EDUCATION BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17321, 22 May 1918, Page 8

EDUCATION BOARD

REPORT FOR DISTRICT OF OTAGO. The annual report states that the number of schools in operation at December 31, 1917, was 261, the same as in the previous year. Two were half-time schools and eight were household schools. Fifteen had an average attendance below 9, 75 from 9 to 20, 62 from 21 to 35, 59 from 35 to 80, 11 from 81 to 120, eight from 121 to 160, five from 161 to 200. nine from 201 to 360, five from 361 to 500, and 12 over 500. On December 31 there were in.the board's servico 748 teachers, classified as under:— Head teachers—males 100, females 4; sole teachers—males 21,« females 134; assistant teachers —males 54, females 261; total of adult teachers—males 175, females 399; pupil teachers—males 27, females 55; probationers—males 11, females 43; teachers of needlework—females 17; manual and technical (special teachers) —males 13, females i B; —totals for 1917 —males 226, females 522. The permanent teachers absent on military service were: Head teachcrs, 3; sole teachers, 13; assistant tcachers, 18; pupil teacher. 1; manual and technical (special teacher), 1; —total, 36. The average roll, average attendance, and pereentago of average attendance for the year were:—Average roll, 22,128; average attendance, 20,479; percentage. 92.5. The incroase in the mean roll number over that _of tho previous year was 248, while tho increase in the average attendance was 242. The average attendance is the highest ever attained in this district. The percentage of attendance (92.5) has only once been exceeded —namely, in tho year 1914, when it reached 92.7 per cent. Taking a survey of the past six years, it is found that of the 7494 pupils in Class P at the end of 1911, r 2470 had reached Standard IV four years later, 2170 had reached Standard V five years later, and 1555 had reached Standard VI six years later. Approximately, therefore, 33 per cent, of them ended their public. school course at Standard IV, 29 per cent, at Standard V, and only 21 continued their course to Standard VI.

For the junior scholarships there were 259 competitors, of whom three from schools with not more than one teacher gained between 53£ and per oent. of marks. Forty-three competitors reached the ordinary standard of qualification (63£ per cent.). There were thus 46 junior scholarships awarded to pupils in this district as against 33 in the previous year that is, 17.7 per cent, of the competitors were successful last year as compared with per cent, in 1916. For the senior scholarships {here were 74 competitors, of whom 23 gained the Qualifying percentage of marks (63 per cent-) —that is, 31 per cent, were successful as against 16.5 per cent, in the previous year. It is noteworthy that 13 out of the 23 scholarships awarded were taken by pupils of the secondary departments of the board's district high schools—namely, Balclutha 5, Normal 4. Lawrence 2, Mosgiel

9r u scholarships current at the end of the year, 60 were junior national, 29 were senior national, 5 were junior board, and 4 were senior board. Twentyfive were_ held by girls and 73 by lad's, i ij P r;nc ip a ls of the secondary schools the holders attended reported that, almost without exception, their conduct, diligence, and process were satisfactory. The following statement shows the main items of expenditure compared with the figures for the previous year Teachers' r? nd ,„.l odgin " allowance—l9l6, £104,039 8s; 1917, £105.968 5s 2d. Payments to school committees for incidental expenses—l9l6, £6312 6s 3d: 1917, £7148 12s 4d. School buildings, purchase of sites house allowances, manual and technical buildings and apparatus—l9l6. £15,976 14s 9d; 1917, £14,860 12s 6d. The &rt instalment of war bonus to teachere (that is, for six months ending September 30. 1917) amounted to £3297 14s Bd. The expenditure on school buildings included: General ■ maintenance, repairs, alterations, small additions. and rents, £8701 8s sd; rebuilding, £163 lis 9d; new buildings, £4439 8s lidof sites, £60 6s; house allowances', i-l&iO Is 4d; manual and technical Durposes, £175 16s Id. The average attendances in the secondary these schools were:—Balclutha 61, Normal 53. Lawrence 40, Mostriel 'i ™ 9^ mer ? '25, Palmerston 23, Alexon? a Tokomairiro B; —total t? than for tiie previous year J'rom these 72 per cent, of the candidates were successful in gaining complete or partial passes in matriculation, only 28 per cent failing, as against over 50 per cent., of failures throughout the dominion. In the public service examination 76 per cent, were successful. At the senior scholarship examination 65 per cent, gained scholarships. One of the public service candidates was second 0 "\ . dominion, and five gained places within the first 50, while one candidate was placed twentieth in the credit list of the junior university scholarship examination. During the past year elementary argicult i I , nsrtructj( ? ll has, under the supervision of the board's instructors in agriculture, been associated with the other subjects of the ournouhim in 196 schools, and in many of these very effective work is being done In six of the district high schools the full rural science course has been followed. The total number of students who received instruction at the Dunedin School of Art was 577, including 171 day students, 116 evening students, 123 Training College stu12, \ teachers and probationers, and 46 adult teachers.

The director reports that the abandonment of the system of examination in single subjects by the English Education Board has maae it increasingly difficult to induce students to give attention to vital but instructive aspects of their training, such as design, perspective, instrumental drawing, systematic light and shade, etc., and suggests that standard examinations in these subjects throughout the dominion should be resumed. War conditions had a very detrimental effect upon the enrolment of evening students. A wide programme of art subjects was provided, and though the numbers were not equal to those in former years, the attendance was good, that of' the life class being specially well maintained. The expenditure on manual and technical training was:—Salaries, material, etc.—for school classes £4262 19s 7d, and for special classes £1180 15s* buildings, furniture, and fittings, £175 16s H l;^ otaU 3d—'being 1 an increase of £34 13s 4d .over the previous year. Pupils from schools participated in the swimming instruction, the average attendance being 786 boys and 697 girls.' The cost of the classes was £198 17s 7d, while the amount of Government capitation earned was £187 10s. The total number of students enrolled at the Training College was 117, comprising 97 women and 20 men. The education districts represented were: Otago 70, Southland 28 Canterbury 18, Wangairui 1. ' The returns furnished at the request of the board from different schools that havo installed libraries show that the books are much appreciated and eagerly sought by the young people, especially in those schoois where the teachers show enthusiasm for this branch of education. In order to secure increased facilities for our boys and girls obtaining a wider range of carefully selected books_ and to augment, those at present in our libraries, the managers of the Duuodin Freo Public Library have generously agreed to inaugurate a systom of travelling "libraries in conncction with their juvenile department, and. as an experiment, will next year loan 50 to 60 books ner week to each standard from the fourth to the sixth in four of our city schools. The board is assured that-, if this schomo works out satisfactorily it will subsequently bo extended to all city schools. The board expresses its profound disappointment that the Minister has not yet seen fit to adopt tho reoommondation made with practical unanimity by tho educational bodies throughout tho dominion, and systematicallv supported by this board for some years past., for an increase in tho salaries and allowances of pur>il teachcTS, probationers, and Training Collcgo students, so as to make them nt least equal to tho rotes paid to other public servants with corresponding service. The whole scale of payments .to these teachers requires to bo recast forthwith on more liberal lines. This is a reform which brooks no delay.

The .Joartl expresses its regret tliafc the Minister, bv powers conferred upon him by regulation, has seen lit to reduce the rates of salaries proposed by the lx>ard to be paid to certain temporary tea/L'iicrs. The board holds that all such teachers whose character and competency are attested are ontitled to recoivo tlie rates of salary provided by statute for tho nades of position they occupy, and that it is iiioqui table they should bo obliged to agree to a decrease in thoir salaries, in some cases of £20 per annum, or forfeit the appointment. Sinoo tho issue of tlie lust report tho following 15 teachers and Training College students have proceeded on active service : — Bonnet, Kenneth \Y\. probationer, Arthur street; Boraman, Walter J., relieving head teacher, Dunback; Egwicton, Thomas E., assistant, Forbury; Finlay, Robert N., riV 111 ""-"" student; Forsyth, David, College student; Hawko, John hoad Wno Hill; Jackson, , "•> Training College student; Kibblowhito, Charles W„ relieving solo toacher, Moonlight; Landreth,. William H., solo teacher, Katoa; M'Naughton, Donald S., Tnuriing 'College student; Mayer, Wm. G., 1 raining < '.ollc?ro student; Paterson, i.? l I . n:ls > assistant, Mu.^elburgh; Sinclair, William 11. 0., solo toachor, Waipalii (homo service); Thomas, William, Training College student; Townrow, Walter H., Training College student. The to till number of tho board's omployees who have joined tho Expedition, arv Forces to date is 99.

The board regrets having to record the following casualties:—Killed in action: Closs, William Osborne; M'Daren, Alexander; Nicholas, Wm. Stephens; Robertson, John Allan; Turner, William Wilson. Died of wounds: Bum, Edgar.Tames; Smith, Oswald J. Missing: Goudio, John C. B. Wounded : Barclay, Samuel M.; George, William K. (second time); Daing, Henry; M'Lean, Tan H.; Milne, Alexander; Wilson, Ernest. Inspectors' Annual Report.—An analysis of tho inspectors' annual return gives the following results with regard to efficiency: Excellent or very good, 26 per cent.; good, 41 per cent.; satisfactory, 23 per cent.; lair to inferior, 5 per cent. This table shows a satisfactory decrease of 5 per cent, in the lowest group and an increase of 6 per ccnt. in the highest group. For the proficiency certificate 1631 candidates presented themselves. Of these, 1275, or 78 per cent., secured tho certificate of proficiency, and 212_ gained the certificate of compctency. Tins shows an increase of 3 per cent, on tho results of the previous year. In only a few schools have we had to call the teachers' attention to the necessitv for regu<lar instruction in physical drill, and in the majority of schools tlie exercises are faithfully carried out. Tlie style of instruction by the tcachers has improved, and in consequence the work was done more smartly by the children. The corrective classes which have been carried on during the year, under tho supervision of tho medical inspector, have been visited frequently by the physical instructors, and their report states: "Trio marked improvement in the physique of' the children certainly justifies the continuance of these classes." In a number of schools swimming is systematically taught, while the importance of organised games as an educational factor is recognised in our , schools, more especially in those in the larger centres. The instruction given in woodwork classes held in Dunedin and in the different centres is of a satisfactory character, but at the Dunedin centres tho classes are too large, and in order to relieve the congestion the establishment of a third centre is absolutely necessary. In cookery and domestic economy good practical work has been done at all centres, but more theoretical instruction shoiild be given, in order to familiarise the pupils with principles. The work done m all the seoondary departments varies from satisfactory to very good. In some cases the schemes were rather comprehensive, and too many subjects were taught, but as changes had to be made to meet the new regulations regarding history and civics, agriculture, and home science, we have made some recommendations which we hope will enable the head masters to amend their programmes without in any way interfering with tlie good work already done. The buildings, grounds, and fences are, in general, in very good condition and are well looked after. In only nine cases have the buildings been reported as below satisfactory, and in three of these tho board has already made provision for new buildings. The repairs necessary in tile other cases are receiving the attention of the architect. In many cases tho condition of the school surroundings reflects great credit on the committees and teachers, but in a few districts we find tho committee apathetic in matters affecting the welfare of the children. On the whole, the schoolrooms are kept very clean rind tidy. Some of them are well supplied with suitable pictures, but in many the walls are quite bare, and a_ strenuous effort should be made to remedy this defect/ One of the effects of free places at the high schools lias been to increase the number of matriculation candidates for pupil teacherships. At the completion of their course, entrance to n College is gained through Partial D; consequently the necessary course of study is by no moans exacting, especially as it is relieved by drawing and physical instruction glasses, which aro in the nature of recreative exercises. We regret that wiser counsel does not prevail in the case of those young people who, though at a critical age, are aided and abetted In the unwise course of taking University classes during the years of their pupil teachership, too frequently with ill effect upon the health, and at all times with the tendency to" detach themselves from tho work of the school and expend energy in ■work that was provided for later in their training, and this, though no part of the pupil teacher course, has been used to discredit the system. Training College Report .—There went out at the close of last year 58 second-year studente—viz., 12 men and 46 women—and

three one-year students. Of these, there gained certificates as follow:—36 gained * lull "C"; 11 gained a "C," less one subject, and in three cases two subjects; fivo gamed "D"; Wo gained " D," less one subject. Three qualified for "B" in three subjecta by passing first section of B.A. examination ; one qualified for " B " in four subjects by passing first section of B.A. examination; five qualified for "B ' in two subjects by passing the nroliciencv cxamination of the New Zealand University. Inere entered this year 31—viz., 14 men and 17 women. During the year two left sick, and throe men of the new entrant* went into camp. There are now belonging: W second-year students—viz., three men and 49 women—and 56 first year students —viz., 10 men and 46 women-—total, 108. University results for the year (class resuits only to hand as vet): Seven firsts, 91 seconds, 135 thirds—an improvement on last 7\ C^ r ' 10 war as a fi°ct('d us greatly. Only 13 men were left at the closc of the year. Practically all (it students who have gone out sinco the war started are at the front. Of those who have gone straight from college to tlie front without teaching, five hav" lost their lives. The year lias been rather gloomy, as most of the etudents have lost their relatives or friends. School of Art and Design.—The school staff afforded instruction to 577 students, made up as follow: —Day students, 171; evening students, 116; pupil teachers attending afternoon classes, 92; pupil teacheiv attending Saturday classes, 29; teacher* attending Saturday classes, 46; studente in training, 123. Day students were provided with a very complete courso of subjects,in art and art crafts, but since the abandonment by the English Education Board of the system of examinations in single subjects it is becoming increasingly difficult to induce students to give due attention to vital, but unattractive, of their training, such as design, pers_ :ctive, instrumental drawing, systematic light and shade, | anatomy, etc. It would bo of the greatest assistance to art schools throughout the dominion if standard examinations in these subjects could be restored. Much 6olid progress was made in painting from, still lite and life, both in oil colour and in water-colours. Landscape was aiso as successfully dealt with as weather conditions permitted. Modelling from life and the antique, relief -work in eonper and pewter, wood-carving, enamelling, stencilling, etc., attracted only a moderate number of students, the increasing cost and difficulty in obtaining material militating considerably against craft work. Students of the ochool of Mines were instructed in instrumental drawing, free sketching of mechanical details, and a course of drawing leading to sketching from Nature. The number of evening students was affected considerably by war conditions. Art enthusiasm is chiefly present amongst students from 20 to 25 years old, and the loss of the more ardent and advanced workers has & depressing effect upon the rank and file. A wide programme of art subjects was provided, and, though the numbers were not equal to normal years, 'the average attendance was good. The attendance at the life classes was especially well maintained, and excellent work was done. To meet the needs of evening students for daylight experience in colour, Saturday afternoon classes were conducted as in previous years. City and suburban pupil teachers and probationer* were afforded instruction twice weekly in «, drawill e' subjects .necessary for their D certificate. The results of the year's work, so far as _ examination successes indicate, were eminently satisfactory. On Saturdays provision was made, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., for affording instruction to teachers outside Dunedin. The stringent conditions imposed by the Education Department very considerably reduced the attendance at these classes, and it wonld appear that in the near future they will be confined entirely to pupil teachers, probationers, and uncertificated teachers. The influence of these classes upon up-to-date developments in the teaching of drawing will be missed.