EDUCATIONAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 72, 26 March 1891, Page 6

EDUCATIONAL.

Tho examination for the Amatour Opera Club exhibition took placo on March 4atthe University College. Mr T.Wood was tho examiner. There wero IS candidates. Miss Alice Maud Harding, who took iirst prize, scored a fraction over 90 per cent, oi: the maximum marks ; Miss Francis Harper coming second with 86 por cent. Tho average of marks throughout was excellent.

At the University Senate tho report of tho examiners for the Bowen essay was brought up. It stated that seven essays wero received, tho subject being " Proposed federation Imperial and Australasian, the form ib will take, and tho probable effects on the destinies of Groat Britain and the colonies." They recommended thab tho prize bo awarded to Andrew Ross Kirk, undergraduate of Canterbury College. Dr. Redwood was appointed examiner for the Bowon prize for 1891. It was rosolved that candidates for the degree of Bachelor of Music who shall have passed in physics or Latin, Greek, French, German, in theß.A. orß.Sc. pass examinations be not required to pass again in those subjects in the intermediate examination for Bachelor of Music.

The election of three membors of the Board of Education took place on March 13th. Voting papers forDrury andMareretu were thrown out, as thoy had been received too late, and one voting paper from Poinb Chevalier, on bho ground that thero was not a quorum of momboi'g. Voting papars wore received from 184 Committees ; no voting papors had been received from 32 Commi-tees. Tho result was as follows : — Mobion, 120 ; Muir, 100 ; Grant, 84 ; Upton, 80 ; Carr, 67 ; Biirbor, 44 ; Patterson, 30 ; Jordan, 14. Messrs William Motion, Jamos Muir, and Alexander Grant wore theteforo declared duly elected. In all, 539 votes wero recorded. BOARD OF EDUCATION REPORT. Tho draft annual report of tho Auckland Education Board for tho past year was submitted to tho members of the Board nb lasb week's meebing, and was approved. Ib was prepared, at the request of the Board, by thoChairman, M r Udy, and the Secretary, Mr V. E. Rice.

The report, after dealing with the personnel of the Board during the past year, and tho recent; changes, states that 266 schools were in oporation during tho year. The half-time schools wero reduced from 48 to 40, 16 new schools opened, and 5 closed. There were 25 aided schools, to which the Board grants £4 a head on tho average attendance if ton scholars can be mustered. The total average attendance in town and suburban schools was 9,668. Tho expenditure on these schools was £2 7sßd perscholar for teachers' salaries, and 43 9d por head school fund allowance to committees, a total of £2 12s 5d per head. In country schools the aggregate attendance was 8,567 scholars, and the cosb per head for beachers' salaries was £3 18s, and grants to committees 6s 8d per head, a total of £4 4s Bd. " These figures show thab aboub one-fourth of bhe amount expended in maintaining country schools is derived from tho capitation grant earned by town and suburban schools. Tho expenditure on buildings in town and suburbs was 4s 7d por head, in the country 16s Id por head."

The total number of toachers employed was 240 males, and 407 females, of whom 176 males and 69 females were in charge of schools. Of the teachers above the rank of pupil toachers 8 aro in class B, six in class C, 136 in class D, and 271 in class E, and each year shows an improvement. Sixty-nine teachers havo left, seventy-six havo entered, and eleven have re-joined. There is still a surplus of 70 assistants over scale requirements, but it is being gradually reduced. The female toachers appointed to the charge of country schools conbinue to obtain vory favourablo

reports. "The Board has adhered to its course of acbion regarding the appointmenb and removal of teachers : namely, to consult bhe Commibbees bo bhe fullesb practicable extent and ab the same time to give duo consideration to the claims of teachers to promotion on the ground of their classification, service and efficiency." In order to prevent any further increase in the surplus of assistants, promotion of pupilteachers to tho position of assistants will take effect only when a vacancy occurs. The average atbendance for the year in the schools has been 9,515 males and 8,720 females, an increase of 215 and 241 respectively. Serious disadvantages are caused by irregular attendance to children, teachers, and Board. A programme has been drawn up for a three years' course in science, and has boen issued to teachers. The appointment of a fourth inspector has enabled nearly every school to receive two visits from inspectors during the year. Tho Board suggests that holders of senior scholarships should bo enabled to attend bhe Lincoln School of Agriculture if they so desire.

The Board has had to postpone several necessary buildings for want of funds: The building grant is now all expended, and a furthor sum is needed for immediate requirements. Settlement in country districts is advancing rapidly, and new schools may be needed at any moment. The Board endeavours to meet bhe wanbs of country districts as speedily as possible ; but there is often delay in fixing on a suibahle site in a new districb. All school buildings are painted once in five years, the Board paying half cost, and the Committees the other half.

The receipts during the year were £82,939 6s, including a balance'of £9,566 2s 8d brought forward ab the beginning of the year. The expenditure was £75,282

7s 6d. The accounts at 51s>b December, 1890, stood : — Maintenance fund, ci., £6,250 4.s lOd; building fund, dr., £1,050 9?. The capitation grant of £3 ]5_ per head wis applied approximately as follows :—Teachers' salaries, £3 os ; grants to committees, 5s 10(1 ; inspection and examination, 2s ; office management, Is 7d ; unexpended, 2s 7d ; total, £3 15s. The report concludes with an expression of thanks to tbe committees for the assistance thov havo given in administering the Act.