SCHOOL ATTENDANCES

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 25 August 1933, Page 4

SCHOOL ATTENDANCES

DECLINE IN TARANAKI

ALTERATIONS IN; GRADING

A lower average attendance for the year in comparison with the corresponding period of 1931-32 is shown in the majority of cases in returns made to the Taranaki Education Board for the purpose of the annual regrading of schools. The decrease is attributed to the raising of tiie admission age to six years and, talcing the figures over all schools, this is no douibt the case. But there appears to be other factors influencing the attendance. The decrease is much more marked in the larger schools than in the .smaller schools, in many of the small schools there is an increase in the average, and a substantial increase in the case of about a dozen schools, whereas among the larger schools there is not one case in which the attendance has increased, and in several cases the decrease is marked. It i.s considered that this may 'be the result of a shifting of /population from town to country, marking a tendency on the part of town unemployed to seek work on the land.

The grade of schools is determined by the average attendance over the twelve months ending with the second term of the year, and when the complete returns are in the position of schools will be considered by the board. The apparent tendency to shift to the country is reflected in the changes of grading that are at present indicated. On the figures alone it seems as if 12 schools, all of which are in the country, will rise in grade, while seven, several of which are town schools, will fall in grade. There are other factors to be considered, however, before a decision is reached.