John Hislop

“ To meet special requirements, a liberal education is imparted without the study of Latin, on the basis of the Modern Languages, Mathematics, Science, and the customary details of English. Every encouragement is given to the study of Mechanics. Drawing is taught to all classes below the Upper V. Class. Gymnastics, according to an approved course, form part of the regular school work. The course of instruction in the Lower School comprises Latin, French, English in all its usual details, Arithmetic, Writing, Book-keeping, Drawing and Gymnastics. ”

“ The morning class is attended by students from the School of Mines, and by young ladies who are engaged during the day; the former are studying practical plane and solid geometry, and machine drawing; the latter, drawing and painting. These classes promise to become very popular. The afternoon class is attended chiefly by those who are studying art as a profession, or for the purpose of improvement. The High Schools are statedly visited by Mr. Hutton and his assistant, who impart instruction in drawing of a very valuable character to the pupils in nearly all the forms. ”

“ The course of instruction embraces all the subjects usually taught in good primary schools, in addition to which the upper classes receive instruction in French, Latin, Euclid, Algebra, Natural Philosophy, and Book-keeping. Much attention is given to Shorthand. Boys who remain sufficiently long in the school are prepared for the Civil Service and Matriculation Examinations. The school thus serves both as a Primary and an Intermediate School. ”

“ There is one direction in which we have attempted little and done less to promote the best interests of education and of families. We mean in the provision made for the education of girls, especially after they have arrived at an age when it is untasteful to their friends and obviously unwise that they should remain in the mixed common school." Then follow some well-put arguments in support of the proposal to establish a Girls' High School, and the article concludes as follows:—"It is to be hoped that a High School for girls will be promptly organised in Dunedin." ”

“ Girls who remain sufficiently long at the school, enter on a course of higher studies, and should they display aptitude for teaching they are systematically trained for that profession. Free-hand drawing, and singing on the tonic sol-fa method are taught in all the classes. The average daily attendance is 180.
Classes for religious instruction are carried on every day. On Sundays not only the school children, but working girls and young women attend.
Another primary school is conducted by the Dominican Nuns at South Dunedin, which, like all their schools, is unsupported by Government aid. ”

“ The Education Ordinance provided that the teachers' salaries should be defrayed by a tax not exceeding 20/-, to be paid annually by every male person resident in the Province. So strong and widespread was the resistance to the levying of this poll-tax, that no attempt was made by the authorities to enforce payment; the entire cost of the schools was met out of the ordinary Provincial revenue and the school fees, supplemented in a few instances by local subscriptions. ”

“ As years passed on the opinion gained ground that in justice to Mr. Livingston, he should be placed in his right position as head of a High School proper, and that provision should be made for the establishment of one or more elementary schools in Dunedin. In the ninth session of the Provincial Council (1860) , Mr Macandrew, who had been elected Superintendent on the decease of Captain Cargill, strongly urged the consideration of this question, and transmitted to the Council a copy of a resolution adopted by the Education Board largely through his own instrumentality. ”

“ On Wednesdays there is a Juvenile Singing Class, and on Thursdays a class for girls for the giving of instruction in household management, &c. It is in contemplation to begin a night school on another evening in the week, for teaching boys the elements of arithmetic, combined with technical instruction of some kind. ”

“ The drawing school has been constructed on the most approved system, and is fully furnished with models, plaster casts, and other materials of the art. The science room is supplied with requisites for the teaching of practical and theoretical Chemistry and Metallurgy. It also contains accessories to the teaching of Physiology. The mathematical school has been excellently constructed for its purpose, both as regards light and contrivances for demonstration. The gymnasium has been furnished on the exact model of that at Aldershot, and ranks among the best equipped in the colony. ”

“ Miss Bathgate was at the same time placed in charge of the Boarding Institution. Under Mr Wilson and his very efficient staff the Girls' High School has well maintained its high character in all respects. In November 1886 the Inspector General thus reports of the school:—"This is also one of our best schools. The study of the English language occupies a prominent place. Latin and mathematics are well taught. The instruction in gymnastics is excellent. There are some good earnest students among the elder girls." ”

“ The following resolutions were adopted by the Board in connection with the organisation of the proposed school:—" (1.) One of the masters shall hold the appointment of Rector or Principal, and shall have the general oversight of all the classes within the institution, and shall be responsible for the good government, efficiency, and success of the same; but each master, as far as possible shall have the charge of a distinct department of instruction. ”

“ That as a first step towards effecting the desired object, a proper High School should be established in Dunedin, wherein could be taught all the branches of education necessary for qualifying the pupils for entering a University, and that in the meantime one qualified master for the school should be obtained ”

“ Not a few of them, owing to the taste and skill developed by such attendance, are now occupying positions of usefulness and responsibility, for which they would not otherwise have been qualified. Employers of skilled labour in Dunedin and elswhere have borne testimony to this result. Many of the High School pupils, and the students of the ladies' afternoon classes have attained very considerable proficiency in drawing and painting, and a number of them have gained no small distinction. ”

“ The Ordinance also authorised the Education Board to establish scholarships, to be held in the High School, Dunedin, or in any university in Great Britain, Australia, or New Zealand, to be held by pupils of the public schools of Otago, such scholarships to be submitted to public competition. ”

“ Livingston, who was an accomplished classical and mathematical scholar, and a most assiduous teacher, succeeded in imparting instruction in some of the more advanced subjects to several of his pupils who had attained the requisite proficiency. Some of his ex-pupils now occupy influential and responsible positions in the Colony, and they speak in terms of admiration of their old schoolmaster's character, and of gratitude for the benefits derived from his instructions. ”

“ The selection of a successor to Mr Hawthorne was entrusted to the late Mr John Auld, Home Agent of the Provincial Government, and his choice fell upon Mr William Norrie, M.A., Classical Master in Dr. A. H. Bryce's Edinburgh Collegiate School. Mr Norrie entered on his duties in April, 1875. A number of the changes that had been resolved upon by the Board were made during the first year of his term of office, and the staff was increased for the purpose of more thoroughly and satisfactorily working out these changes. The result was an increase of the school attendance ”

“ Hutton's labours on the large numbers who have successively attended his classes is really incalculable. Probably no class of students has profited to a larger extent than that of the apprentices and other youths, who in considerable numbers have attended the evening classes. ”

“ Those who join the first form are expected to be able to read and spell fairly, and to know the four simple rules of Arithmetic. In connection with the Science Class, there is a fully furnished laboratory supplied with apparatus for practical Chemistry, as well as with microscopes for higher Botanical work. ”

“ Notwithstanding the changes that have taken place in connection with the rectorship during the past twenty-six years, it can confidently be claimed for the school that it has all along
BOY'S HIGH SCHOOL AND DUNEDIN FROM QUEEN'S DRIVE.
been doing very good work, and has sent out a very large number of youths, who, in their various walks of life have done, and are doing, infinite credit to themselves and to the school. ”

“ The association is still in its infancy, but as its sphere of operations becomes enlarged, and the value of the work proposed to be accomplished by it is more widely known and appreciated, incalculable benefits will no doubt be conferred on many of the poorer families of the city. ”

“ The piano, the organ, and the harp are taught by the nuns, and the violin by visiting masters. The classes for German and Italian are not numerously attended, as the taste for foreign literature is not sufficiently developed. ”

“ Very considerable attention is given by the ministers and members of the Protestant churches in Dunedin and suburbs, and indeed throughout the Provincial District, to the religious instruction of the young by means of Sunday Schools. With scarcely an exception every congregation maintains one or more schools of this kind.
There is a Sunday School Teachers' Union in connection with the Church of England, the office-bearers being the Right Rev. ”

“ Mr. Hawthorne's health was never again completely re-established, and he died at his residence in the neighbourhood of Dunedin on June 8, 1875. He was a gentleman of high principle and of an amiable disposition, and his loss was much regretted by a large circle of friends. It is known to the writer that a number of generous acts, sometimes involving pecuniary outlay, were performed by him in cases that came under his notice in connection with his official work. The duties of acting rector of the school, from the date of Mr. ”

“ Committee, Messrs W. S. Fitzgerald, R. Harding, D. McNicoll, C. McQueen, J. Robin, R. S. Sparrow, D. White M.A., and Alexander Wilson, M.A. The association numbers about 100 members, including life-members. The subjects proposed to be taught at the outset have been grouped as follows:— (A) Literary; (B) Scientific; and (C) Manual; classes (A) and (B) to be open only to candidates that have passed the "sixth standard" or its equivalent; the subjects in group (A) to include English, Latin, French, German, Shorthand, &c.; in group (B) , mathematics, chemistry, physics, &c. ”

“ The staff consists of the rector and the following masters:—D. Brent, M.A., Mathematics; E. E. Morrison, M.A., English; M. Watson, M.A., Latin; W. B. Williams, B.A., Modern Languages; A. Y. Smith, Commercial; J. McPherson, F.E.I.S., Arithmetic; J. R. Montgomery, M.A., and A. S. M. Polson, Assistant Masters; G. M. Thompson, F.L.S., Natural Science; D. C. Hutton, and D. Hutton, Drawing; and John Hanna, Gymnastics and Drill. There are an Upper and a Lower School. ”

“ In accordance with one of the recommendations made by the Commission, the Government, in July, 1874, appointed Sir John Richardson, Sir Robert Stout, the Rev. Dr. Stuart, Professors Shand and Macgregor, and Messrs. ”