The Press. TUESDAY, JULY 17, 1883.

Press, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5562, 17 July 1883, Page 2

The Press. TUESDAY, JULY 17, 1883.

The annual report of the Minister of Education is a formidable document extending to over one hundred pages, and furnishes full and interesting information regarding the present condition of the public schools established under; the Education Act, 1877. It gives also a summary of the work of a number of educational institutions of a public character which do not come under the operation of the Education Act, such as Industrial Schools and Orphanages, the Institution for Deaf Mutea, the New Zealand ; University and secondary schools.

Commencing with tbe primary schools we find that at the beginning of 1882 the number of scholare was 76,309, and the number on the school rolls at the end of the year 87,179. The "strict average" for the year was 63,709, and the "working average" 66,145. The working average shows an increase of 2410 on that of 1881, and since 1877 an increase of 25,307. In 1877 the average attendance was 40,837 > in 1878j 47,996; in 1879, 54,724; in 1880, 62,234; in 18S1, 63,735. It will be seen that the annual increase in school attendance during the last two years is much smaller than for the first three years after the Act came into operation. This, of course, is what might naturally be expected. Owing to the extension of the public school system to new districts aid the abolition of school fees the attendance rose more rapidly than the j increase in the population. But the limit j has now probably been reached, and the increase in future may be expected to be only in proportion to the growth of the population' As far as 1882 is concerned the report also points out that epidemics seemed to be more prevalent and more serious among the children of the" colony than was the case in former years, and the average attendance had been thereby affected. Notwithstanding these causes it is worthy of note, however, that the proportion of average attendance to the roll numbers has varied but little during the last few years. It was ; 76.1 per cent, in 1879, 76.6 in 1880,"' 76.4 in 1881, and 76.4 in 1882. Another table gives a return of the subjects of instruc. tion in the public schools, from which we learn that, of the number belonging to the schools at the end of the year—B7,l79—all bat one, a boy usable to speak, were taught reading; 86,182, writing; 85,180, arithmetic ; 38,643, English grammar and composition; 48,820, geography; 33,436, history; 18,623, elementary science; 50,723, drawing j 65,890, object lessons; 59,340, vocal music; 30,247 girls needlework ; and 5631, domestic economy. There were 911 schools open at the end of 1382, at 46 of which the attendance for the last quarter was under 46; 74 at which the attendance was under 20; 97 under 25; 362 under 50; 110 under 75; 63* under 100; 67 nnder 150; 52 uneter 300;'21 under 500; and 19 at which the attendance was over 500. Of the latter 4 were : in Auckland; lin Hawke's Bay; sin North Canterbury; 1 in South Canterbury; 7 in Otago; and lin Southland. These schools were taught by 2143 teachers, of whom 1737 were male teachers, 130 male

assistants, and 169 mate pupil teachers. There were 327 female teachers, 281 assistant female teachers, and 499 female pupil teachers, and the salaries and allowance paid to them amounted to £224,850, or an average of £99. ' The payments were distributed as follows:—There were 1227 (including 668 pupil teachers, and 111 sewing teachers) who received under £100 per annum; 830 whose salary ranged from £100 to £200 ; 171 from £200 to £300; 37 from £300 to £400; and 14 from £400 to £495. Of the latter, one was in Auckland, one in~Wanganui, one in Hawke's Bay, three in North Canterbury, and eight in Otago.

Turning to the financial aspect of the case, we find that the expenditure for- the year 1882 amounted to £353,111. Of that sum, management of Boards cost £8458 ;

inspection and examination, JB9115; maintenance of schools, .£258,683 ; school buildings, £71,852 ; refund and advances, £5001. In other words, the average cos* for the year for each scholar in average daily attendance for management, inspection, and current maintenance was £4 3s 6Jd per head, or an increase of 2s O|d per head on the expenditure of the preceding year. The total averages for each educational district were as follows:— Auckland, £4 4s sd; Taranaki, £314s 9fd; Wanganui, £4 Oa lid; Wellington, £46s 10d; Hawke's Bay, £4 3s o}d; Marlborough, £3 18s sd; Nelson, £4 7s 6Jd North Canterbury, £4 5s 3Jd; South Canterbury, .£3 16s SJd ; Westland, £4 5s 8d; Otago, £4 3s 8d; Southland, £3 18s ll*d. Compared with the cost of education in other colonies when the national system is in operation, these figures maybe regarded as highly satisfactory. They give evidence of a strong desire on the part of those who are called on to administer the Act to do the very best they are able with the money placed at their disposal.

Coming next to the evidence of the etate of education in the public schools we find from returns in the report that of the 87,179 on the rolls in December, 1882. 48.6 per cent, presented themselves for passing in the standards; and of those who presented themselves 72.3 per centactually passed, or a total of 35.1 per cent, of the roll number. The report calls attention to the fact, that 46,668 children oat of 87,179 scholars on the rolls in the last quarter of the year, or 53.53 per cant, are classified by the teachers as having passed either Standard I. or some higher standard* while it appears- that only 42,338, or 48.6 per cent, presented themselves for examination. This difference is no doubt partly explained by the fact that the rolls are larger at the end of the year when the teacher's classifications are made; but it is also to be feared that a good many children are permitted to be absent from the Inspector's examination without sufficient reason. A quotation is given from the report of Messrs Edge and Camming, of this district, in explanation of this.. "We have taken," they say, "some trouble to find out the cause of so many children being absent on the examination days, and fear that it is attributable to the fact that in these schools the backward children are not only encouraged,

but in some cases actually forbidden to be Iβ ft few instances the attendance pc by the state of the weather." Attention is also directed to the fact that the proportion of children that passed some standard was 2.3 per cent, lower thau for the prerions year. This falling off has been most noticeable in Auckland, Taranaki, Wanganoi, Marlborough, "Westiand, ant!-.Otago, and there has been a slight in Wellington, Nelson, South Canterbury, and Southland, while Hawke's Bay and North Canterbury show scarcely any change. Various explanations are given of this falling off. The Auckland Inspector states that it is due to irregularity caused by sickness, and to a somewhat more stringent test being applied. The North Canterbury Inspectors remark that a far greater number of schools than was formerly the case are now attempting the work of the higher and more difficult standards, and in some of these the teachers have as yet failed to understand the full amount and quality of what is demanded to secure a pass; and in other schools the inferior results are'due to irregular attendance, or to the frequent enanging of teachers. The Hawke's Bay Inspector accounts for the inferior results of the past two years by the fact that " when the standard* were introduced teachers were allowed considerable latitude in classifying their scholars, and as a rule the classification is sufficiently low to secure a pass. Now that repeated examinations have thoroughly gauged the scholars' ability, a" pass can be secured only by work done during the year." All this is evidence of an increasing determination on the part of the Department to render the education given in the State Schools a reality; and although the passes have not been so high, the chances are that the efficiency of the schools is decidedly improving.