2112 
 
 1018. 
 NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 1^- 
 
 Department of Public Instruction, 
 
 Three years of 
 Education. 
 
 Printed by authority of tlie Hon. A, C. Carmioiiael, IVi.L.A., 
 Minister of Public Instruction. 
 
 SYDNEY: 
 W. A. OULLICK, COVERNMENT PKINTER— 1913. 
 
 HI — A 
 
ALBERT R. MANN 
 LIBRARY 
 
 New York State Colleges 
 
 OF 
 
 Agriculture and Home Economics 
 
 Cornell University 
 
Cornell University Library 
 LA2112.A5t 
 
 Three years of education. 
 
 3 1924 012 994 467 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of this book is in 
 the Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924012994467 
 
1913. 
 NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 Department of Public Instruction. 
 
 Three Years of 
 Education. 
 
 Printed by authority of tlie Hon. A. C. Carmichaei, M.L.A., 
 Minister of Public Instruction. 
 
 SYDNEY : 
 W. A. GULLICK, GOVERNMENT PR I NTE R— 1913. 
 
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Three Years 
 
 / 
 
 Education. . . 
 
 Introductory. 
 
 T TNDER the provisions of the Public Instruction Act of iSSo, tlie 
 Education Department furnislies an annual re])ort to Parliament. 
 This report is subsequently printed and distributed to the Schools, 
 but it is chiefly statistical, and to a large extent meaningless to the 
 general public. The Education Department has come so much more 
 intimatelj' mto the lives of the people, and so many new developments 
 have taken place within the last two or three years, that it seems a 
 fitting opportunity to publish in handy illustrated form a short account 
 of the operations of the Department. Letters are frequently 
 received from parents which clearly show that a plain statement of 
 existing conditions will be a decided advantage Ijoth to parents and to 
 the Department. The abolition of High School fees (1911), the great 
 extension of scholarships and bursaries under the Bursary Endowment 
 Act of 1912, and the provision of exhibitions under the University 
 Amendment Act of 1912, together with the estal)lishnient of Evening 
 Continuation Schools (1911), and the reorganisation of existing Superior 
 Schools as Day Continuation Schools (1913), are all of vital imuortance 
 
A Provisional 
 School, 
 
 established tem- 
 porarily in a 
 deserted miner's 
 hut. 
 
 A small Pi'blu 
 School in the 
 country. 
 
 The new 
 School at 
 Turnut (1913). 
 
 From Bush School 
 
I lie tirsL builti- 
 iii^' specially 
 iTi'cted in New 
 SdUth Wales for 
 ;i High School 
 (Orange, KJ13). 
 
 jw of Sydii 
 livcrHly. 
 
 '1 lie Main Build- 
 ing, Sydney 
 University. 
 
 to University ! " 
 
8 THREE YEARS OF EDUCATION 
 
 to every parent, and it is proposed to show either by letterpress or 
 illustration some of the developments of the last three years. The 
 possibilities now open to all boys and girls throughout the State 
 cannot be too well advertised, and it is hoped that the publication ol 
 the educational opportunities within the reach of every pupil with the 
 necessary ability and perseverance will be reflected in a largely increased 
 attendance at the Primary Schools, the High Schools, the District 
 Schools, the Superior Public Schools, and the Evening Continuation 
 Schools. 
 
 from Bush School to University. 
 
 The photographs on the previous two pages illustrate in a pictorial way 
 the educational system of New South Wales under which boys and girls, 
 of whatever class, creed, or station, living in the most remote parts of the 
 State, may reach the University. The first picture shows a provisional 
 school established temporarily in a deserted miner's hut, in order to 
 see whether the school was likely to be permanent. The second is 
 a little bush school ; the third the new School at Tumut ; the 
 fourth the new High School at Orange; and the fifth and sixth, views 
 of the Sydney University. It is possible for any boy or girl attending 
 a bush school to win a bursary worth ^30 a year. These bursaries 
 enable the winners to attend a District School for two years, after which 
 they are transferred to a High School for another two years; or they 
 may pass direct from a little bush school to a country High School, where 
 they stay for four years. At the end of the High School course the 
 pupils pass the Leaving Certificate Examination which enables them 
 to enter the Sydney University. Two hundred State University ex- 
 hibitions are open for competition each year, and these exhibitions exempt 
 the winner from payment of all University fees. It is thus possible for 
 the clever child of the miner, the shearer, or the tradesman to enter any 
 of the professions which require a University training. The Buisary 
 Act of 1912, and the University Amendment Act of 1912. have broadened 
 the road to higher Education and have given equality of oppoitunity to 
 every child in the State. 
 
 The Departments Scheme of Certificated Examinations. 
 
 The modern educational tendency is against too much external 
 examination, particularly examination of a written character, but the 
 Department has instituted a ceitificated system of examination of Us 
 own that may require some explanation. The experience of the past has 
 
IN NEW SOUTH WALES. ^ 
 
 shown that it is quite useless for a boy or girl to proceed to a course oi 
 Higli School education unless such pupil has been thoroughly grounded 
 in the work of the Primary School. There has been enormous waste in 
 the past through pupils proceeding to higher education before they 
 were fitted to benefit by the instruction. It was decided, therefore, to 
 institute a Oualifymg Certificate E.xamination, which consisted partly 
 of a written test, but also depended upon the teacher's report of the work 
 done by the pupil in the scho(.)l. This examination marked the comiiletion 
 of the work in the ordinary inimary school, and, without it, it is not 
 possible at present for a child to proceed to higher education. The first 
 of these examinations was held in 1911, over 12,000 boys and girls attend- 
 ing the examination, which was held in some boo school-rooms throughout 
 town and country districts. In 1912 the number of examinees inci'easetl 
 to 14,978, and at the examination held loth November to 16,500. 
 At subsequent examinations this number will l)e probably increased. 
 While the examination test was of uniform difficulty, local con- 
 ditions were taken into account in jireparing the questions, and as far 
 as possible equality of the test was afforded to all boys and girls through- 
 out the State. The High School Scholarships and Bursaries are awarded 
 as a result of this examination, while the possession of the certificate 
 gives to the holder the right to pass either to a High School, a District 
 School, or a Superior Public School. 
 
 In 1912 the first examination was held for the Intermediate Certificate. 
 This examination marks the completion of the first two years' High 
 School course, and is the equivalent of the University Junior Public 
 Examination. One thousand five hundred and seventy-one candidates 
 attended the examination, which was partly a literary test, but also 
 depended upon satisfactory progress in aU subjects of the particular 
 High School course of study. The first Leaving Certificate Exami- 
 nation win be held on November 24th, and marks the completion 
 of the High School couise of study. This certificate can only be 
 obtained by pupils who have completed four years' course of 
 study, and who have satisfied the examiners that they have satisfac- 
 torily completed the course. When the subjects taken art those 
 required by the University, the Leaving Certificate is held to be the 
 equivalent of Matriculation. The University Amendment Act provide: 
 200 exhibitions exempting the holders from payment of all fees. These 
 exhibitions are awarded as a result of the Leaving Ceitificate. It will 
 be seen, therefore, that for a boy or girl to reach the University, such 
 pupil must first complete the Primary School course, and get a ceitificate 
 
 s 
 
10 THREE YEARS OF EDUCATION 
 
 qiuilifj'iiig liiin to pass on to a High School. He must then gain the 
 Intermediate Certificate before proceeding to the Third Year High Scliool 
 course, and to gain entrance to the Univeisity must finally obtain the 
 Leaving Certificate. In addition to being accepted as the equivalent of 
 Matriculation, the Leaving Certificate gives entrance to the Teachers' 
 College, and it is expected that it will be accepted by commercial houses 
 as the equivalent of the Chamber of Commerce, Banker's Institute, and 
 Insurance E.xaminations. The first examination for the Qualifying 
 Certificate was held at the end of 1911, the first Intermediate Certificate 
 Examination in November, 1912, and the first Leaving Certificate 
 Examination on 24th November, 1913. 
 
 High Schools— Bursaries and Scholarships. 
 
 The Bursary Endowment Act of 1912 largely increased the number of 
 bursaries awarded bj' tlie Education Department, threw them open for 
 Competition among ]nij)ils of all schools throughout the State, and made 
 them tenable at any school registeied under the Bursary Endowment 
 Act. While the allocation of bursaries and the general administration 
 of the Bursaries Endowment Act comes within the scope of the Bursaries 
 Board, High School Scholarships are still awarded directly liy the Depart- 
 ment. J:>oth bursaries and scholarships are determined as a result of the 
 Oualilying Certificate Examination — to be held this yeai" on loth No\'em- 
 ber. The bursaries are awarded to boys and girls (uneler 14 years of age 
 on the first day of January following the examination) who show the 
 greatest merit in the Ouahfying Certificate Examination. In oreler that 
 all pupils may have equality of opportunity, the bursaries allotted are 
 first divided into two groups. On 31st December, ie)i2, the pujiils 
 attending Metropolitan Schools were in reiund numbers 84,000 out of a 
 total enrtjlment of the State of 22G.000. The proportion is slightly 
 more than one-third, and it was therefore decided by the Bursary 
 Board that one-third of the available number of bursaries should be set 
 apart for candidates from tlie Metro]5olitan and Suburban Schools, the 
 remaining two-thirds to be divided among the Country Insj)ectorial 
 Districts in the ratio of the school population. It was considered, 
 furthermore, that the pupils attending smah schools of one or two teachers 
 might not have the same chance as boys and girls attending the larger 
 Pubhc Schools with increased staff, and possibly better teaching equip- 
 ment. A further ihvision was, therefore, made by dix'iding the bursaries 
 lor comjietitiou into two groups, one group eompiising all candidates 
 
IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 II 
 
 who coiiK' iroiii schnols with less than loo pupils in ciiroliiieiit, tlie otlici 
 group from schools witli a iuuKhx'd or uiorc than a liundrcd in cnrol- 
 nu.'nt. TIr' allotniL-nt is made u])on the ajjiiroxiniatu ratio of tlie nunilx'r 
 ol candidates iroin tlic two groups of schools. The bursaries are tenable 
 lor a period of four years from the date of award, and tlie parent or 
 guardian is retiiiired to certify that it is his intention that the holder of 
 llie bursary shall attend a High School or registered Secondary School 
 lor the whole ]ieriod ol lour years for which tlie bursary is tenable. 
 Each bursary carries a grant of £jo a year, if tlie fadder lias to li\-c away 
 
 The Alinislrr for liilucation (.Mr. CarniichacI) cxphnninu to the jmjiils ol a littli' school ii. 
 tlie Far West how lliey imiv reach the Lhu\'ersit\'. 
 
 h-oni home in order to attend the school selected ; or a grant of /lo for 
 each of the first ancf second years, £15 for the third 3'ear, amf /20 a year 
 for the fourth year if the holder can tra\'el to ami from school daily. 
 This monetary alh^wance is given to assfst ])iipils wdiose jiarents are not 
 in a j)osilion to keep their children at a High ScIk.ioI for four years. 
 Consequently, the income of the parent is taken into consideration in 
 determining the allotment of the bursary. 
 
 ihe t(jtal ineoine ol a jiarent to entitle his child l(j a bursary must not 
 e.vceed /50 a year for each member of the family, including the parents 
 
t2 THREE YEARS OF EDUCATION 
 
 and excluding children earning los. or more weekly. Thus, for a family 
 of one or two childi-en the maximum salary would be £200 ; for a lamily 
 consisting of the parents and three children, the maximum is ^^250 ; for a 
 family of seven (parents and five children), £350, and so on. As a result 
 of the Qualifying Certificate Examination held on i8th November, 1912, 
 300 bursaries were awarded. A few have since dropped out, but at 
 present there are 118 l)ursars attending the Metropolitan High Schools, 
 49 of whom are country boys and girls. Thirty-four successful can- 
 didates elected to attend registered Secondary Schools in Sydney, and 
 of these 8 come from the country. One hundred and twenty-three 
 bursals are attending country High Schools or District Schools, and 13 
 bursars are attending country registered Secondary Schools. It will be 
 seen that \^'hlle 95 bursaries are held by city pupils, 193 were given to 
 country boys and girls. That the bursary scheme is benefiting the 
 pupils it was intended to serve is seen by analysing the residences of 
 country bursars. Thus, pupils from Carrathool and Hillston go to Hay 
 District School; pupils from Jlurrurundi, Greta, Vere, Mt. Vincent, 
 Narrabri, Manilla, Singleton, Weston, Raymond Terrace, Kurri Kurri, 
 and other places, attend at Maitland; boys from Deniliquin, Coolamon, 
 Cootamundra, and Goad's Tank attend the Wagga High School ; while 
 successful candidates Irom Albion Park, Dapto, Nowra, and BuUi, are 
 enabled to board at Wollongong in order to attend the local District 
 School. 
 
 The District Schools only carry out the first and second year's High 
 School course, after which the bursary is made tenable at the nearest 
 convenient High School. The institution of country High Schools, 
 however, has obviated the necessity for country pupils to leave their 
 homes in order to obtain secondary education. This decentralisation 
 of High School education is one of the must important changes effected 
 during the last few years. 
 
 High Schools are now m operation at the following centres ; — 
 
 Bathurst (boys and girls). Orange (buys and girls). 
 
 East Maitland (boys). Parramatta (buys and girls). 
 
 Fort-street (boys). Sydney (Ultimo) (boys). 
 
 Fort-street (girls). Sydney (Elizabeth-street) (girls). 
 
 Goulburn (boys and girls). Technical High School (boys), 
 
 (iraftun (boys and girls). Wagga Wagga (liuys and girls). 
 
 Hurlslone Agricultural (boys). West Maitland (girls). 
 Newcastle (boys and girls). 
 
IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 13 
 
14 
 
 THREE YEARS OF EDUCATION 
 
 Tho following table sliows the remarkable develo]>mon1 in attendanri* 
 at High Schools dnrmg the last three years : — 
 
 Gross Enrolment 
 Average Daily Attendance 
 Number of Terichcrs 
 
 910. 
 
 igii. 
 
 1912. 
 
 30 June, 
 1913. 
 
 i,i6S 
 
 2,293 
 
 3,002 
 
 4.379 
 
 S26 
 
 T,786 
 
 2,387 
 
 3,896 
 
 48 
 
 97 
 
 146 
 
 242 
 
 A new Girls' High School at North Sydney is in course of erection, and 
 is now almost completed, while sites have been obtained and jilans pre- 
 pared for new High Schools for bo5's at North Sydney and at Petersham. 
 It is intended to remove the Boj/s' High School at Ultimo, and the Girls' 
 High School at Elizabeth-street, to a portion of the site now occupied by 
 Darlinghurst Gaol. The Technical High School now held in odd j-ooms 
 at the Technical College will then be transferred to the Iniilding at present 
 occupied by the Boys' High School at Ultimo. The question of estab- 
 lishing High Schools at jMudgee, Dubbo, Armidale, and Wollongong, is 
 under consideration, and the Departmental policy has been laid down 
 that a High School may be established wherever a sufftcient number of 
 ]mpils undergoing the third and fourth years' High School course can be 
 guaranteed. Pending the erection of additional High Schools in the 
 Metropolitan area, the ex]iedient of what are called Intermediate High 
 Schools has been followed. These lutermediate High Schools are estab- 
 lished in connection with the Primary Schools at North Sydnej', Cle\'e- 
 land-street. Petersham, Kogarah, and North Newtown. The course of 
 instruction followed is identical with that of the High Schools, but only 
 extends throughout the first year's and second year's course, l^pon the 
 completion of the sec'wd year's course, pupils are trar.sferred to High 
 Schools. In addition to the High Schools and Intcrm diate High Schools, 
 the secondary course of instruction is carried out at a number of District 
 Schools. These Schools have been established at the following places : — 
 
 Armidale. 
 
 Bega. 
 
 Bowral. 
 
 Broken Hill. 
 
 Cootamundra. 
 
 Dubbo. 
 
 Forbes. 
 
 Glen Innes. 
 
 Hay. 
 
 Inverell. 
 
 Kempsej' West. 
 
 Lismore. 
 
 Lithgow. 
 
 Mudgee. 
 
 Narrabri. 
 
 Tamworth. 
 
 Taree. 
 
 Wcllingto-n. 
 
 Wollongong. 
 
 Yass. 
 
 Young. 
 
IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 15 
 
 On 30tli June, IQI?,, ^ho enrolment o[ secondary ])upi]s at (liese srliools 
 was 1,410, and the average attendance 1,163. fhe great di'velopnient 
 that has taken place in connection with High School education maj' he 
 attrihuted (i) to the abolition of the fees, which took effect as h'om the ist 
 January, iqii, and (2) to the great extension of bursaries and scholarships 
 referred to elsewhere. At the present time any irapil who gains a 
 Qualifymg Certilicate is entitled to enter a High School, provided the 
 parent is prepared to give an undertaking that sucli pupil will remain 
 the full four years' course. This provision has been introduced in the 
 interest of the pupil, since the course of instruction is so arranged that it 
 leads to a definite purpose at tlie conclusion of the foiu' years' course. 
 
 University Amendment Act of 1312. 
 
 The true significance of the University Amenchnent Act ni igi2 will 
 not be realised for a year or two, for certain conservative prejudices 
 have yet to be broken down. The new constitution of the University 
 Senate provides for representation <>i the Government — and, through 
 the Government, of the Education Depai'tment — while both Houses of 
 Parliament are directly rejiresented. The franchise for the election of 
 rejiresentafives of graduates has been widened, and the reform of voting 
 by post instituted, thus affording all graduates ol the Univei'sity a means 
 of becoming acti\'ely idi'utified with the go\'ernment of the Uni\'ersit_y. 
 
 It is in the jn'ovision lor State exhibiti(jns, however, that the 
 University Amendment Act brings the Uni^'ersity nearer to the people. 
 In return for an additional subsidy of £10,000, 200 State exliibitions 
 are provided. The holder of the State exhibition, no matter what 
 his class, station, or creed, will be acclaimed one of the 200 brightest 
 students in all schools throughout the State during a jiarticular year. 
 It will enable the boy from the Riverina, from the far west, from the 
 north coast rivers, or from the table-lands to enjoy the pri\-ileges of the 
 University equally with the more favoured students cjf Sydney and 
 suburbs. 
 
 While the number of scholarships or exhibitions awarded under the 
 University Amendment Act is specified at 200, provision has been made 
 whereby the number of exhibitions increases automatically with an 
 increase in population, the proportion being one exhibition for every 500 
 persons in the State between the agf s of 17 and 20. The Senate, through 
 the Board of Examiners associated with the Department of Public 
 
l6 THREE YEARS OF EDUCATION 
 
 Instruction, safeguards the standard of entrance, and the Senate 
 has a right to determine how many exhibitions shall be allotted 
 to the various faculties. Hitherto, State bursaries have been confined 
 wholly to the Faculty of Arts, the so-called bread-and-butter Faculties, 
 such as Medicine, Dentistry, and Law, being reserved almost exclusively 
 to paying students. Now, the son of the boundary-rider, of the miner, 
 or of the dairy farmer, may pass from a little local school to the District 
 High School, from the Distiict High School to the University, and from 
 the University to the bench of the High Court of Australia. 
 
 There is another and a most important provision in the University 
 Amendment Act of 1912, in connection with the establishment of 
 Evening Tutorial Classes. In the past the University has sought to 
 extend its influence beyond graduates and undergraduates by what 
 are called University Extension Lectures. These lectures, however 
 admirable, have had no continuity of purpose. Under the new scheme 
 of Evening Tutorial Classes, wherever a few students can be gathered, 
 not necessarily in the University, but in some country school of arts 
 or suburban hall, a definite course of instruction in such subjects as 
 economics, political economy, sociology, or history — in fact in the 
 particular subjects that occupy the attention of every thinking 
 man — will be given by sympathetic teachers, rather than by lectures 
 forgotten almost as soon as heard. Under these conditions the 
 worker will be brought into touch with the thoughts and opinions of 
 the greatest thinkers of the age, and there are not wanting examples to 
 show that, given opportunity, it is possible for the working man who has 
 had few educational advantages during youth to rise by sheer force of 
 well-directed ability to the highest positions in the land. 
 
 Evening Continuation Schools. 
 
 Previous to the 3fear 1911 the Evening Primary Schools or, as they 
 were generally called, " night schools," were the only means of education 
 other than the Technical College provided by the State for youths and 
 adults desiring to continue their education even up to the limit of the 
 Primary School. This class of school undoubtedly did effective work 
 in afljrding facilities for youths who had not been able to take full advan- 
 tage of the Primary School, but were of httle or no value to the boy 
 who had completed the primary course. In Eurojic, and especially in 
 America, during recent years much has been done in the way of Evening 
 Continuation Schools, and the Director of Education was, therefore. 
 
IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 17 
 
 sent liy the (rfn-ernment tn Euiope in ion to iiivestieate this phase nl 
 education. Shortly after liis return EN'ening Continuation Seliools were 
 mstituteil ni eighteen centres. On jolh June, iqi 3, 4,S ,,| these schools 
 were m (ijieratidii. 31 within the Mr(rii|ii,]itan area, ami 17 111 eounlrv 
 districts. lire aim of the liMaiini;- ('(inlinualion Schou] is to receive 
 ))npils \\ii(j lia\-e cmnplrteil the Primary Srhunj cmirsc at or about the 
 a,<e 111 14, and who are eni;a,^;ed 111 waKe-eariiini.;- processes tlurinf.; the 
 day. llie sclamLs .wv \-(jcalioiud m cliaraelri". liciiit; di^alled into Cum- 
 
 A Girls' Domestic Evening Continuation School. The- Cookery Lesson. 
 
 niercial. funiur Teclniical. and L)iiinestic. The course of instruction 
 laid dowai fur ("nmmercial HveniuK Conlinuatmn Schools is designed to 
 afford a business training lor bl)^•s engaged m oflices. and ijfher commer- 
 cial piu'suits. and so the s^ilablls includes instruction in business 
 arithmetic, business practice, sjiurthand. conuuercial geography, book- 
 keeping, and English. In the junior Technii:al Schools, the curriculum 
 includes manual work. dra\\ing work, elementary science, practical 
 niathematics, ami English, \\iiile the Domestic Schools pro\ade instruction 
 
THREE YEARS OF EDUCATION 
 
 Cleaning Knives. 
 
 No ciotail IS too insig- 
 nificant at a Domestic 
 Superior or Domestic 
 Evening Continuation 
 School. 'I'lic illustra- 
 tion shows girls licing 
 taught to fold table 
 jiapkins artistically. 
 
IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 IQ 
 
 in cookery, dressmaking, mil- 
 linery, home management, and 
 English. The course in each 
 type of school extends over two 
 years. In the Commercial Even- 
 ing Continuation Schools the in- 
 struction must prove of immense 
 value to any boy engaged in 
 business, since it deals in a pra( 
 tical manner with the problems 
 which confront him day by day. 
 Similarly, the Isoy who aitcntls 
 the Junior Technical School 
 learns to handle various kinds of 
 tools used m wood-work and iron- 
 work, while he is also thoroughly 
 grounded in mechanical drawing, 
 which forms the basis of the 
 work of the tradesman. Girls 
 are taught cookery, how to make 
 beds, care of the sick, care of 
 the infant, and how to make 
 their own dresses and hats. 
 Everything has a practical bear- 
 ing upon the prospecti\'e needs 
 of the jnipil. But while this 
 course of instruction is intended 
 t(} continue the pupil's education 
 from the point at which he com- 
 pleted the primary work, pi'o- 
 vision is made in the way of 
 preparatory classes for those who 
 have had to leave school before 
 completing the fifth class stand- 
 ard. Instruction is gn-en for t«-f) 
 hf)urs each evening during three 
 evenings in each week. A lee ol 
 6d. per week is charged, but the 
 whole of the amount paid in fees 
 is refunded at the end of the year 
 to all pupils whose attendance 
 
20 
 
 THREE YEARS OF EDUCATION 
 
 and conduct have been satisfactory. The schools are, therefore, free to 
 the earnest and regular pupil. The attendance at these schools during 
 the December term, iqii, was: enrolment, 1,874; weekly enrolment, 
 1,597; weekly attendance, 1,162. For the December term, 1912, the 
 enrolment had gone up to 3,177, the weekly enrolment to 2,617, and 
 the weekly attendance to 1.S64. For the quarter ending 30th June, 
 1913, the figures were : enrolment, 3,694 ; weekly enrolment, 2,934 ; and 
 weekly attendance, 2,038. • 
 
 Every detail of housework is tau^lit at the Domestic Su[ierior ami Evening 
 Continuation Schools. 
 
 A Striking leaturc in connection with these sclmols is llie C()mparati\cly 
 low cost. The ordinar}/ Public ScIuhjIs are used, and although Ihe 
 Department has had to incur flic cust of pr(j\'iding lighting, and the 
 necessary equiiiment, this is comjiaratix-ely small. Tlie only salaried 
 teacher is the Headmaster, all other teachers being paid acc(_irdiiig to the 
 time actually spent in teaching. In iqi2, £<.).4i5 vvas paid m salaries; 
 the cost of books, repairs, fuel, lighting, and so on, amounting to a littles 
 
IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 more than £2,000. There is no doubt that the institution of these 
 schools marks an inipoi'tant stage m the history of education nr Xew 
 South Wales, and though it may be necessary to nitroduce comjmlsory 
 legislatic.in if they are to actue\'e then' fufl results, the machmery already 
 exists f(.)r nistitulmg such a school \\here\'er it is ri/qun^ed. The farst 
 Evening ("ontinuation School was opened in kjii. 
 
 Domestic Schools for Girls 
 (established 1911'. 
 
 Laying the Table. 
 
 ReorganisaUon of Superior Schools. 
 
 Ihitil the present year the Hducatinn r3epartment provided instruc- 
 tion only for puyuls attending the Primary Schijols. and for those attend- 
 ing High Schools. It IS true that the Act proviiled for the establish- 
 ment of Superior Public Schools \vhere\-er an attendance of tNwnty 
 children who had completed the Primary Course could be guarantei-il, but 
 these pupiils were carried on to what was practically a higher primary 
 course with little or no definite aim. It was recognised tliat a great 
 many boys and girls were able to remain at school lor a year or two 
 after completing the pirimary C(jurse. but could not afford to remain at 
 school for the full four years necessary for a course of High School 
 
22 
 
 THRKF. YEARS OF FDXTCATION 
 
 education. As a general rule the primary cciurse is cumpleted between 
 the ages of 13 and 14, but many parents who valued education allowed 
 their chUdren to remam at school until they weie 15 or 1(1, The Depart- 
 ment decided, therefore, during igi2, that the so-called Superior Schools 
 should be thoroughly reorganisetl, and a syllabus of instruction compiled 
 designed especially in the interests ot boys ami girls who were able to 
 stay at school for (wo j/ears after ganimg the (Jualif^nng ("ertihcate. 
 
 Experience jjas sliown that l)oys wlio commence worl< may be divided 
 broadly into two groups, those who enter a business house, and those 
 who jiropcjse taking uj) a trade. The boys' schools, therefore, as 
 reorganised, were divided into two types, the (".ommercial Superior 
 Public School, and the Junior Technical SuperKjr Public School. At the 
 Commercial School boys were trained in subjects calculated to enable 
 
 The Commercial Superior Public Sclnool at Randwick. 
 
 them subsequently, when entering an office or otlier business, to quickly 
 grasp or to adapt themselves to the spjcial conditions required. Thus, 
 they were taught book-keeping, shorthand, business principles and 
 practice, commercial arithmetic, and trade geography, in addition to 
 ordinary subjects like English and history. In the Junior I'echnical 
 School special attention was directed to the teaching of drawing, which 
 is held to underlie all trades, while experience was given in bench work, 
 lioth in wood and metal, calculated to give the boy a manual dexteritv 
 that might be applied subsequently to the particular trade entered upon. 
 At these schools boys are not trained to be carpenters or blacksmiths or 
 any other tradesmen, but they are afforded such a training as will enable 
 them later on, when they decide upon a particular trade, to acquire the 
 necessary skill thoroughly and rapidly. As far as the gi'rls of the Public 
 
IN NEW SOl'TH WALES. 23 
 
 Schools are concerned, the traniing given at the reorganised Domestic 
 Superior Public Schools is largely in the form of home management. 
 Thus tlie cours'j includes pi^actical work in cooker)', laundry, dress- 
 making, the care of the infant, and the care i:it the sick, while instruction 
 is also given in English, music, social exercises, and in art and liome 
 decoration. At the present time there are ■;_' Commercial Superifjr 
 Public Scluiols, H) Junior Technical Superior Public Scho(jls, and 50 
 I)(jmestic Superior Public Schools, with an enrolment of 1,825 ^"Y"'. 3-"^! 
 1,160 girls. 
 
 Tire staffing of these schools was a matter of considerable importance, 
 since the success c]f the new scheme depended to a very great extent 
 upon the ability of the teachers. During JcjJi, in anticipation of the 
 introduction of the sclieme. a number of the students ot the Teachers' 
 College wi:re gix'cn an additional vear's training, specially directed 
 towards fitting them lor positions in the new Superior Schools, while a 
 number of specially selected teachers, many from the country, were 
 awarded scholarships at the Technical ("ollege in order to enable them to 
 undergo a course <>i training lor |unior technical work. It will yet take 
 somi" time befoix^ these schools fully realise exjiectatious, Init it is a 
 matter for congratulation that New Soutli Wales is j)racticalh' the first 
 country to introduce a s\-ste:n of \'ocational tr<iinuig for boys and girls 
 of tlies.e ages, and the success ot the schools is being closelv followed 
 not only in the other Australian States hut throughout America and Great 
 Hntam. The Department r, in receipt of ccmgratulatory letters from 
 prominent educationists abroatl upon this new departure. Ihe new 
 scheme came into o]x-ration at the beginning ot the school year rgij. 
 
 New Education Buildings. 
 
 Although there has been a marvellous increase in the work of the 
 Education Department since it was instituted 111 iSiSo, with regard to 
 the number (jf schcjols, number of pupils, number of teachers, and the 
 broadening of the highway of education from the Kindergarten to the 
 University, the administrative offices have remained almost unaltered 
 since they were first occupied by the Dejiartmeiit in iSSi. The 
 building Itself is exactly a hundred years old, but until last year little 
 consideration was gi\-en to the question of housing the Administrative 
 Officers in premises more befitting the national \-ahie of the E^ducation 
 Department. Apart from the general meanness 111 the aiipearance ol 
 
24 
 
 THREE YEARS OF EDUCATION 
 
IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 25 
 
 the building, the accdiniiiodation lias heen so inadequate that, one l.y 
 one, various hranehes of the Department's aetivities ha\-e been pushed 
 out until at the present time they are seattered all o\-er the dty, to the 
 manliest interference with efficient and economical administration- 
 lo quote only a few instances : the Account Branch, with its necessarily 
 large staff ol officers, is now accoiumodated m rented othces m Young- 
 street; the Cashier's Branch, which to ensure efficiency should be 
 situated within immediate reach of the Account Branch, rimls accom- 
 modation m the Works Department ; and tlie J-lxaminer's 
 Brancli is located in rented offices in the British Mechcal 
 Association's building. The Departmental Stores had to 
 be cleared out from the Head Office to aflord nee<led 
 accommotlation for the clerical staff while the 
 Schools' Su])])lyDeparlment 
 
 The present Education Offices, showing the Lands Office adjoining. 
 
 has been placed in the closed Puldic School in Susse.x-street. Then 
 officers like the Secondary School Inspector, the Evening Continuation 
 School Inspector, the Superintendent of Drill, and the (Organising 
 Officer of Rural Camps, have had to find accommodation away from 
 the Head Office, while another large branch of the Department, 
 the State Children Relief Department, occupies an old Terrace fronting 
 the Domain. E\'en so, the Head Office is still e.vtremely congested, as 
 may be seen Iron: a glance at the accompanying photographs, seven, 
 and even eight clerks being compelled to W(jrk in rooms with air space 
 and floor space sufficient only for three or four. The rooms are badly 
 lighted and ill ^■entllated. while there is no convenience for the teachers 
 and general public who find it necessary to interview the Minister or the 
 
26 
 
 THREE YEARS OF EDUCATION 
 
 departmental ufficers. The public waiting-room measures 12 feet by 
 II feet 6 inches, and the corridors and passages are therefore frequently 
 crowded. 
 
 The buildings occupied at present by the Education Department 
 were erected l)y Governor Macquarie. The plans were signed on 
 Christmas Eve, iSij, and the building t(jok two years t(j complete by 
 
 .3^ 
 
 A back view of the Education Offices. 
 
 contract. It was passed by the Government Architect on January 
 2nd, 181O, and was first occupied by the Secretary, Mr. [. T. CampbeU, 
 being subsequently tenanted In' such welbknown persons as Sir Edward 
 Deas-Thomson, Sir Charles Cowper. and Sir John Robertson. The 
 l)uilding was one of three residences erected at the same time, and all 
 had fig trees planted in b'ont of them. It is worth reccirding as a matter 
 
IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
28 
 
 THREE YEARS OF EDUCATION 
 
 of sentiment that the historic fig tree which hid the building for so 
 many years was transplanted to the Botanic Gardens, where it is now 
 flourishing. 
 
 In 1.S30 the building used for fourteen 3'ears as a residence was 
 appropriated for the use of the Public Departments of the Government. 
 It was first used liy the Colonial Secretary, who occupied it until the 
 completion of the present offices in Macquarie-street in 1881. The 
 historic Iniilding then became the home of the Education Department, 
 and will so contuiue until the crimpk-tii")n of the new offices, the 
 Inundation stone of which was laid bj' the Hon. A. C. Carmicliael, 
 Minister for Education, on 7th September, iqi2. It is e.\pected that 
 the new premises will be completed before the end of ic)i4, the old 
 buikhng being preserved until its place is taken by a Iniilding for 
 another Department. 
 
 F(jr comparative purposes the following tabl will be found interesting, 
 the periods taken being 1SS2 (the first year of the Department's opera- 
 tions), 1910, and 1912 : — 
 
 
 
 
 1882. 
 
 
 I9IO. 
 
 3.105 
 
 i.'>7.49« 
 5,1100 
 
 1912. 
 
 Number of Schoots 
 Average Attendance 
 Numl)er of Teachers 
 Number of Inspectors 
 
 
 I 602 
 
 JO. 044 
 
 2.y20 
 
 26 
 
 
 =1.234 
 171,027 
 
 'J.-") 3 9 
 
 Total Cost of Education ... 
 Total Cost of Administraliou 
 Percenta.^e of Administration 
 
 to 
 
 Total 
 
 
 i.S.Soo 
 55.0^6 
 
 s.,s 
 
 £1 
 
 I. So, I .\o 
 
 .■^^54.050 
 
 4-5 
 
 £1,526,^02 
 41 
 
 Cost. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 School Buildings. 
 
 For the si.Y years ending 31st December, 1909, the expenditure on 
 school buildings and sites was £6i9,75g ; for the three years ending 
 31st December, 1912, the amount spent on buildings and sites was 
 1^645,904. The greatest amount spent in any one year since the 
 Department came into being was in 1912, when the amount exj.ended 
 upon buildings and sites amountcl to /J287,522. The expenditure of 
 this amount was necessary not only because tlie school building vote 
 was frequently inadequate, but because there was an altogether un- 
 precedented increase in the enrolment requiring additional accommoda- 
 tion for thousands of new pupils. 
 
IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 2g 
 
 In 1908-9-10 the school enrolment remained ahiKi.st stationary. On 
 31st December, 1910, it was 215,170. The following year the enrol- 
 ment reached 222,035, and on the 31st December, 1912, the total 
 enrolment was 231,842. The enrolment f(-)r the quarter ending 30th 
 June, 1913, was 240,6(15. It will be seen, therelore. that (rom the 
 31st December, 1910, to 30th June, 1913, there was an increase m schoril 
 enrolment of 25,495, or nearly 12 per cent. Allowing 45 pupils to a 
 class-room, this would require no less than 56(1 additional rooms. In 
 addition to this, however, modern hygienic requirements have demanded 
 
 "The Old and the New" (Waverley. 
 .V ^fi-ikiii.L; contr.;>t Intwi'in nld iind iiiodcm liuiUin;.^ ,i rr,inL;rmrnt>. 
 
 the remodelling of hundreds of selninls. Ahiin' nld Iniildiu.Ljs were (ntally 
 unsuitalile as regards light and \'entilati(iii. and it lias cdst almnst as 
 much to remcMJel these buildings as would ha\-e been required tn put 
 up new buildings. In the early part (if iqn rules were frameil fm the 
 provision nl light and air in connection with all new school buildings; 
 one of the most important bt-mg that the glass space ol the windows 
 must be one-fifth of the floor space, and that in all cases lell-haud 
 lighting should be provuled. lire accompanying photographs will show, 
 more clearly than any written descri})tion, how llie modern school-room 
 difters from that of a few years ago. 
 
THREE YEARS OF EDUCATION 
 
IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 3^ 
 
 11 is a remarkable taii thai t1io popnlalirni "f S\Yliiey iliinnx the Ijsl 
 tew years has increased more rapidly than the population of the «-hole 
 ot tlie remainder rif tlie State. DurinR i')OC), tli<"' population rif S\-dney 
 increased in romid nmnt)ers Ky 13,000, wliiie the inci'ease lor tlie i^euiainder 
 ol the State was 14,000. In rijio the increase was pi'actically equal, 
 both the Melroi)olis and the Country i^'ainin.t^ an additional l(),ooo. In 
 1911, however, while the population ol Sydney increased by Jij.ooo, 
 
 * « '* ■! 
 
 4 ^ I i 
 
 ^ M i ^ t ^ 2 
 
 Burwood School. 
 This iiliotn^i-aph illustrates the changing hleas in regard te lighting. Ev'i 
 
 have l)een rernoilelled to serure mow light. 
 
 :nn|);n:Lti\'el\' ww linildings 
 
 that ol the remainder of the State increased only by J4,ooo. Durin,tj 
 iqi2, the increased population of Sydney was 43,000, \\'hile the remainder 
 of the State "^ained only 42 000. This increase has required the erection 
 of numbers of new schools and additions t("i those already in existence. 
 In fact, it has been found imjiossiblc to add to school buildings rooms in 
 keeping with the rest of the premises, and the Department has therefore 
 adopted the method of supplying open-air or pa\-ilion class-rooms an(.l 
 
tHREE YEARS OF EDUCATION 
 
 
IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 33 
 
 portabJe class-rooms. The difficulty experienced may be seen by taking 
 the case of a few of the suburban schools. Thus in December, 1910, the 
 enrolment at Randwick was 640. For the quarter ending 31st 
 December, 1912, the enrolment had increased to 827, and additional 
 accommodation had been provided. On 30th June, 1913, the enrolment 
 had increased to 907, so, in order to meet the additional need, portable 
 school-rooms had to be supplied. Three of these class-rooms were 
 erected, each capable of accommodating 45 pupils, and they will remain 
 in use until further additions have been made. The case at Bondi is 
 even more marked. For the quarter ending 31st December, 191 0, the 
 enrolment was 830. Two years later it had gone up to 998, while on 
 30th June, 1913, the enrolment reached 1,227. At Little Coogee the 
 enrolment on 31st December, 1910, was 96; the enrolment went up to 
 148 in 1912, and on the 30th June, 1913, it had more than doubled, the 
 enrolment being 380. Coogee had 169 pupils on 31st December, 1910; 
 317 two years later; and on 30th June, 1913, the enrolment had gone 
 up to 394. As it was impossible to keep pace with such rapid increase 
 by additions to the existing school, a pavilion class-room and a portable 
 class-room have been provided. The case at Campsie is even more 
 striking. On 31st December, 1910, an Infants' School was in operation 
 with an enrolment of 242. A Primary School was then opened, and on 
 31st December, 1912, the enrolment reached 755. On 30th June, 1913, 
 the enrolment was 850. These examples are quoted as typical cases 
 to show the enormous increase in schoi.il population during the last 
 three years. 
 
 During 1913, a number of important works have been completed, 
 notably at Ashfield, Balmam, Drummoyne, Flemington, Granville, 
 Naremburn, and Randwick, in the Metropolitan area, the amount 
 expended on completed works at fifty schools being ^^28,000. In the 
 country, important works have been completed at Armidale, Coolabah, 
 Cuiiewis, Drake, Euabalong, Ganmain, Katoomba, Liverpool, Mt. 
 Victoria, Nambucca, Nashua, Oberon, Portland, Thirroul, Uki, and 
 Wolumla, in addition to works of less importance completed at 
 country schools. At the present time work is in operation at 88 
 Metropolitan schools and 188 country schools — the total amount 
 involved being approximately £,'270,000. The whole of this amount, of 
 course, will not be required during the present year, and in view of the 
 fact that a large proportion of the amount is being xpended on the 
 remodelling of existing schools that had been postponed from year to 
 year for many years past, the Government decided to take a quarter of a 
 
54 
 
 THREE YEARS OF EDUCATION? 
 
 m^^'. 
 
 
 o 
 
 si 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 ^ c^ 
 
 ^ffl 
 
36 
 
 THREE YEARS OF EDUCATION 
 
 million from loan money and repay it in ten annual instalments, thus 
 distributing over several years the burden caused by inadequate building 
 votes in the past. 
 
 Among important works that have been completed during the last 
 three years might be mentioned the new buildings at Tumut, ^6,700 ; 
 Wollongong, nearly £4,000; West Wallsend, £^4,600 ; Tamworth, £2,200 ; 
 Murwillumbah, £"5,000; Maitland West, £3,000; Helensburgh, £j,200; 
 Lue, £1,200; Hamilton, £6,300; Corrimal, £3,300; Cook's Hill, £6,300; 
 Cobar, £^3,300; Brewarrina, £1,100. These are only a few of the 
 buildings erected by the Department recently, and serve to show that 
 the building vote is well distributed throughout the country. 
 
 Portable Class-rooms erected at Metropolitan Schools to relieve congestion temporarily. 
 
 School Material. 
 
 When the new syllabus of Piimary Schools was introduced in 1905, 
 one of the chief featuies was the greater hberty given to the teacher in 
 method. 
 
 A. number of subjects, to many teachers new, were introduced, with 
 the consequence that parents were asked to purchase school material 
 which, while of use, was certainly not a necessity. Various text books 
 recommended by teachers were frequently the cause of parents having 
 to spend consideral)le sums of money in purchasing books. 
 
IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 37 
 
38 
 
 THREE YEARS OF EDUCATION 
 
IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 39 
 
 This mattt-r has enf^aRccl (he serious attention of the Department, 
 and materials for use in school will now he supplied to school pupils, 
 reducing parental expenditure to a minimum. In such subjects as 
 history, geography, grammar, and geometry, certain books have been 
 selected as a standard, and while teachers are permitted to recommend 
 these books to theii pupils f(jr home use, all material used by the 
 children in school is sui>i)lied liy the Department free. With nearly a 
 quarter of a million m attendance, large quantities are required, as may be 
 seen from the following. Foui and a half millions single-ruled writing 
 books have been ordered f(jr use m 1014, together with 600,000 
 double-ruled writing books. The estimated cost of these writing 
 books is over £10,000, and the supply by the Department w^ill relieve 
 parents of a constant demand for small sums of money. Then the 
 Department has ordered : — 
 
 100,000 drawing boijks, 
 
 50,000 brown paper drawing liooks, 
 
 00,000 paper folchng books, 
 
 40,000 compasses, and 
 
 (So, 000 set squares (for use in geometrical drawing), 
 250,000 lead i)eiicils, 
 25(^,000 lead-i)encil holders. 
 
 Hitherto the only material supplied has Ijeen ink and, when necessary, 
 pens. 
 
 In addition to these, the Dejiartment has ordered 25,000 dictionaries, 
 and the same number of Australian history, English history, geography, 
 and geometry books ; 8,000 atlases will lie required, and jo,ooo bo.xes 
 of mathematical instruments. These are for the use of the individual 
 pupils, but schools will also be providetl with additional equipment 
 hitherto paid for by local effort. The cost of this new and additional 
 material is estimated at nearly /27,ooo, and as s(jon as the orders have 
 been completed, the Department will be justified in claiming that 
 education is absolutely free. 
 
 School rurniture. 
 
 In 1S9Q, chiefly in order that boys committed to the " Sobraon' 
 might have an opiKirtunity of learning a useful trade during the period 
 of their detention, the Department of Public Instruction instituted a 
 Carpentry-shop at Cockatoo Island, and a number of selected boys 
 
40 
 
 THREE YEARS OF EDUCATION 
 
 were taught various phases of carpentry. In order that the expense 
 might be reduced as much as possible, the boys were set to the making 
 of school forms and desks. Later on the scope of the work was extended 
 
 ■lifiiKmm 
 
 The Education Department's 
 
 School Furniture Factory at 
 
 Drummoyne. 
 
 ^,.,««»««««««***^' 
 
 '^EsWW!*^'^ 
 
 until the majority of such articles as presses, tables, desks, forms, &c., 
 used in the Public Schools were made at the I^^land. The restricted 
 area and want of necessary machinery limit the outfit, while various 
 patents used in the manufacture of single and dual desks made it 
 necessary to purchase these articles from outside firms. 
 
 When the Government decided to abolish the " Sobraon " as a 
 Reformatory School, and to tiansfer the boys to an Industrial Farm 
 School at Gosford, the Department increased the staff of workmen at 
 Cockatoo Island in order to maintain the supply of school furniture. 
 In 1912, however, the Commonwealth having taken over Cockatoo 
 Island for naval construction, the Department was compelled to vacate 
 the workshops. It was decided, therefore, aftei careful consideration, to 
 purchase a School Furniture Factory, at Drummoyne, as a going concern, 
 thus preventing any interruption in the supply of school furniture. The 
 purchase has proved most advantageous and economical. Various 
 patents were acquired with the factory, and the up-to-date machinery 
 
IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 41 
 
 in use has effected a great saving. The following table will show the 
 saving effected on individual articles : — 
 
 Article. 
 
 
 Cost at 
 Cockatoo. 
 
 Cost 
 Drummo 
 
 It 
 yue. 
 
 Saving. 
 
 
 
 /; 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 1 / 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 1 
 S. 
 
 d. 
 
 
 Book -presses 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 s 
 
 10 
 
 27 per cent. 
 
 Large Tables 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 16 
 
 6 
 
 I 
 
 II 
 
 2 
 
 s 
 
 4 
 
 .. 17 
 
 Small Tables 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 S 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 IQ 
 
 ^ 
 
 4 
 
 s 
 
 
 Kindergarten Tables 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 
 7 
 
 I 
 
 ■■ 3.S 
 
 Kindergarten Chairs 
 
 
 
 
 
 ■7 
 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 T 
 
 
 
 .. 16 
 
 M.T. Benches 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 1 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 S 
 
 I 
 
 5 
 
 .. n 
 
 Forms and Desks (per foot) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 
 
 -.1 
 
 
 
 ,1. 
 
 •• 33 
 
 Sewing Presses ... 
 
 
 
 '^ 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 q 
 
 4 
 
 I I 
 
 
 
 ■ ■ 19 
 
 Infants' Desks (woodwork on 
 
 y) 
 
 
 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 4 
 
 I 
 
 ,s 
 
 .. 3i 
 
 Dual Desks (woodwork only) 
 
 
 
 
 
 't 
 
 6 
 
 , 
 
 5 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 1 1 
 
 .. 70 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Average saving 
 
 
 Dual Desks, complete : — Cont 
 
 ract 
 
 price, 
 
 2SS. 
 
 each 
 
 
 cost 
 
 at 
 
 Drumnioyne, 19s. 6tl. 
 
 
 each 
 
 savmg 
 
 5S. 6d. 
 
 
 
 
 
 To show how far-reaching this saving will be to the Department, it is 
 only necessary to point out that 10,000 dual desks are required annually. 
 A saving of 5s. 6d. has been effected on the contract jirice, so that the 
 annual saving on this article alone will amount to /J2,750. 
 
 hjJjiVl 
 
 ^i^ ^r mnm^-r---^ 
 
 One-half of the Machine-room at the Department's School Furniture Factory at iDrummoyne- 
 
42 
 
 THREE YEARS OF EDUCATION 
 
 There was necessarily some delay in removing the sheds, timber, and 
 other material from Cockatoo Island, and it took some little time to get 
 the factory m full working order. Notwithstanding the time lost, the 
 
 School Furniture ready for despatch. 
 
 output for the first four months' work showed an increase of 1,771 articles 
 over the number made at Cockatoo Island for a similar period. The 
 water-frontage of the factory will also result in a considerable saving in 
 carnage as soon as the necessary retaining-wall has been erected. This 
 retaining-^\•all \\-ill enable the Dejxirtment to reclaim about half an acre 
 which will add considerablj' to the value of the property. 
 
 A report issued by the Otficer-in-Charge shows that the work is turned 
 out much cheaper and of better qualitv than at Ciickatoo Island, while 
 the (jutiiut has so lar increased by 40 per cent. To show the extent of the 
 Department's ojierafions in school furniture, it may be pointed out 
 that during 1912, the workshojis at Cockatoo Island turned out 1,554 
 infant desks, 1,391 dual desks, 510 Kindergarten chairs, 2()7 small tables, 
 112 large tables, 240 book-jiresses, 27 sewmg presses, 194 work benches, 
 and 11,725 feet of desks and forms, in addition to numerous other small 
 
IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 43 
 
 vC 
 
 7^ 7 4-^.,-^*fe;^.- 
 
 
 Teaching under Difficulties, 
 
 articles such as blackboanls, easels, niap-iioles, &c. The estimaled 
 saving on the articles speciiied when maik' at the new factory compared 
 with the cost at Cockatoo Island is over £'750, so that it is onlv a matter 
 of a short time when the ca]iilal cost will have been wijx'd off and the 
 school furniture produced ni larger quantities at a less cost. 
 
 A Happy School Family 
 
44 
 
 THREE YEARS OF EDUCATION 
 
 o 
 
 ft 
 
 o 
 
 Q 
 
 ™ -a 
 
 E ^ 
 
 
 o 
 Q 
 
 
 j3 
 H 
 
IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 School iHedical Inspection. 
 
 45 
 
 A system of medical inspection was instituted m connection with the 
 Department of Public Instruction in 1907. 
 
 At that time two doctors were employed full time, and two half-time. 
 Two of these doctors were engaged in lecturing in the Training College, 
 and during 1912 one member of the staff was wholly so engaged. It 
 will be seen, therefore, that it was impossible to extend the operations of 
 the medical staff beyond the settled districts of Sydney and Newcastle. 
 
 While exceUent work was done, the indifference of the jiareiits was so 
 pronounced that it was decided during 1912 to appoint a number of 
 School Nurses. It was the dutj- of these nurses to take action whenever 
 parental indifference was shown, by attending at the home, and emphas- 
 ising the defect that had been discovered in the child by the School 
 doctor. The indifference of parents was so marked that during i()i2 
 action was taken in only 36 per cent, of the cases recommended for 
 medical treatment. 
 
 Then, again, the eye tests had been conducted by the teachers, and 
 were to some extent unsatisfactory. All children in the Metropolitan 
 
46 
 
 THREE YEARS OP EDUCATION 
 
 rt Cfl QJ _^ rt 
 
 E ^ 'I; O O n) 
 
 (U 'S Jl 1-. O OJ O 
 
 a oi *^ '-i ^ -^ -^ - 
 
 O « 
 
IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 47 
 
 schools were not medically examined, but only those who m the opinion 
 of the teacher were suffering Irom ^ome delect, or wlio were diagnosed 
 by the School doctor in the cursory examination of the class. One 
 teacher, commenting upon this aspect, wrote to tlic Department :— " The 
 result ol the inspection came as a surpi'ise, almost as a shock, to me. I 
 was under the impression tliat 
 any doctor wouUl gi\-c my school 
 practically a clean sheet, whereas 
 
 the number of cases brouglit to •*■«-*-'■ "'■•■ ' _;^^^ 
 my notice for treatment was ex- 
 tremely large." There was a 
 great want of knowledge on the 
 part of the teachers resju'cting 
 the treatment of these children. 
 Another teacher informed the 
 Department that many of the 
 parents appeared to think that 
 sore throats would pass away, 
 and that eyesight would impro\-c 
 as the child grew older. 
 
 In the summer of iqi2,the De- 
 partment receiyed some startling 
 reports respecting the schools of 
 the western and north-western 
 districts, in regard to the e)'e troubles rif pupils. A memlier of the medical 
 staff was therefore despatched to Ouambone and Coonamlile. The reports 
 subsequently submitted showed that the childri'u of tliesi' districts 
 suffer to an alarming extent fr(5m ophthalmia, and, largely as a result of 
 the experience gained, it was decided to extend the scheme of medical 
 inspection to country schools. This scheme has now liecn put into 
 operation, and it is intended to examine e\'er\' school child throughout 
 the State medically at least twice during his school career. 
 
 In the meantime a pamphlet was prepared b)- the Principal ,AIedical 
 Officer, Dr. Willis, setting forth the causes and treatment of the yarious 
 eye troubles of the west, with simide remedial measures. These pamphlets 
 have been distributed broadcast, and the assistance of the country press 
 has been obtained m disseminating a knowledge of the liest means of 
 preyentmg and curing ophthalmia. 
 
 Largely on account of these eye troutiles the Dejiartment determined 
 to bring in a scheme of country school inspection m the western and 
 
 View from a School Window ' Bondi 
 
48 
 
 THREE YEARS OF EDUCATION 
 
 north-western areas, and school doctors have since begun operations in 
 the districts surrounding Bourlie, Nymagee, Dubbo, Coonamble, and 
 Hay. Some members of the staff will continue to work in the Metio- 
 politan and Newcastle schools. 
 
 During the recent outbreak of smallpox, the Medical School Staff 
 were able to materially assist the Health Department to undertake the 
 vaccination of all Metropolitan school children, other than those whose 
 parents raised objection. During the prevalence of the epidemic 22,810 
 children and 831 teachers were vaccinated by the School doctors. The 
 operation was carried on under the most favourable conditions, and it is 
 atestimony to the skill and care of the Medical Staff that not oneserious 
 case of illness was reported to the Department. 
 
 In addition to the ordinary work of school inspection, the Medical 
 Staff has undertaken the work of collecting the necessary data in con- 
 nection with mentally deficient children. Forms have been sent to all 
 schools, with instructions to the teacher to specify children whose studies 
 appear to have been retarded compared with their ages. These returns 
 are now being furnished, and will afford excellent material for subsequent 
 action by the Department towards the important question of providing 
 sjiecial schools for children who are mentally defective. 
 
 After Vaccination at 
 School. 
 
 Waiting for the Lymph 
 to dry. 
 
IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 49 
 
 Montessori Methods. 
 
 Early in 1912 the attention of local educationists was diiected to a 
 series of articles in American magazines scttmg forth new methods in 
 education evolved by Dr. Montessori of Rome. Some successful experi- 
 ments in connection with mentally defective children had raised the 
 pertinent question why these methods could not be followed with normal 
 pupils. The underlymg principle was inchvidual hbcrtj , and it was 
 claimed that the pupil " acquired " what previousl), had been taught. 
 
 The Minister for Education immediately cabled for a copy of Dr. 
 Montessori's work just published, and on arrival of the book, Miss 
 Simpson, Lecturer in Kindergarten at the Sydney Training College, and 
 Mistress of the Kindergarten Practice School at Blackfriars. was deputed 
 
 Developing the Sensory Organs by Montessori Methods. 
 
 to begin a series of experiments to ascertain whether the Montessori 
 methods could be applied to Australian conditions. The success of the 
 experiments was so marked, and Miss Simpson was so impressed with 
 the value of the new idea as an aid to Kindergarten teaching, that the 
 Minister decided to send her to Rome to study the system at first hand. 
 
50 
 
 THREE YEARS OF EDUCATION 
 
 ■^V 
 
 •f, S 
 
 03-^ 
 
 
 'ft 
 
 
IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 51 
 
 Upon her return, Miss Simpson furnished an interesting report, in which 
 she stated that the favouraljle impressions formed at Blackfriars had 
 been intensified by her visit to Rome, and that slie was coniident that 
 the Montessori methods were capable of bemg extended to cluldren 
 much older than those usually associated with Kmdergartens. 
 
 One boy made forty words with 
 cardboard letters in tine first 
 ten days." 
 
 "'t*^'*^ 
 
 fX>Jl^ 
 
 ..»*>^ 
 
 AA'*^ 
 
 ■■ "»*<i;:^- 
 
 In a report upon the experimental work at Blackfriars, which had now 
 been in operation for twelve months, Miss Simpson reported that from 
 the first the principle of individual liberty, which is the mainspring of 
 the Montessori method, appealed alike to teachers and 
 children. The experiment was carried out strictly along 
 the lines laid down by Dr. Montessori in her book, and 
 the most astonishing results followed. Children broke 
 into writing of their own accord, and without any formal 
 teaching. The phonic elements were mastered and apphed 
 
 by most children in two weeks. One boy made forty words with card- 
 board letters in the first ten days. These words weie not suggested by 
 the teacher ; they were the child's own. Afterwards came sentences and 
 paragraphs, and at this stage the children seemed to be seized with an 
 
52 
 
 THREE YEARS OF EDUCATION 
 
 acute reading fever. They eagerly seized upon any reading matter 
 they could lay their hands on, and devoured it. Every one was busy 
 and happy, and the joy of achievement shone in theii faces. This was 
 true of teachers as w^ll as children. Since then the Montessori principle 
 has been carried out in the schools attached to the College with much 
 success. Children learn to read and write without mental strain, and 
 they move about freely and naturally instead of being pinned in their 
 desks like butterflies in cases. The teachers who have carried through 
 the experiment say they would not go back to the old system of class 
 teaching for any consideration whatever. 
 
 The main benefits of the Montessori system as already tested are 
 greater liberty, independent work, more rapid progress, and a joyousness 
 in work for both teacher and children hitherto unknown. 
 
 It is of interest to note that the didactic material necessary to the 
 method was made by the Department from descriptions given in Dr. 
 Montessori's l)ook, and applications have since been received from 
 several of the other States for sets of material, while students from other 
 States are availing themselves of Miss Simpson's experiences in Italy. 
 Froebel's Kindergarten methods were introduced into New South Wales 
 nearly thirty years after they were evolved. The Montessori Method 
 was published in April, 1912. Experiments were begun at the Black- 
 friars Practice School four months later, and the method, or such 
 modification as is needed by Australian conditions, is now in operation 
 with excellent results. 
 
 Exploding " into Writing. 
 
 Montessori pupils are 
 trained to trace sandpaper 
 letters blindfold, and later 
 begin to Avrite without any 
 directions. 
 
[N NEW sotjTH Wales. 
 
 53 
 
 "Farmers in the Making." 
 
 Three years ago tlic Government took into consideration the whole 
 question of deaUng with lads committed lr(jm the Chikh-en's Court. 
 Three institutions, namel}', the "Sobraon," Brush Farm, and the Mittagong 
 Farm Home for boys were absorbing the whole of the lads committed 
 from the courts. The Mittagong Farm Home took the yinmger children, 
 
 The First Camp of the Farm School lads at Gosford. 
 In spite of the seeming freedom not one boy attempted to leave. 
 
 while the other two were designed to deal with the older offenders. At 
 Mittagong and the Brush Farm the boys were trained to a certain degree 
 in land occupations, whereas on the " Snbraon," except for a few 
 lads sent to the carpentering works on Cockatoo Island, the boys did 
 not participate in either technical or agricultural instruction. In view 
 
 Pavilion Dormitory at Gosford Farm School, constructed of concrete by the 
 
 boys themselves. 
 
 of the expensive nature of the ujikeep of the ship, the Minister decided to 
 abolish the " Sobraon," and to establish a Lads' Industrial School under 
 conditions that would permit of a framing m rural w(jrk. The "Sobraon" 
 was sold to the Federal Government for £15,000, and renamed the 
 " Tingira." It is now used as the training ship for the Australian Navy. 
 
54 
 
 tHREE YEARS OE EDtJCATION 
 
 The limited area at Brush Farm and the growth of suburban settlement 
 rendered it necessary to remove the institution to a less populous 
 spot, and the Minister decided to establish one institution to take 
 
 Concreting the Dormitory Foundations at the Gosford Farm Industrial School. 
 
 The lads at work. 
 
 the place of both the " Sobraon " and the Brush Farm Home. The 
 work of selecting a site was left to a committee who, after investigation, 
 recommended an area of 700 acres of Crown land at Penang, near Gosford, 
 
 Concreted Dam (capacity 500,000 gallons', constructed by the lads at the 
 Gosford Farm Industrial School, 
 
 which ten years ago \vas recommended as a Government sanatorium. It 
 had the ad\-antage of lieing lofty and healthy, it had bountiful water 
 supjily, and soil that, after pro])er treatment, lent itself to fruit-growing 
 
IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 55 
 
 and the growth of cereals. As a purely commercial undertaking, the new 
 institution, owing to the difficulties of transportation, promised to prove 
 exceedingly costly, the estimate providing for the permanent accom- 
 modation of eighty-four hoys, and temporary accommodation of thirty- 
 six, with provision of water sup])ly, lighting, road-makmg, clearmg, 
 fencing, &c., being over /i4,ooo. The committee, after consideration, 
 recommended that much of this expenditure would be rendered unneces- 
 sary if the buildings were made (jf concrete, and a few capalile tradesmen 
 appointed to act as instructors to the lioys, who \\'ould be able to do 
 most of the labouring work. This idea is probaldy unique, and for the 
 first time in Australian history at least, boys committed to an Industrial 
 School have by their own efforts not only erected Iniildings, cleared land, 
 and constructed a water reser\-oir, but in doing this have acquired a 
 knowledge of pioneering wijrk that must, after release from the institu- 
 tion, turn their thought to profitable occupation upon the land. The 
 lowest tender received for clearing the land was /20 an acre, but, fur- 
 nished with sharp axes, and spurred Ijy emulation, already 40 acres 
 have been cleared, the work aftording the boys genuine pleasure. The 
 first three months were spent under canvas, and for three weeks ram fell 
 continuously. Even under these disadvantageous conditions, it is worthy 
 of notice that with little or no restraining supervision not one boy 
 absconded. The foundation stone was laid l)y the Minister of Education 
 on 9th December, 1912, and the necessary buildings are now practically 
 complete. 
 
 The educational policy laid down by the Minister aims as far as possible 
 at supplying the boj'S with that class of instruction which they would get 
 in the ordinary way in trade apprenticeshij). A great wilderness has 
 been subjugated, acute difficulties m transportation have been overcome, 
 a small army of workers has been cared for and brought face to face with 
 problems of solid work, and where a 3'ear ago there was nothing but 
 primeval forest, to-day there is a fine collection of buildings erected for 
 the most part by the boys themselves, which marks the successful 
 fruition of this experiment in Industrial Schools. 
 
 Conservatorium of Music. 
 
 The Education Department recognises that its function does not 
 wholly lie in the teaching of the three " R's," but that its object is the 
 building up of a sound i)hysical body, and the development of such 
 mental attributes as will tend to make the child a useful citizen as well 
 
56 
 
 THREE YEARS OF EDUCATION 
 
 as to enable him to lead a happy existence. To this end, music and art 
 find a place in the Syllabus of Instruction, and an important departure 
 from the ordinal}' routine of school work was made during iqi3, when it 
 was decided to establish a Conservatorium of ]\Iusic. The necessary 
 buildings are now in course of remodelling, and a music library has 
 already been instituted. This library contains copies of the works of 
 many of the greatest composers, scores that are so expensive as to be 
 prohibitive to the ordinary musical society. Now, however, such scores 
 may be obtained from the Departmental Music Lilirary in the same way 
 
 ^$s^E7iS8><*n'!^|«"«!9linMi!nnMw 
 
 The Conservatorium of Alusic is ideally situated for 1lie purpose, with magnificent 
 views, and aiibowered in trees, 
 
 that a bonk may be obtatned frotn the Public Library. The music is 
 available to every recognised musical society, whether in the city or tn the 
 country. 
 
 As soon as the buildtngs are sufficiently advanced it is intended to 
 invite applications for the position of Director of the Conservatorium. 
 Within a few montlis professors of the ])iano, ^•lolin, organ, and of 
 singing will be ajipointed, and it is expected that before long the 
 diplomas of the Conservatorium of Music will he held in such esteem 
 as to render it unnecessary for the ambitious student to undergo 
 examinations conducted by English and other associations. 
 
IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 57 
 
 Children's Play-grounds. 
 
 One of the greatest difficulties of the Eckication Department is to 
 provide suitable and adequate playing areas for school children. Many 
 schools in the thickly populated parts of the city have extremely limited 
 play-grounds, and the cost of extending them is almost prohibitive. The 
 Department has, therefore, invited the co-operation of the authorities 
 controlling Public Parks, and this co-operation is being cordially given. 
 The Sydney ^Municipal Council has set apart an area of two acres in the 
 Victoria Park, and this space has been securely fenced, a shelter pavilion 
 has been erected, swings and other means of amusing the children have 
 been furnished, and a Kindergarten teacher appointed to take charge of 
 the little ones. It is significant of the change in modern education that 
 the first children's play-ground established by the Education Department 
 is right under the shadow of the Sydney University. 
 
 Other Municipal Councils have offered to set apart areas for the exclusive 
 use of young children, and as soon as Victoria Park play-ground has been 
 in existence sufficiently long to prove the success of the experiment, 
 other play-grounds will be estal)lished on similar lines in the various 
 suburbs. 
 
 Teachers' Salaries. 
 
 Three or four years ago it was hardly ])ossible to take up an ordinary 
 newspaper without finding complaints from teachers that they were 
 underpaid, but a Gazelie notice on the 25th January, 1912, gave a 
 revised scheme of salaries which had the effect of bringing more con- 
 tentment in the teaching service than anything that had happened for 
 many years. The total amount involved was /Jio4,422, and of 5,680 
 teachers then in the service, only 576 did not participate in the increased 
 salaries. Of these 576 teachers, 122 were junior assistants m their 
 second year of service, due for promotion at the close of the year, and 360 
 were unclassified teachers who had received an increase to £110 during 
 the previous year, and would be granted further increases as soon as 
 they received certificates. The remaining C)5 were unclassified teachers 
 already m receipt of more than the minimum wage. The main feature 
 of the scheme was that it laid down the principle tliat no adult 
 teacher in the service of the Education Department should recei\-e less 
 than /no. This minimum was maintained for unclassified teachers, but 
 provision was made that the minimum salary could be substantially 
 increased by obtaining a classification. If the teacher, after two years, 
 
58 
 
 THREE YEARS OE EDUCATION 
 
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 THREE YEARS OF EDUCATION 
 
 
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IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 6l 
 
 failed to obtain a certificate, no advance in salary was afforded, on the 
 ground that the retention of such teachers in the service was not cal- 
 culated to promote efficienc)?. 
 
 It had often been a complaint on the part of teachers that the services 
 of their wives had not been sufficiently recognised in connection with 
 the teaching of sewing, and of the ^^104, 422 involved in the increase, 
 £13,056 was jiaid as recognition of the important assistance afforded by the 
 wives of teachers in teaching domestic arts to the girls of the bush schools. 
 
 Unclassified teachers who for many years had been in receipt of £7 a 
 month during the first year, and £8 a month for the second and sub- 
 sequent years received £17,432, every teacher being placed upon a 
 minimum starting salary of £110. 
 
 Classified teachers received £73,034 of the amount, and it is worthy of 
 special remark that 80 per cent, of the amount was devoted to improving 
 the salaries of teachers who were receiving less than £210 per annum. 
 
 It is also worth noting that of the total increase, the women teachers, 
 who form 44 per cent, of the service, received 43 per cent, of the 
 increase, while, if the teachers' wives were included, the women received 
 49 per cent, of the total increase. 
 
 A number of other reforms were introduced at the same time. For 
 instance, many teachers in the lower grades who reached the Classification 
 3A found themselves, by reason of advancing years, unable to satisfy 
 : ■^ examination requirements for promotion, although they were rendering 
 services of a quality beyond that denoted by their classification. The 
 value of the work of these older and experienced teachers was recognised 
 by a provision which enabled them to raise their classification without 
 further examination as a reward for efficiency. 
 
 Another and a very important alteration was effected in the valuation 
 of the teachers' residences. Until this readjustment of salaries, the 
 various residences were valued not from a comparison with local rent 
 values or from any consideration as to the number of rooms or state of 
 repair of the residence. Thus, the residence attached to every first- 
 class school, apart altogether from location or size, was £72 a year. The 
 other classes of schools being rated proportionately, it followed that as a 
 school increased in classification the rental value of a residence went up 
 automatically with the class of school. Under the new conditions the 
 annual rent values were assessed as far as was possible in accord with the 
 actual rental value. At the same time, where, as a result of local conditions, 
 the local rental value was prohibitive for a teacher of small salary, the 
 Department fixed a maximum for each class of school. The Board 
 
62 THREE YEARS OF EDUCATION IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 considered the local rental value, the cost of construction, the classifi- 
 cation of the school, and the fact that the teacher had no choice of selec- 
 tion as to locality, size, or convenience of the residence. 
 
 All these features have contrilnited to a much more contented feeling 
 in the teaching service. While it is not claimed that salaries are in 
 
 The Central School System. 
 
 For the twelve months ending June 30, 191 3, £6.0$^ was paid for the conveyance of country children 
 to 103 " Central " Schools. The number of pupils conveyed daily was 1,486. 
 
 any way commensurate with the work done, it is claimed that by 
 scientific treatment of the question of jH'omotion, and with due regard to 
 maintaining the efficiency of the service, the readjustments of the last 
 three years have done a great deal to secure a more contented and, as a 
 natural sequence, a more efficient body of teachers. 
 
 Sydney : 
 W. A GULLICK, Government Printer. -1913 
 
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. 
 
 Chart showing the General Scheme of Public Education in New South Wales. 
 
 Kindergarten 
 
 Infant School 
 2 Years 
 
 Primary School 
 6 YriARS 
 
 OUALIFVING CERTIFICATE.