PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 15124, 13 October 1909, Page 9

PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

A YEARS WORK

THE EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT'S REPORT. [From Ovt. CoßßEsroxDE.vr.] WELLINGTON. October 12 The Hon G. Fowtds, Minister of Eduction, to-day presented the Education Department's annual report for last /ear PRIMARY EDUCATION.

The subject of primary education was dealt with at length, and a good deal if interesting statistical matter supplied. The number of public schools open at the end of the year was 1998, an increase of 35 over the previous rear, and the number of new schools »pened was 95, while 60 were closed. Auckland headed the list of the districts in which new schools were opened, with a total of 26, Marlborough being next with 12. The average number of New Zealand children attending schools at the end of the year was 147,428, as against 141,071 for the previous year. A high standard of regularity of attendance, 81.7 per cent, was reached, Ota go standing highest with 89.2 per cent, and Wellington next with 88.1 per cent. Attention is called to the Fact that some parents make a practice Df keeping their children from school one day per week, the law inflicting no penalty, and it may be expedient in the interests of the children of the State to provide that every child must attend school whenever it is open, unless some reasonable grounds for exemption can be shown. For evevv 100 boys on the roll there are 91 girls. Of the children in the public schools 52.8 per cent are under ton and 47.2 per cent are over that age. This is partly to bo accounted for by the larger number entering the secondary schools.

There was a marked improvement in the number of children gaining certificates of proficiency, so that the raising i>f the standard has not apparently had any ill effect. The average age for the dominion of pupils in the sixth standard was fourteen years, and it may he worthy of serious consideration whether tliis age is not tco high for the moderate standard of attainment leached by }>upils. STAFFING OF SCHOOLS. The number of teachers in public schools, exclusive of those employed in secondary departments of district high schools, totals 3989. There were 1492 male teachers and 2497 female teachers. Tho total amount paid to teachers and pupil teachers in salaries and allowances was £503,362. the average per teacher (including pupil teachers) being £126. In regard to training col-leges for teachers, it is stated that there may be a necessity for defining the courses still further, as there seems to he a desire to evade the study of natural science, without which no teacher

can bo said to be properly equipped tor ;is work. The two years' period ot training should not be shortened, except in the case of those who have alcadv graduated at the university. _ In the training colleges at Wellington there are 78 students, at Duncdm 76, Christchurch 72 and Auckland 48. The amount paid during the year for the training of teachers was £40.968. PUBLIC SCHOOLS CADETS. On March 31 there were 185 cadet companies. 11l d<- ■ebments and 11 sections, with n. t; strength of 14,686, Members of companies in the ISorth and South Islands respectively f exclusive of those attached to district high schools, competed for two challenge shields presented by the Government. Tho North Island shield was won by Dannevirkc (Hawke's Bay), with a score of 798 out of a possible of 840, andtha South Island shield was won by tho'North-East Valley No. 1 company with a score of 724. ' The expenditure for the year was £-5613, including tho commanding officer's salary. £317, and his travelling expenses, £263.

EDUCATION BOARD FINANCE. In. the matter of Education Board finance, it is pointed out that on the faco of figures procurable, £94,954 should be available for tho maintenance and rebuilding of schools. As the actual cost of maintenance and repairs lias already been charged to the fund, it may be said that this net balance should be available for rebuilding schools, and for replacing worn-out furniture and fittings, but tho combined building account show« a net balance of only £57.000, and this includes a trust fund of £19,000 intended as part of the cost of the Auckland Technical School. On the most liberal interpretation of the facts tho amount diverted from the proper purpose of tho maintenance grants for which they are voted by Parliament and distributed by the Department is not less than £41,000. It is clear that the Department cannot be asked to pay a second time moneys already given for rebuilding, and tho only way for the Boards to set the matter right is to use the balances in hand in the general account. These remarks do not apply to all Boards. HIGHER EDUCATION. Including tha training colleges, and counting the professional schools as distinct from the affiliated institutions, there are in New Zealand fourteen public institutions for higher or professional education, and in addition there are others privately endowed. At the four colleges of the university there were last year 1493 students attending lectures', namely 888 men and 605 women. Of these 1162 were matriculated student graduates or undergraduates, and the rest were unmatricuiated. THE SCHOOL BOOKS. Last session an item of £3500 was included in the vote for elementary education to provide free text books for the pupils of the preparatory classes and the classes of standards I. and 11. in the public schools. Tho rate of payment to the Boards, based on the nmn-

faer on tho roll at the end of 1908. is 0d for each child in the preparatory classes, Is 3d for each child in standard I, and le Cd per head in standard 11. As the grants did not begin until January, 1909, the matter is not strictly one for the present report, but it may be. interesting to note that now (August) all the Boards have accepted the conditions of the grants. The alternative proposal, tho adoption of a uniform series of reading books, was strongly condemned by nearly all the experts' consulted, as tending to a castiron uniformity of method. If such a series, moreover, were to be published in the dominion, the oxiKsnse of publication would be out of all proportion to the benefits sought to bo gained, if the quality of the books bore any sort of comparison with that of corresponding books produced by leading firms in. Great Britain, .and the cost of renewal from time to time to bring the contents up to date would be almost prohibitive.