DOMINION SCHOOLS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20042, 3 September 1920, Page 4

DOMINION SCHOOLS.

$ ■ ■ AXTENDANUE STATISTICS. [Fnoir Our Cokeespokdxkt.l WELLINGTON, September 2. Tho roll strength of New Zealand public, schools in 1919 was 193,600, winch is only 1220, or 1.2. per cent, in excess of tho previous year. In the schools of the South island the percentage increase in 1919 was only 0,0, while m the North Island (including Marlborough) the figure was 1.6. The falling off in the number of entrants noticed in 1918 did not recur in 1919, there being 1000 more children between the ages of five and seven than in the previous year, and 2800 more children in the preparatory classes. The average attendance was 172,610, as against 167,601 in 1918, an increase of 3 per cent. This is greater than tho increase m roll strength, owing to the fact that regularity of attendance in 1910 was better than in the previous year. Taken as percentage of the average weekly roll, it was 90.3, a, record, the previous highest being 90.1, in 1914. Otago and i Wellington share honours for best attendance. Distance of country children from school prejudices attendance, but New Zealand compares very favourably with other English-speaking conntries. The medical section of the report states that a staff of twelve iustmetois carried on the work of physical instruction, visiting 1100 schools. Particular attention was paid to the instruction likely to. benefit certain physical detects and deformities. One of the best results of the work of school Medical inspection and physical education has been the unprecedented manner in which the importance of the physical welfare of the child has been' brought homo to teachers, and more especially lo parents, who endeavour to have physical defects pointed out to them. Parents arc in a position to do infinitely more ior the physical welfare ol the children than are any Government ofiiceia, and one ot the chief aims of the- system should be, and is, the education and guidance of parents in matters pertaining- to health, from the Birth of tho child onwards.