EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 69, 22 March 1907, Page 3

EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE LOCAL BOARD. SOME INTERESTING- ITEMS. In accordance with the provisions of 1 the Education Act of 1904, the Wellington Education Board has prepared its annual report for inclusion in the department's transactions submitted to Parliament. We give hereunder the principal items in the board's report. There were at the beginning of 1906 one hundred and fifty-four schools under the control of the board. In the course of the y-ear there were established new schools at Northland, Wateifalls, and Waimanu, while schools were closed at Pencarrow and Momona, so that at the end of the year 155 schools remained in operation. The average attendance for the respective quarters were: — March, 14,486; June, 14,283 ; September, 14,442 ; December, 14,212. The average for the year was 14,356, an increase of 285 over the previous year. The average roll was 16,416. Included in the numbers were 197 Maoris and 108 half-castes in attendance at board echools. The percent-age of attendance ! was 87.4, which, compared with 86.7 in 1905, 84.7 in 1904, and 82.6 in 1903, shows an improvement of nearly 5 per cent, in three years. Further, while the average number of pupile on the roll was ' 920 greater than three years ago', the average attendance was 1555 gTeater. The resolution to place the whole district under one truant officer has been fully justified by results. Practically all the best conducted schools now chow a. satisfactory average of attendance. The following are the statistics of the woTkj of the Truant Officer for the year, showing the number of visits made and other details: — City and suburban schools... h .. 280 Wa'iraTapa schools ... , 130 Manawatu schools ... »..• ... 36 Catholic schools | ... 50 Total 496 Cases reported by head teachers and dealt with 3752 Proceedings instituted 180 Convictions recorded ... ... 144 Cases withdrawn owing to improved attendance 23Fines inflicted, £26 19s; costs, £50 8s; total £77 7* Cases dismissed-r-1 for sickness, 1 for age; total 2 Summonses unserved 10 Some 17 children of school age, not previously enrolled, were sent to school. A number of neglected children were reported to the police, at whose instance they were committed to receiving homes or industrial schools. Tho total nnmber thue committed, between 5 and 15 years of age, was— boys 35, girls 21. The -practice of employing young children on tradesmen's delivery carts during school hours has been reduced. The board desires again t;o express its obligation for valuable assistance to Bench, police, head teachers, and pTeaj. Careful study of school rolls shows that a v«ry considerable number of parents, regardless of the welfare of then children, send them to school the bare minimum number of times required by law. In view of this practice, it is worthy of consideration whether the time has not arrived for an amendment of the law. As the State pays for the education of all children who attend public schools, and requires the daily attendance of its teaching staff, there appears to be no valid reason why, in the adsenco ot illness, the pupils should not be required to show «qual regularity of attendance. At the close of the year there were in the service of the boaTd 144 male and 205 female teachers, 13 male and 75 female pupil-teachens, total 157 males, 280 females, or 437 in all, an increase of 20 during the year. The corresponding numbers for 1905 were 144 males, 273 females, or 417 in all. In the latter part of the year Saturday classes for teachers in singing, physiology, drawing, and handwork were held at the Training College, in addition to a course of lectures in nature study by the principal. For Wairarapa teachers Saturday lectures on elementary agriculture were given at Masterton by the Instructor in Agriculture from Juno to November. Tho Training College, which, at the time of writing the report of last year, was just about to begin operations, is now in full work. The number of students enrolled is fifty-six, and it is expected that in the incoming year the collego will have its full complement of eighty students. The students entered the institution in June, after being accommodated for three months in the hall at the board's office. Notwithstanding tho difficulties incidental to separation from the practising school, a perusal of the principal's report shows a good record of work, and is suggestive of a still larger field of future usefulness. It is especially pleasing to note the earnest efforts being made to keep the institution in touch with the needs of rural schools, and the board trusts that the Erincipal's proposal for what may well 0 termed extension work will soon be carried into effect, and that regular contingents of teachers from the various parts of the Middle University District will annually enter the college for the purpose of keeping themselves abreast of modern educational movements. Nine district high schools have been in operation. The total averages increased from 314 in 1905 to 540 in 1906. Of the nine district high schools, two in the city of Wellington — one at Terrace and 0110 at Newtown — are serving the temporary purposes of a high school. The board is very desirous of seeing a now high school for Wellington erected as soon as possible in order that these schools may bo relieved of what is not their legitimate work. ! MANUAL AND TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION. Capitation was earned by 120 schools for 1906, as compared with 110 hi 1905. The subjects most widely taught were brushwork and plasticine modelling ; but classes were o.lso recognised in elementary agriculture (42), drossmaking (2), chemistry (3), first and aid ambulance (2), swimming (2).. botany, physics (3), cookery, Wellington (2), Pahiatua and Wairarapa centres). Instruction in cookery has been curried on as in previous years at Terrace and Newtown centres, Wellington, but from tho prosent year tho work will bo carried on at tho now centres at tho Training College and South Wellington. Masterton and Carterton in the Wairarapa have been provided with well-fitted rooniB ; one is in course of erection at Levin ; application has been made for similar accommodation at Pahiatua and Greytown ; while suitable provision for tho Hutt and Petono is still under consideration. A woodwork room has been completed at the Training College, and one will shortly bo erected at South Wellington, for which centres the services of a ci<pablo instructor havo been engaged. From the beginning of the year the management of instruction in agriculture was placed in the hands of Mr. W. C. Davies. The board is '.veil satbfiod that tho increased attention thus givon to the study of elementary agriculture will bo productive of much good, i'orty-two schools earned capitation, and in the larger centres, especially of tho Wairarapa, much has been done by local effort to aid the board in producing tho very best results. It is hoped that the work will bo extended during tho preeent year, to other centres on tho Mana-

watu line. The thanks of the board are due to those public bodies and to individuals who have subscribed largely for providing properly prepared areas and suitable appliances for the work. The work of the instructor has so increased that the board decided to discontinue the joint arrangement with the Technical Education Board and to engage his whole time. During the past year the new South Wellington School, Training College additions, Masterton and Carterton District Hi^h School departments, and the new school at Northland — all in briek — have been the chief buildings erected. About two-thirds of the cost of additions to the new building at Carterton was met from the board's ordinary building grant. Additions have been erected to Te Horo and Martinborough Schools. New residences have been erected at Konini, Scarborough, and Makara, and additions at Bideford and Parkvala residences. Outbuildings have been improved at thirteen and fencing at eleven schools and eighteen residences. The need of this district for additional accommodation and for proper house accommodation of teachers in remote districts has been fairly recognised by the department, and 'in cases where need has been shown grants have generally been approved. Increases of attendance and establishment of new settlements must in the near future render necessary a number of additions, and the establishment of new schools. The chief works at present in hand are the erection of science and cookery rooms at Levin and South Wellington, additions at I Mauakau, and new residences at Korora, I Te Horo, Bangitumau, and Mangatiti. Ihe board's decision that the Training College should serve not only for training in educational practice, but for observation and experiment with a view to the improvement of school furniture, should result as means permit in furnishing the schools with the most useful types of furniture and apparatus. Much attention has been given during the past year to the improvement of the school desk, and recently erected schools have been provided with desks of an approved type.