WHERE ARE THE SCHOOL CHILDREN ?

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10758, 11 September 1900, Page 6

WHERE ARE THE SCHOOL CHILDREN ?

TJtui PALLIXG-OFP IN ATTENDANCE

(BY Oim SPECIAL BEPORTKB./

The reference in the annual report of the Department of Education that in North Canterbury, and also in certain other Education districts, there had been last year a decline in the school attendance, and in the average number of attendants, suggested that some information as to this fafiing-off would prove of interest, and Mr H. C. .Lane, secretary of the Education Board, was seen by a representative of "The Press" on the subject. Mr Lane pointed out that for the quarter ended December 31st, 1899, the total number of scholars on the rolls was 20,218, the number for the corresponding quarter in 1895 being 21,368 —or a reduction in four years of 1150. This was a serious question from the point of view of the Board's financier, and made a difference of about £3000

per annum. With regard to the average attendance at the Beard's schools, it had reached its highest point in 1897, when it was 85.05 per cent. ; last year the percentage was 83.62. However, compared with the mean average since 1878, which was, approximately, 80 per cent., the percentage for last year did not show up so badly. It* was. he confessed, somewhat difficult

to detail all the causes, the operation of which had resulted in the decreased attendance, but there was no doubt that the successful settlement going on in the country districts was one factor. children - were be-

ing drawn away from the centres to the countr- and sometimes they did not go to school at all. and sometimes there were no schools

—though the Board had attempted to keep pace with the requirements of the newlysettied country districts, and had erected five .ajiools in the "Cheviot district, besides others

in other localities. Again, the amount of settlement going on in the North Island had been responsible for a large number of families migrating from the North Canterbury Education district. That would make some difference: in addition, it was probable that private schools were being more largely attended, and this would also contribute to the decrease in the attendance at the State schools. There was also the question of the decrease in the number of births of from five to ten years ago, which would also operate disadivantagelously—had the children been born five or ten years ago there would, naturally, be a larger number now to attend

school. In the annual report on the inspection of schools, the Board's inspectors stated that the number of schools had not altered, and was the same as in the past two years—2oo —but the enrolment showed a further decline, for which the older-settled parts of the district were responsible. The decline first showed itself in 1897, with a drop of 290 children* though five new schools were added in that year; 1898 witnessed a further drop of 138, and 1899 another fall of 462, or a total decrease for three years of 890. The inspectors, however, did not consider that it came within their province to give their speculations as to the cause of the deorea«e in the attendance.