WORK OF THE SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19344, 3 June 1926, Page 11

WORK OF THE SCHOOLS.

SUCCESSFUL YEAR REVIEWED. GREATER ACTIVITY SHOWN. EDUCATION BOARD REPORT. A comprehensive survey of the activities of tho Auckland Education Board: during the year 1925 is contained in the'/ annual report to be submitted to the Minister of Education by tho chairman, Mr. A. Burns. The number of schools open at tho em! of tho year was 749, an increase of 107 during ten years. Sixteen schools were opened and six closed and the number oF : scholars was 67.004, comprising 34.918 boys and 32,086 girls, a total increase of 1384 over tho aggregate at the end of 1924. The construction of 20 new schools wis. carried out and 35 buildings were enlarged, while live temporary structures tfcre erected to meet cases of emergency. Hie board acknowledged the grants made by tho department, which had made it possible to adopt a vigorous policy with reference to tho provision of accommodation, but stated it did not consider requirements had been even approximately overtaken. Ju several schools space was still congested and many halls and private buildings were still in use, Financial Position. Tho income for tho year ended December 31 totalled £861,007 and tho expenditure £873,666. Notwithstanding» monthly review of the position, tho maintenance fund had not been adequate to meet requirements, - The attendance at the Training College was 124 men and 213 women, a total of 337. Tho gratitude of the board was due to tho Auckland City Council for the use of tho annexe, Which had. enabled it to overcome tho serious difficulty. The hostel continued to prove a boon to many of tho women students and was: now fully occupied. The institution was self-sup-porting and played an important patt in the corporate life of the women student.-. District High Schools, Beports of inspectors indicated that the improvement continued in tho efficient tuition in the secondary departments of " district high schools. Tho results of annual examinations, almost wholly grafifying, supported this view. Tho value of such institutions in rural districts could not bo over-estimated, and each year saw increased rolls. The senior inspector-, Mr. C. W. Garrard, and his colleagues had done excellent work in connection with post primary education, and it was felt that it was largely due to thsir efforts that tho improvement had been of bo marked a nature. The Kowhai Junior High School had a roll number of 819 at the end of the year, and an average attendance of 790. Similar schools were opened at Ma la ma! a and Northcote, with attendances of 166 and 218 respectively. In the case of Matamata the school had worked in conjunction with a district high school partment, and educational authorities wero satwricd tho new junior high schools were going to be as sucessful as the one which had already proved itself. Dental Clinic Staffs. The consolidated school at Piopio still continued to give great satisfaction to parents, who were satisfied that the standard oi education was higher than that given in tlio smaller schools. Although the cost of conveying scholars was greater than tho maintenance of the small schools, now discontinued, it was. felt tho accruing benefits far outweighed the extra cost. It was evident that parents were taking an increased interest in school affairs, and during the year several thousand pounds were contributed by residents through various committees for improvements to school grounds and for the establishment of libraries and other requirements. Much gotfd work continued to bo carried out by the medical and dental' officers of the Health Department, but it was necessary to ask for a material increase ir. their stall to enable thorn to adequately cope with the needs of a district. Several new .dental clinics wero opened, and wero receiving the hearty support of parents. . In conclusion tho report voiced the board's pleasure at the cordial relations between the board, school committees, teachers and the Education Department, the latter having met the requirements of tho district a3 far as was possiblo with i limited meatH.