THE DOMINION SCHOOLS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 203, 25 August 1908, Page 2

THE DOMINION SCHOOLS.

FACTS AXD FIGURES. AX INTERESTING BEHCET. j3y Telegraph. —Tariiamentary Beporter.) WELLDTGTOiN; Tuesday. Tiis afternoon- the. Hon. G«o. FowJds, Minister for Education, presented Ms report of the Education Department for the year ending 1907. A vast budget of information is included in the report, which embraces a total of 117 pages. PDBLIC SCHOOLS. The total mnnfoer of schools open at the end of the year -was 1963, or 42 more than at the end of 1906. Seventy-six schools were closed during the year, including 14 in Auckland, 14 in Marlborough, 12 in Hawke's Bay, seven in Southland, and five in North. Canterbury. The total average attendance for the year was 120,02 c, being a decrease of 1932 as compared with the previous year's total. In 1904, 1905 and 1906 there was an increase of 3459, 3759, and 1693 respectrrelv. The number of schools in the various provinces at the end of the year was as follows: Auckland, 439; Otago, 232; North Canterbury, 205; Sooth Caiifcerbury, 77. The total number of schools in the Dominion is 1963, being a. total of 42 in excess of last year. In all, 3937 teachers are engaged in the public schools of New Zealand. These include 1332 aduifc males, 1955 adult females, and 650 pupitteacbers, only 172 of whom are males. The number of pnpil-teachers is lower than in any year since 1883. School attendances for 1907, including secondary departments of district high schools, give to the Auckland educational district a lead, with an average weekly attendance of 33,174. North Canterbury comes next with an average of 19,401,"and Otago is not far behind with 19,221. This is an increase of 1626 for the year. The total (for all the educational districts reaches 141,946. In connection with the question, of mixed schools, it is interesting to note that in Auckland there are 2144 children of Maori and mixed races attending 23S schools. In all, there is a total of 3988 children of mixed races attending 462 schools in the Dominion. On the other land, there are 417 European children attending 71 native schools in different parts of the country. iAn interesting table fe that showing ihe age and sex of the pupils on the rolls of the puHic schools of the Dominion, and the percentage of the roll for each age. The percentage has remained fairly constant in the case of children ironi six yeans and over, but has decreased in the case of children from five to six years of age. Between the ages of seven and eight the i«iiuu shows the best results. there being 16,326 on the roll of that age. There are 16,62? children between the ages of nine and ten; and eight and nine, ten and eleven, and eleven and twelve aTe ages with totals of over 15,----000 to their credit. EXAMINATION RESULTS. The proportion of boys to girls remains about the same as for the previous fire years, viz., per cent., as compared with 47.67 per cent. For every JOO boys on the roll there are 91 girls. An interesting table gives the number of child Ten on the rolls of the schools in each district, and the number per cent, at the time of the inspectors , an- * nua.l visit, and also shows the number of certificates of proficiency and competency issued. From this it is seen that 9897 pupils were present at the annual examination of Standard VX., of which number 5840 (or 59 per cent.) gained certificates of proficiency, and 2373, (or 23.98 per cent.) gained certificates of competency —a total of 8213 (or 82.9S per cent.) gaining either the proficiency or competency certificate. In 1906 the respective percentages were 55.46, 26.09, 82.45. In Auckland, of a total of 2135 pupils in Standards VI. and VII., 1733 gained Standard VL certificates. In Otago, out of 1760 pupils in the two standards, 1214 gained certificates. In North Canterbury, out of 1688 pupils, 1195 <were successful, and in Wellington, out of 1799' pupils, 1115 gained certificates. In 'English and arithmetic the numbers returned remain practically identical with the roll numbers following them in the upward grade. Under the heading "Physical Instruction" a further increase is shown in the num; hex receiving some definite course of training, and singing also includes a distinctly larger proportion of the whole. A largre increase is again shorwn in the addition to tlie number reported as re-. cerring instruction in hand-work in vari<>ut forms. The total number receiving infraction under this heading has now reached 74.79 per cent. of the total roll number. The percentages of the numbers receiving instruction in nature study and physical instruction were 86.5)5 and 97.40 respectively of the total roll number. According to the returns, there is a. fell in the numbers taking geography and history, but, as the figures now given correspond very closely -with the numbers of papile in the classes for which those subjects are prescribed, it is probaWe that previous returns were based upon estimates that were more or less inaccurate. PUBLIC SCHOOLS TEACHERS. In December, 1907, there were employer! on the primary staffs in the public schools of the Dominion 3937 teachers. Of these 3287 were adults and 650 pupilteachers. The corresponding numbers for December. 190G, were 3201 adults and 671 pupil-teachers. Of the adult teachers at the end of 1907, 1332 were men and 1955 women. Of the pupil-teachers 172 ■were male pupil-teachers and 478 female pupil-teachers. The number of adult male teachers was 18 more and of adult female teachers 68 more than in December, 1906. The number of male pupilteachers increased by 19, but the number of female pnpil-teachers decreased by 40. The total of all salaries and allowances et the rates paid at the end of the year (was £499,418. This includes the salaries and lodging allowances of pupil-teachers, as w-efl as all salaries and house allowances paid to adult teachers. The a-ver-oge rate per teacher, including pupilteacheis, was therefore £126 17/1. A ' fairer idea could probably be gained by excluding teachers in Grade "O" schools and pupil-teaebers, and by deducting all allowances in the ease of aduit teachers. It is then found that the Average net salary of an adult male teacher was in December, 1907, £192 9/3. as compared -with £189 18/2 in 1908. The average salary per woman teacher was £115 0/3, •« against £116 7/3, and the average salary for all adults -was £148 17/7. as against £149 3/7 per teacher. TRAINING OP TEACHERS. I\ew training college buildings are now in course of erection at Auckland and Dunedin. An expenditure of £8000 and £ SSOO respectively, has been authorised for the purpose, and requests for further sums to be expended in certain alterations or additions are under consideration. When these works are completed, with the necessary furnishings, the material equipment in the four centres should suffice for all present needs. ;

He amount paid during 1907 for the training of .teachers was made up as follows:—Salaries of staffs of four training colleges, £12,414; students* allowances and- University fees, £13,148; grants for special instruction in bandwork, £1895; railway fares of teachers in training and for instructors, £5564; alterations to buildings in Wellington (beJanceJ, £632; on account of buildings in Auckland, £987; for library books, Auckland, £100; and apparatus, eta, Christchurch, £135. It must be remembered, however, that £12,414 of this total provides, not only for the efficient training of over two hundred and fifty teachers, but also for the instruction of over fifteen hundred children in attendance at the practising schools. Amongst the actual distribution of the vote for maintenance of school buildings were the following:—For maintenance and replacement at Auckland, £12,100; Taranaki, £2058; Wellington, £4895; Hawke's Bay, £3546 18/-; North Canterbury. £8220; South Canterbury, £2562; Otago, £9089; Southland, £4611. For rents: Auckland, £953 19/8; Wellington, £1033 3/5; Hawke's Bay, £74 7/0; Otago, £80 11-. Special grants amounting to 19/10 for additions to schools rendered necessary by increased attendance and for new school buildings and teachers' residences included the following^—Additions at Auckland, £3356 17/9; North Canterbury. £1353 16/11: South Canterbury. £100; Otago, £1110; Southland, £1368 14/-. New schools: Auckland, £4132 8/7; North Canterbury, £1040 6/6: Otago, £2745; Southland, £376. Residences: Auckland, £1378; South Canterbury, £700; Otago. £540; Southland, £860; total, £7539 1/10. PUBLIC SCHOOL CADETS. The Education Act provides that 'In public schools provision shall be made for the instruction in military drill of all boys," and it is declared to be the duty of the Education Board in each district "to cause physical drill to be taught to all boys and girls over the age of eight years, attending the public schools in the district.' . The number of children returned as receiving instruction in drill in the public schools of the Dominion at the end of the year was 137,404. The term "drill" includes physical and disciplinary exercises. There were on the 31st March, 190S, 183 cadet companies, 111 detachments, and 14 sections, with a total strength of 15,183 members, equipped with the "model rifles, ,, dummies, which have been imported by the department for purposes of drill, and, with a percentage of miniature Martini Henri rifles for target practice. The number of battalions formed was 31. For the encouragement of rifle practice by the cadet companies in the Auckland education district, the report states: '"Mr Henry Brett, proprietor of the "Auckland Star," very generously presented the department with a silver-shield and medals. The Thames battalion was presented by private benefactors with a belt, medals, and stars for competition by the cadets. As mentioned in previous reports, other districts have also received valuable prizes for local competition. The expenditure for the year 1807 was £9779 13/1. SECONDARY EDUCATION. At the end of 1907 the secondary schools, giving free tuition to duly qualified pupils, and receiving grants therefor under section 87 of the Education Act, numbered twenty-six, as against 23 in the previous year. The total number of pupils on the roll of these schools was 3579, and of this total 2468 (1335 boys, and 1133 girls), or .70 per cent, of the roll number, were given free piacee under the regulations for free places, at a mean average cost to the treasury of £8 13/6 per pupil. The approximate annual rate, as determined on the payments for the last term of the year being £21,596. In 1906 the number of such free pupils was 2435, and the approximate annual rate, £21.240, with a mean capitation of £8 17/4 per pupil. In addition, free tuition was given, to 245 holders of scholarships or exhibitions granted by these schools by Boards of Hducation (in some circumstances) or by endowed secondary schools not coming under £he conditions, making the total number.ibf free places held at secondary schools, 2735, as against 2770 in 1906.