OTAGO SCHOOLS

Evening Star, Issue 19290, 1 July 1926, Page 1

OTAGO SCHOOLS

BOARD'S ANNUAL REPORT 250 SCHOOLS IN OPERATION The annual report of the Otago Education Board to the Minister of Education for the year ended December 31, 1925, states that at the close of the period there were 253 schools in operation, five less than the previous year. Fifteen (including 10 household schools) had an average below 9. 78 bad an average from 9 to 20, 54 from 21 to 35, 32 from 36 to 50, 22 Ipom 51 to 80, 18 from 81 to 120, 7 from 121 to« 160, 2 from 201 to 240, 1 from 241 to 280, 4 from 281 to 320, 2 from I 321 to 360, 3 from 361 to 400, 2 from 401 to 440, and 13 above 440. ATTENDANCE OF PUPILS. Owing to the regrettable and widespread occurrence of infantile paralysis throughout tire district during the early months of the year the schools did not reopen after the Christmas vacation until April. The secondary departments of district high schools resumed on the 20th, and other classes on the 27th of that month. The attendance of pupils was not made compulsory until the beginning of July. For the three quarters ended June, September, and December there was an increase of .09 in the percentage of attendance. The average attendances at the secondary departments of the district high school’s were: Balclutha 111, Normal 48, Tokomairiro 48, Alexandra 41, Palmerston 38, Port Chalmers 29, Mosgiel 25, Tapamii 23, Lawrence 22, Owaka 19, Cromwell 13; total, 417, an increase of 43 over that of the previous year. The total roll number at December 31 was 395, and of this 215 were girls and 180 were boys, the percentages being girls 54, hoys 46. During the year the secondary classes wore resumed at. Mosgiel, and new classes were started at Cromwell. 1. crmission was given for (he starring of secondary classes nt Roxburgh in 1926. APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS. Consequent upon the adoption of % new scheme of onhra.nce to the teaching profession, involving the abolition : of the pupil teacher system, the number* of young people admitted to the education service in this district last year was cut down by about half. Young entrants are now known as probationers, and a quota, of positions is assigned for each distinct by the department. The number of appointments as entrants was for the Otago district 35, and to fill these the board selected 22 females and 13 males. For these 35 positions there were nearly £O6 applicants, most ol them very well qualified so far as examination status is concerned, and the board regretted that it had to disappoint so many of them. The number of appointments of adult teachers made during the past five years has been: In 1921, 173; in 1.923, 165; in 1923, 233; in 1924, 185; in 1925, 176. Of the 26 teachers who loft the Otago Board's service in lake up positions under other boards 3 went to Auckland, 4 to Hawke’s Bay, 1 to Taranaki, 2 to Wanganui, 5 to Wellington, 1 to Nelson, 7 to Canterbury, and 3 to Southland. Of the 33 teachers who colored Iho Otago Board's service from other districts 5 came from Hawke’s Bay, 1 from Wanganui, 5 from Wellington, ] from Nelson, 5 from Canterbury, and 16 from Southland. Of the 35 probationers appointed luring the year 34 (97 per cent.) had passed the matriculation examination and 1 had passed the teachers’ D examination. Of the 34 who had passe .1 matriculation 12 had also passed the teachers’ D examination. SCHOLARSHIPS. For the junior examination there were 248 competitors and for the senior examination 117 competitors; 33 junior (13,3 per cent.) and 21 senior (17.9 per cent.) were successful in gaining scholarships. Of the 244 scholarships awarded im the dominion Otago candidates gained 13.5 per cent., and of the 138 senior scholarships awarded Otago candidates gained 15.2 per cent. Of the 94 scholarships current in Otago at the end of 1925 71 were juniors and 23 were seniors; 32 were hold by girls and 62 by hoys. The principals of the secondary schools they attended reported favorably regarding their conduct, diligence, and progress. INSPECTION OF SCHOOLS. The inspectors’ estimate of the general efficiency of the schools is as follows Excellent or very good, 13 per cent.; good, 54 per cept.; very fair. 39 per cent.; fair, 4 per cent. This is an increase of about 10 per cent, in the schools of the good and very good groups, and a decrease of about 6 per cent, in those of the group which may be classed ns below satisfactory. The inspectors reported that, though the period of school work was much shorter than usual owing to the enforced closing of the schools by the epidemic of infantile paralysis,' the quality of the work was not detrimentally affected. As much ground was not covered as in a full year, but the thoroughness of the teaching more than made up for ilio deficiency in quantity. "truancy. Fifty-seven notices were served on parents and guardians for the irregular attendance of their children. Seventysix cases of irregular attendance were investigated. Eight penalty summonses were issued under section 62 of thef Education Act, and convictions were obtained in all cases. Of 124 pupils in classes below Standard VI. in the city and suburban schools who terminated their school course, in December, 1925, 65 passed Standard V., 47 passed Standard IV., 7 passed Standard HI., and 5 passed Standard H. The year was exceptional so far as the attendance was concerned, as the epidemic of infantile paralysis in the early part of the year prevented the schools from reopening until April 27, and after that date many parents kept their children from school through fear of infection. It was, therefore, well on to the middle of the year before the attendance had settled down to anything like normal conditions.