March 6, 1866.
Gentlemen.—We have the honour to present, for the information of the Commissioners, this our Report on the Lurgan Minor Model School for the past year. The school continues to advance in public estimation. The following table shows that the daily average attendance for 1865 exceeded that for 1864 by 33.8, and that the amount of school-fees received in the former exceeded the receipts of the latter by £40 3s I0d.

YEAR		BOYS	GIRLS	INFANTS	TOTAL
1864	Average number on rolls	175.7	91.8	76.6	344.1
"	Average Daily Attendance	147.4	80.6	65.7	293.7
"	Average Percentage	83.8	87.8	85.7	85.3
1865	Average number on rolls	212.3	111.2	88.4	411.9
"	Average Daily Attendance	170.0	85.0	72.5	327.5
"	Average Percentage	80.0	76.4	82.0	79.5
1864	School Fees	£83.18s.8d	£44.2s.6d	£36.14s.0d	£164.14s.2d
1865	School Fees	£106.10s.2d	£58.5s.2d	£46.3s.8d	£210.19s.0d

The centesimal proportion of the number in daily average attendance to the average number on rolls, although remarkably high, close on 80 per cent in 1865, was somewhat higher in 1864. The difference appears to be accounted for partly by the prevalence of measles, which in one month reduced the attendance of infants to 52 per cent, of the number on rolls, and partly by the improvement which took place in the trade of the town within the year, and owing to which many of the elder boys and girls were frequently kept at home, to assist in employments connected with various branches of manufacture. The total number of pupils on rolls at the close of each year, classified according to rates of payment, was as follows:-

YEAR		BOYS	GIRLS	INFANTS	TOTAL	% ON ROLLS
1864	5s.0d per Quarter	45	35	20	100	24.5
"	2s.6d per Quarter	94	70	36	200	48.8
"	1s.1d oer Quarter	51	25	33	109	26.7
	TOTAL	190	130	89	409
1865	5s.0d per Quarter	57	40	25	122	29.5
"	2s.6d per Quarter	109	38	33	180	43.6
"	1s.1d oer Quarter	47	31	33	111	26.9
	TOTAL	213	109	91	413

The following exhibits the value of the school requisites sold in the several departments in the years 1864 and 1865 respectively:-

YEAR		BOYS	GIRLS	INFANTS	TOTAL
1864		£13.0s.0d	£8.2s.6d	£1.0s.3d	£22.2s.9d
1865		£11.5s.0d	£4.7s.2d	£2.2s.10d	£17.15s.0d

The next table shows the classification, according to religious denominations, of the total numbers of individual pupils appearing on books during each of those years:-

YEAR		BOYS	GIRLS	INFANTS	TOTAL	%
1864	Established Church	155	77	73	305	48.8
"	Roman Catholic	35	22	14	71	11.3
"	Presbyterian	76	59	52	187	30.0
"	Other	30	20	11	61	9.8
	TOTAL	296	178	150	624
1865	Established Church	134	76	76	286	42.8
"	Roman Catholic	54	44	24	122	18.2
"	Presbyterian	67	82	45	194	29.0
"	Other	29	25	12	66	9.9
	TOTAL	284	227	157	668

According to the Census returns of 1861, the corresponding percentages in the population of the town of Lurgan, which amounts to 7,772, are as follow:-

In connexion with these statistics it is right to observe that there are in the town two large National schools managed by the parish priest; three National schools whose managers are Presbyterian clergymen; and two schools on Erasmus Smith's foundation. A similar classification of the pupils on rolls at the close of each year respectively, is given in the subjoined table:-

YEAR		BOYS	GIRLS	INFANTS	TOTAL
1864	Established Church	97	56	47	200
"	Roman Catholic	27	20	8	55
"	Presbyterian	45	37	29	111
"	Other	21	17	5	43
	TOTAL	190	130	89	409
1865	Established Church	102	33	41	176
"	Roman Catholic	38	18	11	67
"	Presbyterian	52	43	41	126
"	Other	21	15	8	44
	TOTAL	213	109	91	413

In the year 1864 the total number of individual pupils that received instruction in the school was 624; last year the number was 668. These, classified according to Lesson-books, are as follows:-

YEAR		BOYS	GIRLS	INFANTS	TOTAL	%
1864	Book One	-	-	105	105	16.8
"	Book Two	65	41	45	151	24.2
"	Sequel	52	42	-	94	15.0
"	Book Three	76	41	-	117	18.7
"	Book Four and Five	103	54	-	157	25.2
	TOTAL	296	178	150	624
1865	Book One	-	9	74	83	12.4
"	Book Two	61	58	83	202	30.2
"	Sequel	27	62	-	89	13.3
"	Book Three	48	46	-	94	14.0
"	Book Four	120	34	-	154	30.0
"	Book Five	28	18	-	46	30.0
	TOTAL	284	227	157	668

From this table it appears that in 1864 the first and second classes formed 41 per cent., the Sequel class 15 per cent., and the third, fourth, and fifth classes 44 per cent, of the number of individual pupils appearing on books; and that in 1865 the same groups of classes constituted respectively 42.6, 13.8, and 44 percent, of that number. In the ordinary National schools of the Lurgan section of this district, the corresponding percentages are about 66.0, 13.2 and 20.8 In the boys' department the classification is remarkably high : the fourth and fifth classes, comprising more than half the entire school, being, perhaps, the most numerous in the kingdom.

The pupils on rolls on the 31 December, 1865, were classed as follows:-

As suggested in the last annual report on this model school, a fourth assistant teacher has been appointed within the year. Several changes have taken place in the monitorial staff. The facilities for obtaining remunerative employment for young persons in a manufacturing town like Lurgan, renders it not a little difficult to procure and retain the services of monitors for the model school. Pupils of the school who are qualified for the situation generally set but little value on it: and its acceptance by strangers to the town and neighbourhood is, of course, out of the question, as the salary is insufficient for a boy's or girl's support. Hence, of the four monitorships allowed for the male department by the Commissioners, there is, as at present, nearly always one vacant. Under these circumstances, and taking into account the considerably increased average attendance in the boys' school, and the immense labours required for the instruction of its unusually large senior classes, we would recommend the addition of upon two pupil-teachers to the present teaching staff of that department. The school, buildings, and premises require some improvement in matters of detail; but they are, on the whole, in a satisfactory order.

The annual public examination took place on the 10th of July, during the preceding days the pupils were subjected to a private examination of a searching character, in the several subjects of the school programme. The questions were partly oral, partly written: and a record of the answering of every child was preserved. From this record the following particulars arc taken:-

Boys School Second Class. Of all the classes in the school this had suffered most from the insufficiency of teaching power, noticed in last Annual Report. Evidences of improvement, however, especially in arithmatic, were observable at this examination; 28 pupils in this class were examined.

Sequel Class. Four drafts, containing 30 children, presented themselves for examination. Arithmetic and writing from dictation were satisfactory; reading and grammar may be pronounced fair; spelling, explanation, and geography rather below the standard: penmanship very creditable. The great majority of those in the two higher drafts, consisting of 25 pupils, answered considerably above 50 per cent of the entire number of questions proposed.

Third Class. Thirty-four examined. They acquitted themselves well in arithmetic; fairly in spelling, explanation, grammar, and geography; reading middling; writing particularly good. There were twenty boys in the two higher drafts. The marks obtained by nineteen of these ranged from 50 per cent, to 65 per cent of the total number of questions.

Junior Fourth Class. Of this section of the school, 43 were present at the private examination. Their reading and writing were remarkably good; dictation fair; but in oral spelling, grammar, geography, mensuration, and book-keeping they did not come up to our expectation. Out of a maximum, however, of 800 marks, the majority of these boys were awarded a third or over.

Senior Fourth Class. Forty-two were present and examined. The amount, of proficiency exhibited in reading, spelling, grammar, penmanship, arithmetic, and writing from dictation was in a high degree satisfactory. The answering in geography was only tolerable; in algebra it was poor; but a good knowledge was shown of mensuration of superficies; and a fair proportion of the class acquitted themselves creditably in " physical science," including hydrostatics, pneumatics, the principles of heat, and the construction and working of the steam engine.

Of 28 pupils examined in the three upper drafts of this class, the answering of 26 ranged from 50 per cent, to 74 per cent, of the entire nutmber of questions proposed. The examination of the fourth class in grammar, arithmetic, bookkeeping, mensuration, and algebra was conducted principally through the medium of written exercises.

Girls School Second Class. Twenty-six were examined. The reading and arithmetic may be regarded as fair; writing, spelling, grammar, and geography only middling.

Sequel Class. Of this class 18 girls were present at the preliminary private examination. Reading, spelling, grammar and writing from dictation satisfactory; arithmetic, penmanship, and geography only middling. The answering of half those examined was up to or above 50 per cent of the number of questions given.

Third Class. The results of the examination of 18 who presented themselves were, in reading, fair; in spelling, good; in grammar and arithmetic, excellent; poor in writing from dictation ; and only middling in geography and penmanship. Out of a maximum of 640 marks, over a third was obtained by every child examined.

Fourth and Fifth Classes. Of these classes 20 girls were present for examination. They acquitted themselves fairly in reading and grammar; well, in spelling, arithmetic, and geography; very well, in penmanship, and writing from dictation ; indifferently, in history. The highest number of marks attainable was 690; of which the majority of those examined were awarded from 50 per cent, to over 70 per cent.

Infants School. In this department the general state of proficiency may be regarded as satisfactory, considering that the attendance had been very much reduced owing to the prevalence of measles amongst the children, and that many of the best pupils were absent on this account, Out of 103 on books, only 48 were present for examination.

Public Examination. A large number of the clergy, gentry, and other inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood assembled at the public examination, which, on this occasion, was honoured by the presence of Lady Lurgan. Owing to the causes referred to in a preceding part of this report, it was not deemed advisable to admit the infants to their accustomed share in the day's exhibitions.

Although the lowness of tone in which a portion of the girls read and answered prevented their being distinctly heard, the display made by the two departments examined, may be pronounced as, onthe whole, fairly satisfactory. Some excellent specimens of the boys' penmanship were distributed amongst the audience; and the walls of the examination hall were decorated with drawings, executed by the pupils, which reflected much credit on the drawing-master, Mr. Smeethe. Mr. Mooney. teacher of physical science, subjected a large class of the senior boys to an examination, lasting nearly two hours, and illustrated by numerous experiments on the laws of heat, the steam-engine, pneumatics, and hydrostatics. The answering was marked by promptitude and accuracy, and was listened to with much interest by a considerable portion of the audience.

On the last occasion of this kind, Lord Lurgan added five silver medals to the £10 allowed for premiums by the Commissioners. His lordship has been pleased to signify his intention of repeating annually this gift to the institution. The class of vocal music conducted by Mr. George Washington with his usual ability and success, and accompanied on the harmonium by Miss Coyle, gave at intervals during the day a selection of airs, which were rendered in perfect harmony, and with very pleasing effect. The proceedings closed with the singing of '' God save the Queen.' The answering was marked by promptitude and accuracy, and was listened to with much interest by a considerable portion of the audience.

The Evening School continues to be well attended and efficiently conducted.

We remain, gentlemen, your obedient servants,

James Patten, Head Inspector.
D. Roantree, Acting Inspector.