers have been appointed; an increased grant of books of free stock has been made; the Inspector has received special instructions to pay a monthly instead of a four-monthly visit; a grant of £15, in addition to their ordinary salaries, has been made to the Teachers in lieu of school-fees; and in a word, while not interfering with the management of the school, the Commissioners have declared it an Auxiliary Branch of their Model School, which they will so specially support, until, by enlarging their own establishment, accommodation can be provided for about 150 children who attend there. Here, in a small town, the same remarkable result has arisen from the successful working of a Model School as I had the gratification to report in Clonmel for the last three years. It is a feature in the history of the District Model Schools of the most striking character, and one which I trust will determine the Commissioners in the spread of those most important institutions. House, Premises, &c.-Within a short period, I forwarded, by instructions, a report on the proposed extension of the schools, &c., and on the repairs that are required, and for the present shall merely advert to the fact. Both the late Inspector, Mr. Patterson, and the present Inspector, Mr. Simpson, have exerted themselves with great skill, prudence, and discretion in the immediate management of the schools; and as the schools were in the charge of Dr. Patten, one of my colleagues, up to April last, I have little credit to claim for myself in connexion with their former working. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy, and Mr. Connor, deserve well of the Commissioners for the zeal, industry, and efficiency with which their several departments are conducted. I have the honour to remain, Gentlemen, your very obedient Servant, JAMES W. KAVANAGH, Head Inspector. The Secretaries, Education Office. APPENDIX A. Dunmanway, March 2nd, 1851. MY DEAR SIR,-The recent grants by the Commissioners of Education to the Dunmanway National School, of which I am the Manager, command my most grateful acknowledg |