EDUCATION BOARD

Southland Times, Issue 21662, 26 March 1932, Page 10

EDUCATION BOARD

ANNUAL REPORT INTERESTING STATISTICS. The annual report of the Southland Education Board for the year ending December 31, 1931, which will be considered at a special meeting on April 4, states: The number of schools in actual operation at the beginning of 1931 was 185. Of these schools three were closed during the couise of the year on account of reduced attendance, viz., Lora Station, Walter Peak and Port Craig. As no new schools were established the number at the end of the year was, therefore, 182. The totals of schools and attendance over a period of four years are as follows: No. of. Total Average

The three district high schools controlled by the board all showed a slight reduction , in average attendance as compared with the figures for the previous year. Taken over a period of four years the average attendance at each school was as follows:

fall in average attendance during the year, the second assistant in the secondary department had to be given three months’ notice in May of the termination of her engagement. With the approval of the department her services, however, were continued till the close of the year, but from the information available at the end of the year it was evident that there was no hope of the school securing an attendance in 1932 sufficient to warrant the employment of a second full-time assistant. As stated in the report for the previous year, the teacher in charge of the hospital school was also a part-time assistant at Makarewa School, being engaged during the forenoon at Makarewa and in the afternoon at Lome Farm, where certain hospital children had been transferred. The average attendance, however, was only two, with the result that in accordance with instructions from the department, the hospital school ceased at the end of the school years. Attendance of Pupils. Particulars as to the attendance of pupils throughout the district for the three terms of 1931 are as follows:

The figures representing above the average roll for the first and the second terms are each lower than for the corresponding period of 'the previous year, but everywhere else there is an increase with the result that the record made last year in respect of percentage of attendance has been broken and a new record established with tho percentage raised from 91 to the very high figure of 92.4. To attain to such an excellent percentage it goes without saying that the district did not suffer from any serious epidemic during the year. It goes to indicate also that the much maligned climate of Southland is very far from deserving the unfavourable terms often applied to it by residents of other districts. In regard to the average attendance of 10,980 for the year, it should be mentioned that the figures for boys and girls are respectively 5793 and 5187, a percentage ratio of 53 to 47, which is the same as for the previous year. Tiro board's one special school, the Dryburgh School, continues to do excellent work and has always a waiting list, it being impossible to accommodate all the children seeking admission. The school is very much indebted to Cousin Betty of tho Southland Times and he? band of Little Southlanders for the keen interest displayed in the welfare of this school and the very material assistance afforded in the , matter of providing equipment. As a result of their efforts, a telephone was installed in the school during the year and linoleum furnished for the floor. Such assistance is very much appreciated. The number of pupils on the roll at the end of the year was 16, the average for the whole year being 14. Teaching Staff. The number of teachers in the service o ftho board at the end of the year was 445. This is a reduction of 19 on the figures for 1930. Since 1928 the total number of teachers has shown a reduction each succeeding year, as will be seen from tho following figures:

The percentage of male teachers to female as at the end of the year was 38 to 62. No National Scholarship examinations, either senior or junior, were held in 1931, and consequently no Scholarships were awarded. A sum of £2OO, however, was disbursed during the year in connection with unexpirell scholarships, of which there were four senior and 14 junior. In the report for 1930 reference was made to the large increase that had occurred that year in respect of expenditure on conveyance and board of pupils. For 1931 a further increase of £489 15/2 was made, the total expenditure under this heading amounting to £5,876 3/5. Of this amount £2,738 19/4 represents payments made in respect of conveyance contracts in connection with schools to which pupils are conveyed by bus or car. The figures showing expenditure for conveyance and board for a period of five years are as fodows:— 1927: £2,942 6 11 1928: £3,277 5 11 1929: £3,731 7 8 1930: £5,386 8 3 1931: £5,876 3 5 Woodwork and Cookery. Classes in woodwork and cookery were held regularly throughout the year at the board’s six manual training centres. The two centres in Invercargill were open continuously, Gore and Riverton for three days per week and Winton and Wvndham for two days per week. Detailed particulars regarding each centre are as follows:— Inver- Wynd- River- Win-

The total number of pupils who received instruction at the board's manual training centres was 2449. Of the schools represented 77 were public and 9 were private. Classes in elementary agriculture under the supervision of the board’s agricultural instructor were carried on regularly throughout the district. Hitherto schools have followed a scheme of work drawn up by the instructor but for the year under review teachers were required to draft, their own schemes. Associated with the regular course of instruction is the work in connection with the beautifying of the school grounds, and the board would take this opportunity of expressing its appreciation of the excellent work accomplished in thia direction in many schools under the guidance of enthusiastic teachers and committees. The interest that the pupils themselves take in keeping their plots and flower borders in good order is very manifest, and there can be no question but that the work done at school will have a very beneficial effect in the encouragement of the keeping of good gardens at the child- (

ren’s own homes. It is very much to be regretted that owing to the financial depression the department was unable to provide any subsidies on contributions raised voluntarily ' for improvements to school grounds. The following is a summary of the Proficiency examination results for the year:—* Public Private Schools. Schools.

At the commencement of the year to which this report refers there were seven dental clinics in operation in this district, these being at Invercargill, Gore, Winton, Riverton, Otautau, Wyndham and Mataura. During the year another clinic was added to the list by the erection of an up-to-date building on the Woodlands school grounds. In conjunction with a number of schools in the Otago Board’s district dental facilities became available also at Pembroke. The building being used, however, is far from satisfactory. Recognizing this, the residents undertook to raise their proportion of the cost of a new building, but unfortunately the department intimated that the matter of making the usual grant to enable the building to be erected would have to be held over in the meantime. The matter of the erection of a clinic in the Waimahaka district has also been seriously considered, but it is felt that it would be more satisfactory to have the children concerned conveyed to Invercargill and treated at fhe dental clinic in operation there. The additional schools concerned could be dealt with quite satisfactorily at the present time because of the reduced numbers from Invercargill schools now receiving treatment since the introduction of the levy in respect of each child dealt with. In this connection one cannot refrain from commenting upon the apathy exhibited by so many parents in regard to the welfare of their children. The annual charge imposed by the Health Department in respect of each child is very small, but the response to the appeal made in the direction of securing financial assistance towards meeting maintenance expenses was so disappointingly small that our largest clinic ran the risk of losing the services of one of its dental nurses. It is quite evident that this lamentable state of affairs was due in very many cases not to the present financial conditions, but to a feeling of resentment at the attitude of the Health Department in expecting any payment for services hitherto provided free. In marked contrast to this attitude on the part of Invercargill parents is that displayed by parents catered for at the smaller clinics. In these cases the majority of parents recognized their responsibilities and fully appreciated the benefits of the facilities provided. Medical Inspection. Under the school medical officer and her nurses valuable work has continued to be done in the direction of affording parents advice and assistance in regard to the welfare of their children. Such help towards the overcoming of various defects or ailments to which some children are prone, is very much appreciated. The board regrets that owing to retrenchment in the Health Department, the services of a school medical officer for Southland had to be dispensed with, towards the end of the year. The board sincerely trusts that the department will be enabled at an early date to appoint a successor, as to attend satisfactorily to the needs of this district by means of an officer stationed in Dunedin is impossible. While all the various schemes in operation to relieve unemployment may not meet with general approval, yet as far as schools are concerned, the work undertaken by school committees with unemployed labour with the object of improving school grounds is deserving of all praise. Where committees were able to undertake responsibility for the supply of the necessary material on condition*that labour was provided free, improvement schemes under the direction of the board's architect have been carried out very satisfactorily and in many cases substantial alterations effected. Fiftyeight schools in all have taken advantage of these unemployment schemes, and in every instance the expense entailed for labour has been amply justified. The total amount received from the Unemployment Board in this connection was £7656 7/-. In addition the Returned Soldiers’ Association contributed £4Ol 5/8 for material and labour, together with a' considerable sum towards the conveyance of men to and from the various schools. In many cases extensive improvements have been carried out that under ordinary circumstances could not possibly have been completed for some years.

Schools. Attendance. 1928 189 11,105 1929 184 11,122 1930 185 10,884 1931 182 10,872

Riverton 1928. 1929. 1930. 1931. 63 66 67 65 Winton 47 48 38 35 Wyndham 34 31 31 28 In the case of Wyndham, owing to the

Term Average Roll Average Attendance. May 11,059 10,892 August 11,759 10,747 December 12,220 11,301 Mean of three terms 11,879 10,980

1927. 1928. 1929. 1930. 1931. Males 167 164 173 172 169 Females 313 320 296 292 276 480 484 469 464 445

cargill. Gore. ham. ton, ton. T. Woodwork 34 15 8 20 7 84 Cookery 36 15 8 20 7 86 Boys on roll 667 252 78 174 130 1301 Giris on roll 581 211 70 153 103 1148 Classes in each subject 32 10 6 9 5 62

No. of F.II pupils ex124 amined Proficiency Certificates 1182 granted 778 87 Competency Certificates granted 240 26 Failures 1G4 11 Percentage of Proficiency Passes 65.8 70.16 Percentage of Competency Passes 20.3 20.97 Percentage of Failures 13.9 „ 8.87 Position of Dental Clinics.