REPORT OF THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st DECEMBER, 1927. [In continuation of E.-1, 1927.]

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1928 Session I, E-01

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1928. NEW ZEALAND.

REPORT OF THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st DECEMBER, 1927. [In continuation of E.-1, 1927.]

Presented to both, Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

CONTE N T S. Page Page Introductory and General . . .. .. 2 Primary Education— continued. Cost of Education .. .. .. .. 3 Training of Teachers .. .. .. 14 School Buildings .. . . . . ... 3 Grading of Teachers . . .. .. .. 15 Primary Education— Status of Teachers in regard to Certificates .. 15 Number of Schools .. .. .. .. 5 Native Schools .. .. .. 16 Enrolment and Attendance . . . . .. 6 Junior High Schools .. .. .. .. 16 Problem of Retardation .. .. ..8 Secondary Education .. .. .. ..18 Elimination of large Classes .. .. .. 9 Technical Education .. . . . . 22 Pupils leaving School .. . . .. 9 Child Welfare .. .. .. . . 25 Destination of Pupils .. .. .. 9 University Education .. . . 28 Registered Private Schools .. . . 10 General — Correspondence School .. .. 10 School Music .. .. .. .. 30 Physical Education .. .. .. 11 Annual Examinations .. .. 30 Manual Instruction .. .. .. ..11 Teachers' Superannuation .. .. ..31 Staffing of Primary Schools . . . . 12 Subsidy to Public Libraries .. .. 32 Teachers' Salaries .. .. .. ..13 Appendix-Details of Expenditure for Year ended Applicants for Probationerships .. ..14 31st March, 1928 .. .. .. ..33

Office of the Department of Education, Your Excellency,— Wellington, 30th June, 1928. I have the honour, in accordance with the provisions of the Education Act, 1914, to submit to Your Excellency the following report upon the progress and condition of public education in New Zealand during the year ending the 31st December, 1927. I have, &c, R, A. Wright. His Excellency the Governor-Oencral of the Dominion of New Zealand.

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X E P C) R T, INTRODUCTORY AND GENERAL. Much consideration has been given during the past year to the problem of securing better articulation between the primary and post-primary schools. To this end a committee consisting of representatives of the University, the training colleges, the primary, secondary, and technical schools, Education Boards, School Committees, and business men interested in education sat in Wellington at various times during the year to consider the remodelling of the primary-school syllabus and generally to' advise on the best means of co-ordinating the different types of schools. The report of the committee will receive the careful consideration of the Government, and it is hoped that a further step forward in the organization of educational facilities will result. In thus seeking to improve the education system it must not be thought that the Government considers the existing organization ineffective. Visiting teachers both from Canada and England bear testimony to the high standard of primary education in New Zealand. While undoubtedly the type of education in both primary and secondary schools has been somewhat too bookish, it must be remembered that, wherever possible, manual training, consisting generally of woodwork for boys and domestic arts for girls, has been freely provided. In country schools, where it is impossible, except at huge cost, to centralize the manual training, handwork in the shape of cardboard-modelling for boys and needlework for girls has long been provided. In all schools science is taught, and wherever possible the curriculum has a bias towards rural pursuits. It will thus be seen that in the primary schools there are not lacking opportunities for boys and girls to show the best of their talents, whether towards the type of education provided in technical schools or towards the more literary type provided in secondary schools. It is also worthy of note that not less than 68 per cent, of pupils who qualify for free secondary education avail themselves of the privilege. The number of secondary pupils who qualify for University education, and particularly the number qualifying for free University education, has increased year by year. In 1912 only sixty-four secondary pupils gained higher leaving certificates, the possession of which gives free University education for three or four years, while last year no less than 756 gained these certificates, and of these 459 embarked on University courses. It is worthy of note that the number of University students per thousand of the population considerably exceeds the corresponding number in any of the Australian States. The proportion in New Zealand is roughly 3-21 students per 1,000. While it would be unfair to those who have built up the education system to ignore what it has done and. is doing for the people, it would be foolish to be blind to its imperfections and to neglect opportunities for improvement. It is acknowledged that all schools tend to draw away from the life of the people and to follow lines of study that grow more and more divergent from the actualities of life. A periodical stocktaking is, therefore, indispensable. The different types of schools and the different branches in the teaching profession tend to lose touch with one another and to pursue different ends. The time is ripe for an overhaul of the whole school system, and this will be undertaken with due regard to the needs of the community as a whole and to the importance of not sacrificing the good features of the existing system. Whatever reorganization is adopted will not be dominated by, yet will not ignore, educational thought and convictions in other countries. Undoubtedly primary-school education might be made more practical, and should at the same time give greater prominence to the fostering of the reading habit and the study of good book's. The aesthetic side of education might well receive more attention in all type of schools, while there are few who do not agree that the secondary schools should provide a broader curriculum than has been usual in this type of school in times past. The rapid growth and the increasing popularity of

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technical high schools shows the tendency of the people to realize that education should be closely related to life's activities, and that such a type of education may be as truly cultural as the traditional secondary education. Indeed, there is a growing conviction that a constructive piece of handwork may have a more potent influence on the development of character and on the formation of high cultural ideals than has the translation of a perfectly good piece of English prose into somewhat indifferent Latin. But education has no royal road to offer, and different pupils realize themselves in different ways. Some develop best through the manual arts, and others through literary studies. It is for the schools to provide equal opportunities for all, and this will be one of the chief aims in any reorganization of the school system that may be formulated, Cost .of Education. The appendix to this report shows in detail, under various headings, the expenditure on education during the financial year ended 31st March, 1928. The total expenditure, including endowment revenue, amounted to £3,847,545, as against £3,987,416 for the previous year, a decrease of £139,871. This decrease is largely due to the fact that the expenditure on buildings shrank from £501,292 in 1926-27 to £368,479 in 1927-28. In the former year the Department was committed to abnormal expenditure on buildings in connection with educational institutions of the higher type. Two cases in point were the expenditure of £65,966 on the new Medical School at the University of Otago and of £49,354 at the Massey Agricultural College. In the year 1927-28 the Department did not have such heavy commitments, and was consequently able to keep the expenditure almost within the limit of the amount made available for building purposes. If from, the total sum of £3,847,545 expended on education in 1927-28 is deducted the sum of £368,479 spent on buildings, the net amount remaining is £3,479,066, which is equivalent to £2 Bs. 4d. per head of the mean population of New Zealand. (1,438,814) for the year 1927. The cost per head in the previous year, excluding cost of buildings, was £2 9s. 4d. School Buildings and Sites. Considerable progress was made during the year in providing for increase of school population, and. the continual movement manifested between district and district. The Department is still pursuing its policy of replacing rented accommodation by permanent buildings, with the result that the allocation for rent is steadily decreasing. Further, the policy of making special provision for small country districts has been continued. Among the larger primary schools completed during the year may be mentioned Turu Turu Boad, near llawera, and Linwood Avenue Fresh-air School, Christchurch. The Terrace End School, Palmerston North, has been partially rebuilt; also the Kakaramea School, Wanganui District. Secondary departments were provided at Foxton, Ohakune, and Te Aroha. The Bongotai Boys' College, Wellington, and the Marlborough Junior High School were completed. A hostel for the Girls' High School at New Plymouth was also erected. Some of the more important schools to which substantial additions were made were those at Point Chevalier, Auckland ; New Brighton, Christchurch. ; Timaru Boys' High School; Hurt Valley High School, Wellington ; and Waitaki High School, Oamaru. The Memorial Hall at Wellington College, towards which a substantial grant was provided by the Old Boys' Association, was also completed. A heavy building programme is at present being undertaken, including the Massey Agricultural College, Palmerston North ; a new infant department and remodelling of the main building at Hawera ; additions to Wanganui East ; a new school at Fry's Lane, Hurt Valley ; additions to Somerfield, Christchurch. ; remodelling of Tokomairiro, Otago ; rebuilding of infant department, Bangiora, Canterbury ; new workshops at the Auckland Technical School; and additions to Hamilton and. Palmerston North Technical Schools. >

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In order to save the State the heavy cost due to the inflation of land-values by the opening of new railways and generally to closer settlement in districts being opened up, the Department has extended its policy of purchasing new sites in advance of settlement. The Department has continued its policy of centralizing schools in localities where the condition of the roads, the location of the existing schools, the suitability of train services, and other material factors render such a course advisable and economical. The Department is giving careful consideration to the fresh-air type of schooli.e., a building one side of which can practically be thrown open if weather conditions are suitable. Arrangements have been made to note from time to time the effect of this type of school on the health of the pupils as against the Department's normal type of open-air building. The greater part of the secondary and technical school building-work was carried out by the Architectural Branch of the Public Works Department. The following table shows for the year ended 31st March, 1928, the amount expended by the Department on new buildings, additions, sites, and teachers' residences :— £ Primary schools .. .. .. .. .. 190,940 Secondary schools .. .. .. .. 93,878 Technical schools .. .. .. .. .. 30,060 Training colleges . . .. .. . . .. 6,349 Universities .. .. .. .. ..23,208 Native schools .. .. .. .. .. 11,430 Special schools .. .. .. .. .. 3,510 Free kindergartens . . . . . . . . Nil. Massey Agricultural College .. .. •■ 9,104 Total .. .. .. .. £368,479

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Type No. 1 of Open-air Class-room erected in Different Parts of the Playground of a Large School.

Type No. 2 of Open-air Class-room.

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Ordinary Fresh-air Type of School erected in Permanent Material.

Interior View of Ordinary Fresh-air Type of Class-room.

To face page 4,

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PRIM A R V E§D UCAT I O N. Number of Public Schools. The number of public schools open at the end of 1927 was 2,601, the same number as in the previous year. In the following table the schools are classified according to their grade, and the yearly average attendance and the number of children per teacher are shown.

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Grade of School, and Average Attendance. Total Average Atten dance. * Average Number of Children per Adult Teacher in Primary Department. Number of Schools. Primary Secondary Department. Department. Total. 0 (1-8) 1 (9-20) II (21-35) IIIa (36-50) IIIb (51-80) IIIo (81-120) IVa (121-160) .. IVb (161-200) .. IVo (201-240) Vα (241-280) Vβ (281-320) .. Vc (321-360) VIa (361-400) VIb (401-440) Vic (441-480) VIIa (481-520) VIIb (521-560) VIIo (561-600) VIId (601-640) .. VIIe (641-680) .. VIIf (681-720) Vila (721-760) .. VIIh (761-800) VIIi (801-840) .. VIIj (841-880) VIIk (881-920) .. VIIl (921-960) 247 785 515 299 265 135 59 32 37 ■ 25 22 22 26 25 16 12 19 15 14 16 3 5 4 1 1 1,486 11,022 13,587 11,983 16,251 85 12,875 134 7,897 121 5,608 264 7,961 692 6,413 326 6,(509 120 7,448 397 9,768 466 10,450 164 7,243 183 6,015 63 10,314 102 8,784 94 8,623 246 10,542 2,129 3,651 3,092 815 807 1,486 11,022 13,587 11,983 10,336 13,009 8,018 5,872 8,653 6,739 6,729 7,845 10,234 10,614 7,426 6,078 10,416 8,878 8,869 10,542 2,129 3,651 3,092 815 807 7 15 25 18 30 35 } 35 } " L 53 J I 40 1 911 911 Totals, 1927 Totals, 1926 2,601 2,601 192,284 192,588 3,457 3,220 195,741 195,808 32 Difference - 304 + 237 - 67 * Head teachers are counted as class-ti Schools. In previous reports all head teaoh; jachers up to >rs were count i and including ted ay class-tea' Grade V schi :hers. iols that are ni ot District High

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It will be seen from the first table above that 1,547 schools, or more than, half the total number, each had an average attendance of less than thirty-six pupils. These sole-teacher schools had a total average attendance of 26,095. Enrolment and Attendance. The total enrolment in public primary schools at the end of the year 1927 was 219,945, an. increase of 3,138 over the total for the previous year. Regularity of Attendance. ' — The regularity of attendance has continued at a highly satisfactory figure, the average attendance for the year 1927 being 89-2 per cent, of the average weekly roll number. The Otago Education District, with 91-5 per cent., had the highest degree of regularity, but the figures for all districts are creditable, in no case falling below 88-1 per cent. The relative responsibilities of the nine Education Boards may be gauged from the following figures, which are exclusive of the secondary departments of district high schools : —

The more pronounced increase in the North Island districts is, of course, a natural corollary to the northward trend of the population. It will be observed that the Auckland District accounts for 57 per cent, of the increase for the Dominion.

m t i. * Average Total Average ;vr umb *f Attendance. ot Children per (Primary.) Adu]t Toaohor _ Grades III-VII (two or more teachers) Grades V-VII (six or more teachers) All schools 166,189 37 108,614 44 192,284 32 * Head teaohers are counted as class-teachers up to and including Grade V sclu Schools. In previous reports all head teachers wore counted as elass-toachers. ools that are not District High

Enrolment. Adult Teachers, 1927. Education District. Percentage 1927. Increase, Five Years. Schools, 1927 (excluding Grade 0). 1922. Auckland Taranaki 62,248 11,121 16,673 15,593 26,367 7,052 36,885 22,084 12,468 67,621 9 11,719 5 17,266 4 16,567 6 28,042 6 7,023 * 37,890 3 21,370 -3 12,447 * 9 5 4 6 6 * 698 164 190 163 227 117 379 234 182 1,854 364 501 184: 751 253 1,034 (509 380 Wanganui . . Hawke's Bay Wellington Nelson Canterbury 3 -3 * Otago Southland Totals 210,491 219,945 4 2,354 6,230 * No sigi [ificant movemi it.

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Ages. Class P. Standard I. Standard II. Standard III. Standard IV. Standard V. Standard VI. Standard VII. Totals. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls, j Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. I Girls. Boys. Girls. ; i 5 and under 6 6 „ 7 .. 9,907 9,023 2 1 .. 11,982 10,790 584 697 10 11 9,909 9,024 1 ,576 11,498 7 „ 8 .. 7,645 I 6,371 4,537 4,830 613 739 14 12 ■• 12,809 11,952 8 „ 9 ; " .. 2,192:1,618 4,795 4,006 | 4,200 4,424 633 773 13 18 1 11,834 10,839 9 „ 10 10 „ 11 11 „ 12 609 391 1,932 1,548 | 4,704 4,364 3,681 4,341 608 j 690 24 25 4 ] 3 200 159 716 ' 441 2,448 1,803 4,933 4,920 3,790 4,037 601 710 56 38 91 66 215 132 796 i 569 \ 2,910 2,271 4,608 4,628 3,186 ] 3,388 521 551 j 1 J 11,762 11,362 .. ! 12,744 12,108 2 12,328 11,607 12 „ 13 13 „ 14 ■ ..32 33 80 71 284 194 1,236 919 | 2,870 j 2,508 4,454 4,291 2,776 3,007 23 10 34 20 102 66 479 335 1,434 1,066 3,009 2,518 4,120 3 : 953 28 60 i 32 11,760 11,055 63 9,261 8,051 W „ 15 15 „ 16 16 „ 17 17 years and over 5 5 13 6 30 15 114 ' 62 393 249 1,149 740 2,452 1,835 ■ • J • • • • 1 1 7 5 20 13 84 31 239 I 108 757 435 .. i 1 .. 3 1 I 9 4 23 7 105 57 1 3 1 5 i 1 ' 1 i 63 20 4 J 68 4,219 ' 2,980 23 1,128 616 7 145 76 Totals .. 32,686 28,466 12,909 11,753 13,196 ! 12,190 14,223 |l3,647 13,809 13,231 12.689 11,788 10,796 9,880 I J j [ 1 177 220 J110.485 J 101,175

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Problem oe Eetardation. The table on the previous page classifies, according to age and standard of education, the whole of the pupils who were in attendance at public primary schools at the 30th June, 1927. The heavy lines indicate the normal progress of a pupil who, entering between the age of six years and seven years, spends two years in the preparatory classes and one year in each of the standard classes, and is thus receiving instruction, in Standard VI when he is between thirteen and fourteen years of age. In previous reports the table has been compiled to show the age and standard of education of the pupils in attendance at the end of the year under review. In the report for last year the table was so compiled, the result being that 35 per cent, of the total number of children in attendance was shown to be below the lines of normal progress. It was pointed out in the report that the position thus presented was not strictly correct, since at the end of the year the bulk of the children had. actually passed through the classes in which, they were shown in the table and were on the point of entering higher classes. With the object of remedying this obvious defect the Department decided last year to obtain the information as to age and standard of education at the 30th June—the middle of the school year —instead of as previously at the 31st December. The figures thus obtained are now tabulated on. the previous page, and it will be noted that only 22 per cent, of the total number of pupils enrolled now appear below the normal lines of progress. This, it is thought, is a more correct statement of the position than has been presented in previous years. Some years ago a thorough investigation was made into the causes of retardation in one of the education districts, with the following results : It was found that approximately 44 per cent, of the retarded pupils, or 1-6 per cent, of all the pupils on the school roll, were of subnormal mentality, a percentage tha'b corresponds very closely with that recorded in Toronto and Vancouver, where similar investigations were made. Other causes of beyond the control of teachers and education authorities are — (a) Pupils changing from school to school, which accounts for about 12 per cent, of the retardates ; (b) Pupils late in commencing school, a cause that accounts for no less than 22 per cent, of the retardation ; (c) Non-English pupils, 5 per cent. ; (d) Long distance from school, 3 per cent. It is interesting to note that according to returns furnished by the teachers only twenty-four pupils out of 3,390, or 0-7 per cent., were retarded owing to changes of teachers. Other causes noted by the teachers were ill health, unfavourable home environment, and work out of school hours. This is not the place to deal exhaustively with the subject of retardation, but it must be explained, that the standards by which retardation is judged are largely those to which we have become accustomed by tradition and which at best are but arbitrary. Before it is possible to dogmatize regarding the extent of retardation in New Zealand, schoolsjstandardized tests must be established. A great deal of experimental work has already been done in this direction, but the investigation has not yet proceeded far enough to enable the tests to be issued. Unwise though it would be to rely too closely on deductions from the table on the previous page, certain general tendencies may, however, be discovered by a close examination of the figures. For example, the percentage of retardation, appears lowest in the preparatory classes and suddenly increases when the pupils enter the standard classes ; in fact, the retardation progressively increases until Standard V is reached, after which there is a slight fall in Standard VI, due, no doubt, to the fact that by that time'the older left school. The table further appears to show that among the girls there is a slightly greater degree of acceleration than among the boys.

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Elimination of Large Classes. During the past few years the Department has made steady progress in reducing, as far as means permit, the number of classes in which the numbers of children enrolled are found to be excessive. It must be evident to all that a wholesale reduction of classes cannot be immediately undertaken in view of the enormous expense that would be involved in the necessary remodelling of schools and the provision of additional class-rooms and teachers. The elimination of large classes can, considering all the attendant circumstances, be a gradual process only. That the Department has made appreciable progress in. its efforts will be obvious from the following analysis of the position as it has existed at various dates since 1924. The analysis shows that while in 1924 79 per cent, of the classes in schools of Grade IV and over had more than forty children and 23 per cent, of the classes had more than sixty children, in February, 1928, only 67 per cent, of the classes had more than forty children and only 3 per cent, had more than sixty. When in February, 1928, it was seen, that there were one hundred classes of over sixty pupils immediate steps were taken to remedy the matter. Seventy-one additional assistants were appointed, and schools were reorganized wherever possible. In no case where relief through modification of organization was impossible was additional assistance withheld.

Size of Classes in Schools of Grade IV and over.

Pupils leaving Primary Schools. In 1926, 21,470 pupils left the public primary schools; of these, 16,106, or 75 per cent., had passed the Standard VI examination, and 5,364 (25 per cent.) had not passed that examination but had attained the age of fourteen years. In .1927, 22,497 pupils (11,892 boys and 10,605 girls) left public primary schools ; of these, 17,628, or 78 per cent., had passed Standard VI, and 4,869, or 22 per cent., had not passed that standard. Amongst the 4,869 children who left without passing Standard VI were 768 children who had not attained the age of fourteen years. It is thought, however, that the greater portion of these will be children who, though not fourteen years of age when the schools closed in December, 1927, attained that age before the 1928 school year commenced. A number left the Dominion, and others transferred either to private schools or to lower departments of secondary schools. The few who are not thus accounted for will doubtless have been dealt with by the Education Boards for irregular attendance. Destination of Pupils leaving Primary School. The Department now obtains from public schools, through the Education Boards, returns as to the destination of pupils leaving school each year. A summary of the returns in respect of the pupils who left last year is given, in the following table. From this table it will be seen that 50 per cent, of the boys and

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1924 July ' Uii - 1925. February, 1926. July, 1920. [February, 1927. ' July, 1927 Februu 1928 > i. Number of Children. I Number Per Number of Classes. Cent, of Classes. Number of Classes. Number of Classes. Number of Classes. Number of Classes. Number of Classes. [ Per Cent. Under 31 .. 31-40 41-50 51-60 61 - 70 71-80 81-90 91 124 5 186 406 16 477 716 28 935 700 28 808 359 14 278 126 5 47 52 2 8 36 2 2 249 603 979 818 203 30 2 218 628 1,006 872 170 26 6 193 726 1,087 817 142 14 2 178 662 1,123 892 122 14 204 768 1,026 905 87 9 7 26 34 30 3 3 1 Totals i 2,519 100 2,741 2,884 2,926 2,981 2,991 3,003 100

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49 per cent, of the girls who left last year proceeded to post-primary schools, 20 per cent, of the boys engaged in farming pursuits, and 7 per cent, of the boys entered various trades.

Probable Destination of Pupils leaving Public Primary Schools during, or at End of, Year 1927.

Registered Private Primary Schools. The following table summarizes the returns furnished by registered private primary schools with respect to the year 1927 : —

Correspondence School. During the year the number of pupils being taught by correspondence rose from 504 to 620. The school was visited by the Inspectors on two occasions, and was favourably reported on. As in previous years, no children were admitted who could reasonably be expected to attend a public school. To cope with the increased numbers, additional appointments were made to the staff, which now consists of the headmaster and ten assistant teachers, two of whom are engaged in the infant department. Gratifying features of the work are the continued hearty co-operation

Toti Js. Had passed Standard VI. I fad noi Standa t passed ,rd VI. Girls. Boys. Destination. Boys. Girls. i i Boys. I j Girls. Number. Per Cent. Number. Per Cent. Post primary Commercial occupations — (a) Clerical (including typing) .. (/>) Sliojj and warehouse assistants 5,857 5,148 120 99 5,977 50 5,247 49 124 323 81 188 I 28 126 20 98 152 449 1 4 101 286 1 3 Trades — (a) Engineering (6) Building (o) Other Agricultural and pastoral Other occupations Home Not known 126 150 278 1,284 422 508 205 1 71 125 255 2.372 110 49 58 155 1,098 362 397 222 1 1 36 79 276 ],483 161 175 208 433 2,382 784 905 427 1 2 4 20 6 2 1 107 204 531 * * 1 2 5 36 3 Q 4 3,855 271 Totals I 9,277 8,351 2,615 2,254 11,892 100 10,605 100 *Noe significant i percentaj E?e.

Undenominational Sohools. Catholic Church Schools. Other Churcli Schools. i Total. Number of schools 47 205 53 305 Roll—Boys Girls 717 1,212 10,501 11,698 1,649 1,581 12,867 14,491 Total 1,929 22,199 3,230 27,358 Average attendance 1,664-77 19,415-51 2,879-88 23,960-16 Teachers —Men .. Women 27 122 55 038 47 113 129 873 Total 149 149 693 160 1,002 I The number of schools at the end of total enrolment 26,778. ;he previous year was 301, and the

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of the parents and the enthusiasm of the staff. That a high standard of work is being maintained is proved by the progress that the pupils make when they leave the Correspondence School to attend a public school or a secondary school. The school endeavours, as far as possible, to keep in touch with former pupils, advising and guiding them when necessary. Of the twenty-two pupils of Standard. VI who sat for examination in December, twenty gained proficiency and the remaining two competency certificates. It is regrettable that many of these children are unable to continue their education owing to their distance from a secondary school and the expense involved in sending them to board in town. Physical Education . The value of physical education, as a preventive of disease and as a means of a perfect all-round physical improvement, leading to increased efficiency, is more fully realized than ever before. Since the inception of the present scheme in 1913, the physical condition of the children of our schools has improved to such an extent that the more obvious curable and preventible physical deficiencies have almost disappeared.. There remains, however, much still to be done, especially in the prevention of the development of the less-obvious defects leading to serious loss of efficiency as the child develops into adult life. The prevalence of these deficiencies, arising as they do from remote causes, calls for concerted action between all the societies and institutions dealing with the welfare of young children. Corrective classes are being established in increasing numbers, and it is hoped that the application of suitable treatment will still further increase the number of the physically efficient. For the normal child interesting movements, games, dances, and eurhythmies supply a motive for active exercises, and there is evidence that what may be called a " physical fitness conscience " is being widely cultivated. Swimming and life-saving are now compulsory subjects in the training colleges, and these important arts are taught and practised wherever facilities exist. During the year a refresher course for instructors was held in Dunedin under Dr. Renfrew White, an eminent specialist in orthopcedics. The instructors received great benefit from the training received there, and entered their new year's work with widened vision and fresh enthusiasm. The students in. the four training colleges were trained by the instructors, who, in addition to this work, visited during the year over four thousand schools. Manual Instruction. Staffing. —On the 30th June, .1.927, there was in the employ of the various Education Boards a total of 119 full-time specialist teachers engaged in giving instruction to senior pupils in woodwork, metalwork, and domestic subjects, besides twenty-two specialist instructors in elementary agriculture. These teachers were classified as under. Class VII is the highest, and in Division I are placed those teachers whose classification is based on academic or professional qualifications equivalent to at least a University diploma involving three years' preparation of University standard.

Full-time Classified Teachers in Manual-training Classes as at 30tii June, 1927.

-Division I. Division II. Class. Men. Totals. Women. Men. Women. VII .. VI .. V .. IV .. Ill .. II .. I .. 1 3 8 4 1 i 6 9 5 16 15 I! 2 1C) 5 8 6 10 8 3 11 27 30 25 20 ■■28 Totals .. 16 16 20 65 40 141

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In this table are included nine teachers (four men and five women) on staffs of junior high schools and one supervisor of needlework in primary classes. The average rates of salary on the 30th June, 1927, were as follows : Men, £352 ; women, £222; both, £297. The following are some particulars of the number of schools and the number of pupils receiving instruction in manual training during 1927 : — Agriculture : The number of public primary schools at which instruction in elementary agriculture was given was 1,927, and the number of pupils receiving instruction was 40,578. Woodwork : Total number of pupils who received instruction, 19,409. Metalwork : Total number of pupils who received instruction, 799. Domestic subjects : Total number of pupils who received instruction, 18,890. Elementary Science : Total number of pupils who received instruction, 5,545. ' Private schools : 3,148 pupils from 114 private schools received instruction in manual-training subjects. Financial. The total amount due "by the Department to the Education Boards for the salaries and incidental expenses for the year 1927 was approximately £66,662, made up as follows :— Salaries — £ Full-time assistants .. .. .. .. .. 41,469 Full-time student teachers .. .. .. .. 230 Overtime .. .. .. .. .. .. 130 Capitation for part-time teachers .. .. .. 579 £ 42,408 ' Incidental allowances .. .. .. .. .... 9,734 Capitation grants .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 14,520 Total .. .. .. .. .. .... £66,662 In addition, the Department provided handwork materials costing some £9,060, and also refunded to Education Boards the actual receiving and distributing charges. amounting approximately to £.1,320, involving a total expenditure of £10,380. STAFFS OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS. The number of adult teachers employed in the primary departments of public schools at the end of 1927 was 6,230 (men, 2,167 ; women, 4,063), an increase of 47 over the previous year. There were, in addition, 567 probationers (males, 169 ; females, 398), compared with 700 at the end of the previous year. The following table shows the number of teachers in the schools of the various grades :—

Number of Adult Teachers employed in Primary Departments of Public Schools, December, 1927.

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Sole Teachers. Head Ti iachers. Assistant Teachers. Total Adult Teachers. (Jrade ot School. M. F. 11. F. M. F. M. F. Total. jjrade >> it >> S3 )) S3 » i 0 (1-8) 1 (9-20) 11 (21-35) IIIa (36-50) 111b (51-80) lllo (81-120) IV (121-240) ' V (241-360) VI (361-480) VII (over 480) 21 298 218 18 190 452 265 14 1 14 169 227 118 122 65 66 98 12 91 34 7 1 1 2 5 1 3 91 105 164 362 1 26 255 276 245 393 322 455 1,022 21 298 234 192 228 121 213 170 230 460 190 453 303 360 311 252 394 323 455 1,022 211 751 537 652 539 373 607 193 585 1,482 All grades 555 922 879 I 16 733 2,995 2,167 4,063 6,230

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Ratio of M.en to Women Teachers.-The following table indicates the number of women for each 100 men teachers : —

In the Education service as a whole the ratio of women to men remains fairly constant at about two to one. The number of female probationers somewhat exceeds this ratio ; but the relatively heavy loss of women teachers after only a few years' teaching has the effect of reducing the ratio in the teaching service as a whole. In the previous section, entitled " Elimination of Large Classes," reference was made to steps that had been taken to staff the primary schools more liberally. The following figures give further evidence of what has been done in this direction during the last few years :—

Teachers' Salaries, ' ; , The total amount of all salaries and allowances for the year ending on the 31st March, 1928, was £1,763,848, or £2,692 more than in the previous year. These figures do not include the equivalent of house allowance where residences are provided, estimated at £51,530, nor the additional amounts paid to head teachers for the supervision of secondary departments of district high schools. The total cost of salaries and allowances (including the sum saved in house allowances) works out at £8 ss. Id. per head of the total roll number, the corresponding amount in 1926 was £8 7s. 4d. The average salaries of adult teachers- (including house allowances and value of residences) in 1914 and for the last five years are shown in the following table :— Average Salaries of Primary-school Teachers. 1914. 1923. 1924. 1925. 1926. 1927. (1) Teachers in all schools— £ £•££££ (a) Men and women.. .. .. 163 268 276 280 280 279 (b) Men .. .. .. 224 350 358 364 359 356 (c) Women.. .. .. .. 128 228 236 238 239 238 (2) Teachers in schools with average attendance over eight — (a) Men and women.. ' ..275 283 286 285 286 (b) Men .. .. .. .. .. 353 361 366 361 359 (c) Women.. .'.' .. ... . . 235 242 244 244 246 (3) Teachers in schools with average attendance over twenty — (a) Men and women - . .. .. 283 291 292 295 290 (6) Men .. .. .. .. : .. 370 380 384 384 375 (c) Women.. .. .. .. ..237 245 244 .248 245 (4) Head teachers— («) Men .. .. .. .. .. 422 436 442 443 445 (6) Women .. .. .. .. 365 365 359 380 375 (5) All sole teachers — (a)Men ...■ ■■ .. .. .. .. 247 251 264 273 278 (6) Women .. .. .. ..218 226 240 244 239 (6) Assistants— (a) Men .. .. .. .. ..321 326 329 318 310 (b) 1 Women .. .. .. ..224 230 231' 230 231

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1915. ,1918., 1.922. ,, 1926. 1927. Adult teachers — All schools Schools with roll I - 20 Schools with roll over 20 .. Pupil teachers Probationers Training-college students 193 323 176 344 647 387 253 197 523 299 227 182 425 223 688 34!) 488 256 194 212 191 * 248 191 194 212 101 * 187 202 185 * 187 202 185 * 236 213 248 191 23G 213 low been abolished. * The position of "pupil-ti toher " hay e

,— jJ-H-^ (-L-! — i-^-~ Your. Average Attendance. Number of Number of I>,,pil s a i urn , per Adult Adult .Teachers. Veher. 925 . . 926 . . 927 .. i 194,741 192,588 192,284 1 6,002 324 0,183 31-1 6,230 30-8

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The next table groups certificated teachers according to their salaries. This table shows that 37 per cent, of the certificated male teachers receive salaries over £400 per annum and 57 per cent, receive salaries over £350. Of the certificated women teachers 40 per cent, receive salaries in excess of £250.

Applicants for Probationerships. In 1927 there was no dearth of young people desiring to enter the teaching service ; in fact, the supply of qualified applicants exceeded the demand. It was therefore possible for Education. Boards to select young people with high academic attainments. A few years ago it was possible for candidates who possessed no higher qualification than a pass in the Public Service Entrance Examination to secure appointment. Now no less than 60 per cent, of those appointed possessed higher leaving certificates or a full pass in the teachers' Class D examination, while 39 per cent, had either matriculated or secured a partial pass for Class D. Of the 976 qualified applicants for appointment, positions could be found for only 582. The number of vacant positions is fixed strictly in accordance with the estimated wastage in the teaching staff. The number of entrants to the profession is therefore controlled year by year so that in the future unemployment among teachers may be avoided. Training of Teachers. The numbers of students in. training in the four training colleges during 1927 were as follows, the figures for the previous year being also given for comparison : —

Students may be admitted to the training colleges under one or other of the following divisions : Division A, students who, having obtained the necessary educational qualifications, have completed a course of training as probationers, or have completed a course of training at a recognized kindergarten school, or have completed a full-time course as student teachers in a technical school ; Division B, other students who, being over seventeen years of age, have obtained higher leaving certificates or partial passes in the Class D Examination or have obtained equivalent or higher qualifications ; Division C, University graduates admitted for one year ; Division D, teachers entering on short-period studentships. The numbers of students under the several divisions in 1927 were : Division A, 1,085 ; Division B, 76 ; Division C, 18 ; and Division D, 21 ; total, 1,200. The numbers for the previous year were : Division A, 1,041 ; Division B, 123 ; Division C, 18 ; and Division D, 16 : total, 1,198.

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Certificated Male Teachers. Certificated Female Teachers. Salaries (including Allowances and Value of Residences). Solo and Head . . . Teachers. Assistants. Sole and Head Teachers. Assistants Not exceeding £180 £181 to £250 £251 „ £300 £301 „ £350 £351 „ £400 Over £400 .. 12 102 217 167 241 630 31 167 89 103 181 125 31 122 348 151 155 29 428 1,639 333 330 126 8 Totals 1,369 696 836 2,864

1926. 11)27. Colloge. Women. Total. Men. Women. Total. Men. « Auckland Wellington Christchurch Dunedin 119 89 99 105 247 193 187 159 36G 282 286 264 198 138 77 83 86 384 285 187 199 145 816 423 264 282 • 231 Totals 412 786 1,198 1,200

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The number of students who left the training colleges in 1927 was 656, and their examination status was as under : Class A certificate, nil; Class B certificate, 148 ; Class C certificate, 383 ; Class D with partial success towards C, 107 ; Class D, 3 ; credited with some subjects towards a teacher's certificate, 15 ; no examina l tion, nil. During the past five years a gratifying improvement has taken place in the examination status attained by students on the completion of their course at the training college. The following table shows the status of those students who left college in the years 1922 and 1927 : —

Grading of Teachers. The total number of teachers graded in 1927 was 7040, including forty-three New Zealand teachers employed in the Island Schools (Fiji, Samoa, and Cook Islands). Appeals against grading were lodged by 132 teachers. Of these fifty-four were withdrawn, fifty-nine were disallowed, and nineteen were upheld. From the gradually diminishing number of appeals it would appear that the grading is now based upon firm ground, and the vast majority of teachers accept the judgment of the grading officers without question. Status of Teachers in regard to Certificates. The table below gives a summary of the position with regard to the number of primary-school teachers holding teachers' certificates in the last three years : —

Primary Teachers in Public Schools.

The numbers of teachers holding certificates of the various classes in 1926 and 1927 were as follows : —

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Teachers Certificate Examination Status. Year of Loaving. 1922 1927 j Credited with Class D some Subjects No ExamClasa A. Class B. Class C. with partial Class D. towards ination C. Teacher's Status. Certificate. I 1 50 363 77 17 82 3 148 383 107 3 15 Total. 593 656

1! Number. 192i Percentage. Number - ! centre. 1926. Number. P f r ~ j centago. 1927. I, Certificated teachers .. .. 5,301 88 5,559 90 5,730 92 II. Uncertificated teachers — (1) Holding licenses .. . . 73 (2) Unlicensed .. .. 628 1 II 61 563 I 9 35 465 1 7 Total uncertificated . . .. 701 701 12 624 l() 500 8 Totals of I and II .. .. 6,002 100 6,183 100 6,230 100

Class of Cortifioate. M. 1926. F, Total. M 1927. 1927 F. Total. n 48 431 1,047 402 13 9 250 2,064 1,202 93 57 681 3,111 1,604 106 48 494 1,090 401 11 10 292 2,181 1,127 76 58 780 3,271 1,528 87 i(' i<; Total 1,941 3,618 5,559 2,044 3,686 5,730

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The following figures indicate the very marked decrease in recent years in the numbers of uncertificated teachers employed, in public primary schools : — Uncertificated Teachers. Number. 1920 '.. .. .. ■ .. .. 1,472 .. 28 1921 ,r».-.,, ;.., , •■■■,.. 1,336 ~ .. ■ 25 1922 . ... .. ... .. . 1,234 .• .. 22 1923 .. .. .. .. ..1,100 .. 19 1924 .. .. ..• .. .. 931 .. 16 1925 .. .. .. .. .. 701 .. 12 1926 .. .. .. .. .. 624 .. 10 1927 .. .. .. .. .. 500 .. 8 It must be remembered, of course, that many of the 500 uncertificated teachers have received professional training at the colleges and require to pass in only one or two subjects or to serve their term as probationary assistants in order to complete the requirements of a teacher's certificate. There are now very few untrained teachers in the Service, and it is quite impossible now for any one to enter the profession except through the avenue of the training college or the University. NATIVE SCHOOLS. At the end of 1927 there were 134 Native village schools under the direct control of the Department for the primary education of Maori children in districts principally settled by Natives. In addition there were ten primary and twelve secondary (boarding) schools controlled by various religious organizations. Maoris are also admitted to the ordinary public schools —and in fact the number attending these schools is greater than the number in attendance at Native schools. The following table shows the number of schools witn the enrolment at the end of 1926 and at the end of 1927 :—

These figures include a number of European children (832 in 1927) who attend Native village schools, and if these be deducted the enrolment of Native children in primary schools at the end of last year becomes 13,505, compared with 13,137 at the close of the previous year. The average yearly attendance at Native village schools was maintained at a creditably high percentage (87-4) of the average weekly enrolment. Boarding-schools for the secondary education of Maoris have been established by religious bodies, and the Government provides a number of scholarships tenable at these schools, which are inspected by the Department's officers. There were twelve schools at the end of last year, with an enrolment of 524 pupils, of whom 145 held Government scholarships. In addition, nine Maoris held scholarships at Otago University and Canterbury College, taking courses in arts, theology, medicine, law, and forestry, and. five Maoris held agricultural scholarships at Te Aute College. JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS. There were eight junior high schools in operation, during the year, as against six in the previous year. The total number of children enrolled at junior high schools at the end of 1927 was 2,290, as against 1,887 at the end of the previous year. Information regarding the pupils in attendance at the schools and the destination of pupils who left the schools last year is contained in the following tables : —

. i * ' [ : \ ' Native village schools VTission schools (primary) Public schools with Native children enrolled Schools, 1927. 1 34 10 769 Roll, 1926. 6,591 364 7,017 Roll, 1927. 6,620 470 7,247 Totals 913 13,972 14,337

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Roll Number and Classification of Pupils in Attendance at Junior High Schools.

Ages of Pupils in Attendance at Junior High Schools at 30th June, 1927.

Ages and Classification of Pupils in Attendance at Junior High Schools at 30th June, 1927.

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Junior High School. « a <n S3 J£J Classifloation of Pupils on Roll Junior High School. fig | J EJg If FOT '" '' """" "• F °™ lr is iV *i — Boys. Girls, i Boys. Girls. Hoys. Id '«! 2 Hi IS <* I 1 as at 30th June, 1927. III. I All Forms. Girls. I H Hoys. Boys. Girls. (a) Whangarei . . 170 195 322 305 80 M 97 82 | (c) Kowhai .. 476 449 824 817 223 181 181 188 55 (e) Northcote .. 169 175 I 289 283 69 71 76 65 8 (b) Matamata .. 81 117 158 150 43 41 44 35 j % (a) Rotorua .. * 138 127 114 49 30 16 29 | f (a) Marlborough. . * 290 260 254 82 70 65 53 (a) Waitaki Boys' 90 109 180 169 89 .. | 97 . . f (a) Waitaki Girls' 71 73 130 124 .. 62 j .. 80 f (a) Whangarei . . 170 (e) Kowhai .. 476 (c) Northcote . . 169 (6) Matamata .. 81 (a) Rotorua (a) Marlborough. . (a) Waitaki Boys' 90 (a) Waitaki Girls' 71 195 322 305 449 824 817 175 289 283 117 158 150 138 127 114 290 260 254 109 180 169 73 130 124 t 55 8 J t t t 58 17 t t t t t 177 459 153 87 65 147 186 146 427 153 76 59 123 323 886 306 163 124 270 186 142 62 142 I I Totals .. 1,057 1,546 2,290 2,216 635 519 576 532 63 Totals .. 1,057 1,057 1,546 2,290 63 75 1,274 1,126 2,400 ((») These schools ere senior high schools to which junior departments oonsii Standard VI pupils have been attached. They arc sometimes called junior-senior high si (6) A district high school including a primary school department up to Standard I junior secondary department consisting of the former Standard V and Standard VI eohool or senior secondary department. (c) These schools are. separate junior high schools including the former Standard and also a small Form III or the lowest form of the senior high school. * Opened in February, 1927. t Number of Form III pupils included in the statistics for secondary schools. J Number of Form 111 pupils included in the statistics for district high schools. iting of Star shook. V, a junior ) pupils, and V and Stand; tidard V and liigh school or a senior high ard VI pupils

Junior High School. Under 11 Years. Boys. Girls. 11 Years and 12 Years and 13 Years and 14 Years and 15 Yoars and under 12. under 13. undor 14. under 15. over. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Whangarei Kowliai Northcote .. Matamata .. Rotorua Marlborough Waitaki Boys' Waitaki Girls' 2 9 8 4 2 8 3 1 5 12 5 2 3 29 55 16 I -1 12 21 27 16 68 33 10 II 20 31 I 43 121 45 17 26 50 69 46 50 135 I 151 40 47 24 34 17 16 47 41 51 46 42 186 40 27 21 38 42 95 25 I:; 7 21 25 29 61 19 8 8 13 11 28 12 7 2 6 II 12 22 9 2 2 2 38 19 6 Totals 36 80 172 189 ; 371 355 390 342 228 157 77 53

Age. Form T. Form IT. Form III. T01 ;al. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Under 11 years 11 years and under 12 12 „ 13 13 „ 14 14 15 15 years and over 36 154 240 142 53 10 29 159 194 104 28 5 18 131 231 140 56 1 30 155 216 95 35 17 35 11 6 22 34 13 36 172 371 390 228 77 30 189 355 342 157 53 Totals .. 635 519 576 532 63 75 1,274 1,126

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Total Number of Pupils of Junior High Schools who gained Proficiency Certificates in 1927. Boys. Girls. Total. Form II . . . . . . .. . . .. 501 437 938 Form 111 . . . . .. .. . . . . 13 10 23 Totals .. .. .. .. 514 447 961

Destination of Pupils leaving Junior High Schools during, or at End of, 1927.

SECONDARY EDUCATION. In 1927 there were in operation forty-one secondary schools at which Government free places were held and for which the teachers' salaries, &c., were provided by the Government. Twelve of the schools were for boys only, fourteen were for girls only, and fifteen were for both boys and girls. In addition two boys' schools, the Wanganui Collegiate School and Christ's College Grammar School, were originally endowed with public property. There were also seventy-nine secondary departments of district high schools, fourteen technical high schools, seven organized technical or art schools offering day courses, twelve Maori secondary schools, and forty registered private secondary schools. Further, of the eight junior high schools in operation during the year two schools--namely, Kowhai and North cote —each provided a three-year course, the last year of which was devoted to secondary instruction. There was thus a total of 197 schools providing secondary education. The following figures show the roll and attendance at these schools for 1927 : —

(a) Secondary schools (43) — Roll, Ist March .. .. .. .. .. .. 15,558 Roll, 31st December (boys, 7,853 ; girls, 6,337) .. .. 14,190 (b) District high schools —secondary departments (79) — Roll, 31st December (boys, 1,719 ; girls, 1,724) . . .. 3,443 (c) Technical high schools and technical day schools (21) — Roll, 3ist December (boys, 3,015 ; girls, 2,688) .. .. 5,703 (d) Registered private secondary schools (40) — Roll, 31st December (boys, 1,143 ; girls, 1,789) .. .. 2,932 (e) Secondary schools for Maoris (12) — Roll, 31st December (boys, 304 ; girls, 220) .. .. .. 524 (f) Junior high schools, third-year pupils only (2)— Roll, 31st December (boys, 63 ; girls, 75) .. .. .. 138

The total number of pupils receiving secondary education at the end of the year was 26,930. The total number shown in last year's report as receiving secondary education at the end of 1926 was 27,110, a larger number than at the eid of 1927. This decrease, however, is merely an apparent one, due to a change

Boys. Girls. Occupation. First Second Third m j. i i -d ± First Second Third ™ , , n _ , Year. ! Year. Year. Total | Percentage. year> Year Year . i Total. Percentage. ill'! Ill' Continued full-time 26 297 19 342 56 I 29 264 22 315 58 education Commercial (clerical, 4 35 16 55 9 .. 30 11 41 7 typing, shop, and warehouse) Trades .. .. 3 52 16 71 12 1 5 9 15 3 Agricultural or pas- 4 43 1 48 8 toral Home .. .. 3 29 15 47 8 I 16 98 24 138 25 Miscellaneous .. 3 10 3 16 2 .. 20 20 4 Not known .. 7 22 29 5 11 6 1 18 3 Totals .. 50 488 70 608 100 57 423 67 547 100 I

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in the Department's requirements regarding the statistics to be supplied by technical schools. The requirements for these schools have now been broucht into line with those for the other post-primary schools, and a more reliable figure for comparative purposes is thus presented. Had. the Department adhered to the practice previously obtaining, the result would have shown an increase of .1,310 in the total number receiving secondary education at the end of 1927, instead of, as at present, a decrease of 1.80. Destination on 1 Pupils on Completion ok their Secondary Education. The following table summarizes the returns furnished by school Principals respecting the destination of pupils who left high schools, district high schools, technical high schools, and day technical schools during or at the end of the year 1927. The figures are in all cases exclusive of pupils who left one school to enter another full-time post-primary school.

It is interesting to compare the probable destinations of boys leaving the three types of schools providing post-primary education—viz., secondary, technical, and district high schools. The following table shows the percentage of the total number of boys leaving each class of school, who proceeded to the University, or to employment in the three main, occupational groups :—

A comparison of this table with a similar table provided under the heading " Destination of Pupils leaving Primary School," in another part of this report, shows that there is ample justification for the prominence given in the primaryschool syllabus to subjects 'that have a bearing on rural pursuits. It is worthy of note that the percentage of pupils taking up farm-work is the same for primary as for secondary schools, while the percentage of pupils leaving the latter type of

Secondary ' Schools. Technical High and Day Schools. j Secondary Depart™ 'of District High Sol lents hoolsToi tals. Occupation. iioys. K* 0 P en r t. Girls. *°- j( !,;;i Boys. Girls. Boys. Oirli *°- <s. »°. oil *°- s: no. i a. Per Cent. Hoy 's. Girl Is. No. Per Cent. No. Per Cent. University college Teaching or training college Clerical— Government or local body Banks, insurance Legal Commercial Engineering, surveying, and architecture Various trades and industries Shop and warehouse Farming Home Other occupations Not known 179 7 86 3 121 5 125 5 72 3 367 14 121 5 294 1.1 211 8 426 17 78 3 77 3 408 16 98 4 250 11 4 11 8 1 2 * 4 * , 2 17 1 ; 20 2 20 3 74 1 2 * 1 20 2 4 8 1 1 4 J * * 13 1 6 220 17 11 j 2 I * * 191 123 4 3 102 344 2 8 LO 21, 1 6 * 3 * 32S 14 L * I * 65 4 8 1 99 13 2 13 1 4 j * 21 3 7 * 13 1 3 * 4 95 i 6 220 17 40 5 55 162 11 I 2 ! * 22 3 1 * * 285 159 82 502 305 6 3 2 10 6 31 10 20 600 4 1 * * 14 S 14 24 1 108 5 1 5 381 25 126 j 9 95 12 10 160 11 125 ! 9 98 12 71 248 17 .. ! .. 244 I 31 2 55 4 i 557 42 60 I 8 ' 488 14 I 21 2 11 1 36 273 18 229 j 17 71 9 33 25 1.2(3 J 9 11 125 ! 9 17 .. .. 4 i 557 42 1 ! 21 2 18 229 I 17 100 1 1,327 100 ; percentage. 1 9 * 770 469 9L8 193 102 752 k> 10 19 4 2 15 160 304 2 2,172 251 395 4 7 * 1,127 49 194 9 133 6 49 9 6 63 5 4 49 6 9 Totals 2,565100 100 1,498 100 ll,327 100 788 100 778 _._. 4,395 100 2,290100 100 4,851 J 100 I mificant percentage. * No si No gig

Class of School. 1 Clerical, Professional, University. Shop, and. Warehouse. ] Farming. Trades and Industries. Secondary Technical District high All schools Per Cent. Per Cent. 7 43 1 ' 34 * 39 4 40 Per Cent. 17 17 31 19 Per Cent. 11 25 12 16 * No significant percentage.

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school to enter trades and industries is higher than in the case of pupils leaving the primary schools. The post-primary schools, therefore, are not creating a bias away from industrial occupations, but are assisting boys and girls to discover their inclination towards such occupations. There is no doubt that if, as is intended, the secondary schools are equipped in such a way as to enable the pupils to discover and develop their aptitudes in the direction of trade and industry a higher percentage of pupils will seek to enter other than clerical occupations. The returns compiled by teachers also show the duration of the post-primary course taken by pupils who have now left school. Summarized, the position is as follows : —

Free Places. The following table shows the number of free places held in 1927 on the dates shown : — (i) Secondary schools (at 30th June, 1927)— Boys. Girls. Total. (a) Junior free pupils .. .. .. 5,030 4,694 9,724 (b) Senior free pupils .. .. .. 2,329 1,848 4,177 Totals .. .. .. 7,359 6,542 13,901 (ii) District high schools (at 30th June, 1927)— (a) Junior free pupils .. .. .. 1,526 1,463 2,989 (b) Senior free pupils .. .. .. 375 382 757 Totals .. .. .. 1,901 1,845 3,746 (iii) Maori secondary schools (at 31st December, 1927) .. .. .. .. .. 65 80 145 (iv) Technical high schools and technical day schools (at 30th June, 1927) — («) Junior free pupils .. .. .. 2,914 2,506 5,420 (/;) Senior free pupils .. .. .. 523 512 1,035 Totals .. .. .. 3,437 3,018 6,455 (v) Third-year pupils at Kowhai and Northcote Junior High Schools (at 30th June, 1927).. 63 75 138 Grand totals .. .. 12,825 11,560 24,385 There were on the 30th June, 1927, 25,314 children in attendance at Government schools providing secondary education, and of these 96 per cent, were holders of free places.

Technical District, Hi S h Schools High Schools. „. , s ho . and Day All Schools. g bcll00ls - Technical Schools. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. Percentage leaving in first year .. .. 16 4-0 38 27 Percentage leaving in second year .. .. 31 29 38 33 Percentage leaving in third year .. .. 21 16 16 19 Percentage leaving in fourth and later years . . 32 15 8 21 Totals .. .. .. .. 100 100 100 | 100

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Numbers commencing Secondary Education, and Ages at which commenced. The question, of the percentage of children who take up secondary courses after leaving primary school, and the ages at which such courses are commenced, was frequently discussed during the year. The numerical position regarding these matters in 1927 was as follows : —

From the above table it will be seen that 11,427 children (6,040 boys and 5,387 girls) commenced secondary courses in 1927. Of these children 441 (183 boys and 258 girls) came from private schools. Returns furnished by Education Boards show that 21,470 children left public primary schools in 1926. Assuming that, with few exceptions, the children who commenced secondary education in 1927 completed the primary course in the previous year, it is found that of the children who left public primary schools in 1926 51 per .cent, commenced secondary courses in 1927. It must be noted, of course, that not all the 21,470 children who left public primary schools in 1926 were entitled to admission to secondary schools. The number of such children who had qualified for admission to secondary schools by passing Standard VI was 16,106, and allowing for children entering secondary schools from private schools it will be seen that 10,986, or 68 per cent., of the number so qualified actually did embark on. secondary courses in 1927. Staffs and Salaries. The number of full-time teachers on the staffs of the forty-one secondary schools at the end of 1927 was 587, compared with 568 in 1926. There were 27 male and 14 female Principals and 293 male and 253 female assistants. The average rates of salary at the end of the year were as follows, the figures for 1923 being also shown : — 1923. 1927. Principals — £ £ Men .. .. .. .. .. .. ..713 723 Women .. .. .. .. .. .. 546 559 Both sexes .. .. .. .. .. . . 651 667 Assistants — Men .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 370 392 Women .. .. .. .. .. .. 271 283 Both sexes .. .. .. .. . . . . 324 342 All teachers — Men .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 399 420 Women . . .. .. . . .. .. 287 298 Both sexes . . .. .. .. . . .. 348 364 In addition, male Principals for whom a residence was not provided received house allowance of £60 per annum.

Age at which Secondary Course commenced. Total Numbers commencing Secondary Class of School. Under 13 Years. 13 Years. 14 Years. 15 Years and over. Education in. 1927. J Boys. ' Girls. Boys. ' Girls. ! Boys, j Girls. I Boys. | Girls. J Boys, j Girls. J I I ; I I J I Secondary .. 501 | 428 1,252 ! 1,118 936 : 875 ! 236 236 2,925 2,657 Technical .. 176 162 740 608 722 626 331 247 1,969 1,643 District high .. 185 210 447 436 337 288 114 78 1,083 1,012 Junior high .. I .. 6 17 22 35 34 11 13 63 75 Totals .. j ' 862 806 2,456 j 2,184 2,030 , 1,823 | 692 574 6,040 5,387

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TECHNICAL EDUCATION. General. Number of Schools. —The number of technical high schools open during 1927 was fourteen, in addition to which there were seven organized technical or art schools offering full-day courses. From the Ist May, 1926, the Hastings Technical High School was constituted a high school, and from the Ist January, 1927, the New Plymouth Technical Hay School was amalgamated with the New Plymouth High Schools and the statistics as far as the full-time pupils are concerned are included in the secondary schools report. Technical classes were conducted at twenty of the twenty-one centres referred and also at twenty-one other centres, the total number of centres being forty-two. Attendance. —The following table shows the numbers in attendance at technical schools and classes in 1927 : —

In the technical high schools and technical day schools, excluding Hastings and New Plymouth, the total enrolments increased from 6,559 in 1926 to 7,193 in 1927, an increase of nearly 10 per cent. In the evening and part-time day classes there was an apparent decrease in the attendance, due to some extent to the cessation of classes at small country centres, particularly in the Canterbury District. The main reason for the apparent reduction, however, is that in 1926 444 pupils attending the Christchurch Technical School for instruction in manual training classes were inadvertently included in the statistical returns submitted by the Board. The total of 12,681 for 1926 should have been 12,237, so that in reality there was a slight increase in the total number of pupils enrolled in 1927 at evening or part-time day classes. Staffing. —On the 30th June, 1927, there were 295 full-time assistant teachers on the staffs of technical schools, besides a large number of part-time teachers. There were also twenty-nine full-time student teachers, thirteen being males and sixteen females. The following table shows the classification of the 295 full-time assistant teachers, Class VII being the highest : —

Free. Other. Total. Total number of pupils on the roll of technical high and technical day schools at 30th June, 1927 Total number of students in attendance at other technical classes (ie., part-time and evening classes) during 1927 6,455 265 : 6,720 5,699 ! 6,709 12,408 Grand total 12,154 6,974 19,128 I I

Glass. ])ivisi I ion I. Division II. Totals. Men. Women. Men. Women. vii VI V IV [II [I : .. 5 20 28 26 15 17 1 4 8 8 13 7 12 6 15 11 21 9 i 5 6 18 18 6 6 6 6 21 61 65 66 37 39 Totals at 30th Juno, 1927 III III 53 (Hi 65 295 Totals at 31st December. ] 1926 102 48 58 69 277

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Tt will be seen from the above table that the main increase has been in the number of Division I teachers (graduates). The average rates of salary on the 30th June, 1927, were as follows : Principals (male), £638 (excluding house allowance). Assistants—Men, £400 ; women, £255 ; both, £342. All teachers (principals and assistants) —Men, £426 ; women, £255 ; both, £363. With the inclusion of manual-training teachers employed by Education Boards the average rates of salary for all teachers (including Principals of technical schools) graded under the Regulations for Manual and Technical Instruction were as as follows : Men, £404 ; women, £244 ; both, £342. ♦ Evening Technical Classes and Part-time Day Classes. Classes were held at forty-one centres, as compared with forty-eight in the previous year. The number of individual students was as follows :— In classes conducted by Technical School Boards .. .. .. 10,091 In classes conducted by Secondary Education Boards .. . . . . 296 In classes conducted by Education Boards .. ... .. .. 474 In classes conducted by High School Boards .. .. . . . . 922 In classes conducted by University College Boards .. .. .. 625 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 12,408

Of these students 5,699 held Government free places, classified as follows : —

The following are some particulars of the age, sex, and occupation of students : —

Summary of Occupations of Students.

First year Second year Third year Fourth year Fifth year and over Males. 1,138 876 727 561 356 females. 628 448 465 292 208 Totals. 1,766 1,324 1,192 853 564 3,658 2,041 5,699

iex and Age. Sex. Under 13 13 Years Years. 14 Years. 15 Years. 16 Years. "Years and over. Totals. Males Females 85 68 139 121 644 448 1,224 668 1,477 794 I 4,346 2,394 7,915 4,493 Totals 153 260 1,092 1,892 2,271 6,740 12,408

Number of Students. Percentage of Total. 1926 Percentage. Various trades and industries .. Agricultural pursuits Professional pursuits Clerical pursuits Domestic pursuits Students Other occupations, not stated .. 5,718 178 676 2,573 1,359 1 ,221 683 46-1 1-4 5-5 20-7 11-0 9-8 5-5 42-7 I-I 6-3 19-8 12-6 12-5 5-0 Totals 12,408 i 100-0 100-0 J_

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Technical High Schools, Technical Day Schools, and Pull-time Day Classes. At the 30th June, 1927, the numbers of pupils taking the various courses provided were as follows :—

It is to be noted that in some cases under the general course are included pupils preparing for the Engineering Preliminary Examination. Of the total number of pupils (6,720), 6,455 held Government free places, classified as follows :—-

During 1927 3,908 new pupils were admitted, and of this number 3,612 were commencing their secondary education. The following table shows the classification of pupils according to age at 30th June, 1927 :—

Financial. The total amount due by the Department to the controlling authorities for the salaries and incidental expenses of all technical classes, including technical high and day schools for the year 1927 was approximately £179,106, made up as follows :— Salaries — £ £ Full-time principals and assistants .. .. .. 115,000 Full-time student-teachers .. .. .. .. 2,346 Full-time teachers —overtime .. .. .. 8,241 Capitation for part-time assistants and student teachers . . 20,585 146,172 Incidental allowances .. .. .. .. .. .. 43,149 189,321 Less recoveries from tuition fees .. .. .. .. 10,215 Net amount .. .. .. .. .. .. £179,106 The above figures include salaries and incidental allowances payable in respect of manual-training classes conducted by Technical School Boards.

Course. Industrial . . Agricultural Domestic Commercial General Art Boys. I , 969 314 608 591 75 [ Girls. I 891 1,798 245 229 Totals. 1,969 314 891 2,406 836 304 Percentage of Totals. Boys. Girls. 55-4 8-8 28-2 17-1 56-9 16-6 7-7 2-1 7-2 Totals 8,557 3,163 6,720 100-0 100-0 100-0 100-0

Boys. Girls. Totals. First year Second year Third year Fourth year Fifth year Sixth year 1, 846 .. : 1,064 361 1.40 22 1,576 920 376 122 22 4 3,422 1,984 737 262 44 6 Totals I 3,435 .3,020 6,455

ioys .. -iris .. Totals Under 13 Years. 114 115 229 13 Years. 684 602 14 Years. Iβ Years. 16 Years. 17 Years. 18 Yeara Totals. and over. I 940 463 131 52 3,557 790 368 147 98 3,163 1,173 1,043 1,286 2,216 1,730 881 278 150 6,720

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CHILD WELFARE. The Child Welfare Branch provides generally for the maintenance of destitute, neglected, and delinquent children, and young offenders committed to its care under the provisions of the Child Welfare Act, 1925. In. addition the Branch provides for the following social services : — (1) Preventive work in the community — that is, the investigation, occasional social readjustment, and necessary supervision by Child Welfare Officers in the early stages of any cases brought under notice. (2) Investigation, regarding the conduct, family history, and home conditions of all children brought under the notice of Children's Courts, or young persons charged with offences. (3) The oversight of all young offenders who are placed under supervision by the Children's Courts. (4) Supervision of all infants and young children who are maintained apart from, their parents or guardians. (5) The investigation and supervision where necessary of all illegitimate births to ensure that these infants are properly placed and cared for. At the same time the Welfare Officer assists the unmarried mother, where possible to re-establish herself in the community, and to fix paternity so that the man. concerned may be made to recognize his responsibilities. (6) Inquiry regarding all applications for the adoption, of children under fifteen years of age. In every such case a report is furnished by the Welfare Officer to the Magistrate prior to the hearing of the application, for adoption. (7) Preliminary investigation regarding applications for widows' pensions. and supervision and disbursement of pension-money in doubtful cases. (8) Assistance in supervising young Natives of the Pacific islands domiciled in the Dominion. (9) The care and training and subsequent supervision in the community of the higher grades of feeble-minded, children who cannot be left in their own homes, or who cannot attend special day classes attached to public schools. (10) The education of deaf children and those who are partially deaf and children with speech-defects. (11) The inspection and registration of all. children's homes, orphanages, &c. A most important function of the Child Welfare Branch is to endeavour to check in the early stages the development of conditions in the social field that lead or are likely to lead to child wastage and, where this is not possible, to provide social readjustment for the child or young person who by reason of his environment or physical or mental condition is handicapped in the race of life and likely to become a burden on the community. The Child Welfare Amendment Act of last session contains important provisions regarding the inspection and registration of private institutions, orphanages, &c, where children are maintained apart from their parents or guardians. Generally speaking, these private institutions for children, of which there are about eighty throughout the Dominion, have many things in common, but practically all of them retain, their individuality and are working out their problems (similar problems mostly) in. different ways. At this stage in the development of child welfare in the Dominion it is considered desirable in the interest of all. concerned, particularly the children, that there should be a close relationship between private social-welfare organizations and institutions and the Child Welfare Branch of the Education Department. The Amending Act considerably clarifies the powers and scope of the Children's Courts, and specially provides methods of dealing with children and young persons without the recording of convictions. Parental responsibility in the matter of ensuring that the conditions imposed on children residing in their own. homes, but placed under the supervision of Child Welfare Officers by the Children's Courts, is also provided for.

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Children's Courts. It is pleasing to record that Magistrates and Justices specially appointed to exercise jurisdiction in Children's Courts have endeavoured to carry out the spirit of the legislation under which these Courts have been established. The view generally accepted by child-welfare authorities in regard to the offending child is that less is to be achieved by punishment than by correction of conditions, care and protection, and the prevention of a recurrence of inimical conditions through the constructive work of the Court in. conjunction with the Welfare Officers. As stated in a previous report, the child should be saved to the State, not punished by it. A certain amount of controversy has been raised in regard to the practice of permitting the publication of proceedings regarding children's cases. The Child Welfare Act stipulates that in no case shall the name of the child be published, or any particulars likely to lead to the identification of the child. Most Magistrates take the view that the presence of reporters is embarrassing and foreign to the informal atmosphere that should obtain in a Children's Court, and that the publication of reports, far from serving any good purpose, may prove distinctly mischievous and harmful. Associates of Children's Courts. —The personnel of the Children's Court may include Honorary Associates, of either sex, whose function it is to act as the children's friend and generally to assist the presiding Magistrate or Justice in arriving at his decision. So far, Associates of both sexes have been appointed only in the four large centres and in some of the smaller centres, and have proved of very material assistance not only to the Courts but to the officers of the Child Welfare Branch. The Department wishes to acknowledge gratefully the assistance that is frequently given by the Associates after the cases have been dealt with by the Courts. Child Welfare Officers. —One of the duties of these officers is to investigate each case from a social-welfare standpoint and to furnish the Court with particulars as to family history, environment, conduct, progress at school, degree of mentality, &c. As a rule, in the larger centres the Child Welfare Officers are identical with the regular field officers of the Child Welfare Branch, but in the outlying towns and country districts the services of local voluntary social workers have been utilized to very great advantage. By this means the Department hopes to enlist the services of local organizations, with the object of dealing with the various classes of children in their own districts and in their own homes, where possible, by private effort directed from the nearest child-welfare centre. The total number of children under the supervision of the Child Welfare Branch at the 31st March, 1928, was 5,816, classed under the following headings : — Boarded out, at service, in receiving-homes, &c. .. .. .. 4,014 Under supervision .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 493 Infant-life protection .. .. .. .. .. .. 902 Deaf children .. .. .. . . .. .. .. 122 Feeble-minded children .. .. .. .. .. .. 285 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. 5,816 The number of children committed to the care of the Superintendent during the year ended 31st March, .1928, was 592, classified according to reason for committal as follows: Indigent, 241; delinquency, 24; detrimental environments, 75 ; not under proper control, 120 ; accused or guilty of punishable offence, 81 ; neglected, 51 ; and in addition 38 were admitted by private arrangement (section 12, Child Welfare Act), while 14 were temporarily admitted, making a total of 644. Classified according to age at the time of admission, the numbers are as follows : Under six months, 65 ; over six months and under one year, 33 ; from one to five years, 123 ; from five to ten years, 146 ; from ten to fourteen years, 143 ; and over fourteen years, 134 : total, 644. Numbers under the Guardianship of Child Welfare Branch. Fully 95 per cent, of the children under fifteen years of age under the guardianship of the Child Welfare Branch are placed in foster-homes in country districts, where they have the opportunity of becoming members of some family and of being gradually absorbed into the community.

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So far as their scholastic education is concerned, the interest of the Child Welfare Branch in them is really similar to that of any guardian. They attend the public school and take part in the ordinary everyday activities of the community as does the child brought up by his own parents. The remaining 5 per cent, represents those who on account of anti-social habits or subnormality are not fit to be placed in foster-homes or allowed to attend the public school. For this small residue institutions are provided, with facilities for the training and education of the inmates along specialized lines suited as far as practicable to the peculiar needs of the individual cases. At the end of the year there were 4,014 children, under control (excluding those mentioned under separate headings below), and of these 266 were in residence at Government receiving-homes and probation homes (many of these, of course, only temporarily), training - farms, and training institutions, and 67 in the four private schools recognized under the Child Welfare Act; 1,981 children were boarded out in foster - homes, 902 were in situations, and 631 residing under license with relatives and friends. The remainder were in various private institutions. Of the boarded-out children, 130 were over the age of fourteen years, of whom 78 are still attending primary schools, and 52 are receiving higher education (35 technical and 17 secondary). The children over school age in employment number 758 males and 394 females (included in the total of 4,014). Of the males, 570 are farm-workers (201 skilled in dairy-work and cheesemaking, and 369 competent to milk and carry out general farm-work), 56 are apprentices (of which number some are receiving assistance), and 132 others are employed in various trades. Of the girls, there are 317 domestic workers, 42 factory employees, and 35 engaged in various employments, such as shop-assistants, nurses, dressmakers, &c. System oe Supervision. The number of cases dealt with by the Courts last year was 1,685, and of these 448 were placed under the supervision of Child Welfare Officers or brought under the " Big Brother " scheme as carried out by the V.M.C.A. and the Roman Catholic authorities. The number actually admitted to institutions such as receiving-homes, special schools, training-farm, &c, was 592, but all these, with the exception of 117 who require long periods of training or were regarded as unfit for placing out, were suitably provided for in the community before the close of the year. The remainder of the children were dealt with in a summary manner not calling for supervision by a Child Welfare Officer. Infant-life Protection and Adoption of Children (Infants Act, 1908). At the end of the year there were 902 children being maintained in 753 licensed foster-homes. Of these, 638 homes had one child each, 89 had two children each, 20 had three children each, 5 had four children each, and 1 home had six children. The payments by relatives for the maintenance of each child ranged from ss. to £l 10s. a week, the average rate of payment being approximately 15s. 7d. per week. Adoptions. —During the year 372 children were adopted, and in 40 of these cases premiums were received by the Department's agents and paid out at the rate of 15s. a week for each child concerned. Of the total number of children adopted, 83 were under the age of six months, 39 between the age of six and twelve months, and 250 between the age of one and six years. Care and Training of Deaf Children, Children with Defective Speech, Blind Children, and Mentally-backward Children. The pupils under instruction at the School for the Deaf, Sumner, during the year numbered 122, and of these 14 were day pupils and 108 boarders. The special day classes in Auckland and Wellington for partially deaf children and for children with speech-defects were continued with highly successful results. About 120 children attended the classes last year. Provision has also been made in these centres and in Christchurch for night classes for the instruction of the adult deaf, 78 persons afflicted in this manner attending the classes for the year ended 31st March, 1928.

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The education of blind children is provided for at the Jubilee Institute for the Blind, Auckland, which is a private institution recognized as a " separate institution " under the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act. Provision is made in this Act for the appointment of nine Trustees —five by the contributors and four by the Governor-General. The Trustees are required by law to admit and maintain any blind children between the ages of six and twenty-one years that the Minister of Education directs to be sent to the institution. For the maintenance and education of such children the Department pays at the rate of £25 a year each. At present there are 20 children so paid for (13 boys and 7 girls) but this does not represent the total number of children receiving instruction. The Trustees are at liberty to admit any suitable case when the parents are able to pay the full fee. Special Schools for Mentally-backward Children. There are two such special schools —one at Richmond (near Nelson) for girls, and one at Otekaike (near Oamaru) for boys. The number of girls in residence at Richmond at the end of the year was 85, and the number of boys at Otekaike 185. These institutions are for children who are educable to a certain degree, but who for various reasons cannot be provided for in their own homes. Special Classes for Mentally -backward Children. In order to deal with pupils who are of somewhat subnormal mentality special classes to the number of twenty have been established in connection with some of the primary schools in the larger centres. At the 30th June, 1927, there were in attendance special classes 305 pupils (191 boys and In these classes a special curriculum is offered including a very large amount of manual training and handwork occupations. For the most part the pupils react quickly to the specialized curriculum, and in some instances appear to make better progress, so far as their mental capacity permits, in the ordinary subjects of instruction. The scheme has been considerably extended during the past year, and several lines of development are under consideration. One of these is the linking-up of the work of the senior pupils with the work of the technical schools. In one centre the experiment is being tried of placing the fourteen-year-old pupils of the special class in ordinary technical-school classes, groups of boys being drafted to manualtraining classes and groups of girls to millinery and dressmaking. In addition, girls who are twelve years or over attend the manual-training centres for cookery, and the boys for woodwork. It is hoped by this means to ascertain the special aptitudes of the children, so that they may later on find a suitable niche in the industrial world. Three teachers have returned from periods abroad, whither they had gone to acquire further training and to observe methods of work. One went to Canada and Great Britain, and two to Vinelands, New Jersey, which is regarded as the best training-school in the world for teachers of backward children. All three returned eager to put newly-acquired ideas into practice but convinced that our own classes are being conducted along right lines. Arrangements are under way for other special-class teachers to proceed abroad at an early date. Two health camps for special-class children were held this year, one being in Wellington and one in Hawke's Bay. In both cases funds were raised locally and subsidized by the Department. The benefit to the children was most marked and well worth the labour involved. HIGHER (UNIVERSITY) EDUCATION. The number of students on the books of the four University colleges affiliated to the University of New Zealand increased from 4,653 in 1926 to 4,878 in 1927. The figures for each of the four colleges were as under : — 1926. 1927. Auckland .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,270 1,455 Victoria .. .. .. .. .. ..930 975 Canterbury .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,229 1,248 Otago .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,224 1,200 4,653 4,878

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The total number of students described as taking definite courses at the affiliated colleges was 4,379, distributed as follows : Arts, 2,056 ; science, 364 ; medicine, 223 ; dentistry, 116 ; law, 565 ; commerce, 522 ; music, 26 ; engineering, 236; agriculture, 26; home science, 120; architecture, 45 ; journalism, 42; mining, 19 ; and forestry, 19. The number of exempted students was 566 in 1926 and 516 in 1927, the numbers in actual attendance at lectures being 4,087 and 4,362 respectively. The following shows the growth in the numbers of students over a period of years : 1878, 168; 1895, 742; 1900, 805; 1905, 1,158; 1915, 2,039; 1920, 3,822; 1924,4,236; 1925,4,442; 1927,4,878. Of the 4,878 students on the books in 1927, 3,411 students or 70 per cent, of the total number of students were men. Of the students attending lectures last year the following were receiving free University education : 39 per cent, in the case of men, and 66 per cent, in the case of women, or 48 per cent, of all students. Nearly all these had their tuition fees paid by the State. Besides University Scholarships, the gaining of which entitles the holder to free University education additional assistance, the Government awards University Bursaries to all students who secure a credit pass in the University Entrance Scholarship Examination or gain a higher leaving certificate. Most of the bursars secure the latter qualification. A bursary enables a student to secure free University education to the value of £20 per annum in fees, the bursary being tenable for three years, with a possible extension to a fourth year. The following table shows the number of bursaries held in each year since the institution of this system : — Year. Number. Year. Number. 1912 .. .. .. ..38 1921 .. .. ..615 1914 .. .. .. .. 110 1922 .. .. .. 545 1915 .. .. .. ..230 1923 .. .. ..649 1916 248 1924 751 1917 .. .. .. ..246 1925 .. .. ..804 1918 .. .. .. ..293 1926 .. .. ..899 1919 .. .. .. .. 444 1927 .. .. .. 1,013 1920 .. .. .. ..539 It is interesting to note that in New Zealand in 1925 the number of students for every 1,000 persons in the population was 3-21 ; while in New South Wales thei'e were 115 students per 1,000 ; in Victoria, 1-41 per 1,000 ; in Queensland, 0-54 ; in South Australia, 2-71 ; in Western Australia, 1-01 ; and in Tasmania, 0-81. Returns showing the occupations of students have been furnished with respect to last year by the four constituent University Colleges. Expressed as percentages the figures are as under : — Men. Women. Full-time students .. .. .. .. .. 31 40 Teachers and training-college students .. .. .. 24 46 Government and local-body employees .. .. .. 12 Employees of private firms .. .. .. .. 32 5 Not known .. .. .. .. • ■ ■ • • • 1 7 100 100 The number of full-time students as a percentage of the total number of students attending lectures was 59 in the case of Otago, 18 in the case of Auckland, 26 in the case of Victoria, and 34 in the case of Canterbury. The number of candidates for examinations conducted by the University of New Zealand shows a decrease when compared with the previous year's figures. For the Matriculation Examination there were 5,287 candidates, and of these 2,128 passed, and 435 who already held partial passes completed the examination. There were 6,371 entries for the various degree examinations, compared with 6,593 in 1926.

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It is interesting to note the position at the four constituent colleges of the University of New Zealand with regard to the salaries of professors. The following table shows the number of professors in each salary group at the four colleges in 1927 ':—

In the foregoing table account has been taken of only the actual salary paid by the college authorities. Nearly all the professors, however, receive, in addition to salary, varying sums from the University of New Zealand for services performed in examining the work of candidates at the annual examinations conducted by the University. In many cases such sums amount to over £100 per annum. Taking annual salaries and examining fees together, the following table shows the number of professors in the various groups in the year 1.927 : —

GENERAL. School Music The Supervisor of Musical Education reports that there is at present every indication that a new spirit is being aroused and a new viewpoint reached with regard to school music. During the year the Supervisor delivered lectures to teachers in summer schools and at meetings throughout the country. In addition personal visits were made to more than, fifty schools, and an article on musical matters has been prepared each month for the Education Gazette. A handbook of school music, entitled " Scheme of School Music related to Human Life," has been prepared, and this, it is thought, should be a distinct aid in unifying aims and in supplying a sound and sympathetic scheme of instruction. As some testimony to the strong interest that is being shown in musical education in the schools, it might be mentioned that in 1927 ninety pianos, 245 gramophones, and many hundreds of records were obtained by schools from the firms with whom the Department had special contracts. The musical instruction at Auckland and Christchurch Training Colleges has been placed on a sound footing by the appointment of full-time lecturers in music. In addition to their work at the colleges, these lecturers are also visiting certain of the neighbouring schools, and they intend later to commence special classes for teachers from the surrounding districts who desire help in the teaching of school music. Annual Examinations. The annual examinations conducted by the Department are as follows : (1) An examination to determine the grant of Junior Scholarships and junior free places, held in November ; (2) a main series of Public Service Entrance, Senior National Scholarships, senior free place purposes ; (3) an August series for teachers' certificates of Classes D and C and Handicraft, and incidentally to some extent of Class B.

£750 and „__. „„„„ under. £751 ~ £80 °- £801-£850. £851-£900. £90142950. ggjj; Auckland University College Victoria University College Janterbury College University of Otago 4 1 1 2 7 12 3 1 4 14 2 6 1 1 2 3 5 10 ii 10 3 Totals .. 22 21

£750 and under. £751£800. £801£850. £851£900. £901£950. £951£1,000. £1,001£1,050. £1,051£1,100. £1,101£1,150. :1,151and over. mckland University College r ictoria University College . . Janterbury College Jniversity of Otago Totals 1 1 7 9 2 1 3 5 1 1 1 1 3 3 5 4 3 3 3 1 5 1 4 2 3 1 2 1 2 2 1 L5 12 10

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The examinations were held at eighty centres in 1927. The total number of entries for all examinations was 10,130, of which number 9,585 candidates actually presented themselves for examination. A certain proportion of the absentees is due to the practice of the accrediting principle by which candidates for senior free places may be exempted from an external examination, as may also training-college students who are candidates for the teachers' examinations. 4,664 candidates were exempted in this manner from the necessity of passing the Intermediate Examination. The number of candidates actually presenting themselves for the various examinations during the last three years is shown below : —

Of the 2,640 candidates for Junior National Scholarships in 1927, 266 obtained the scholarship qualification, 1,072 qualified for a free place in the scholarship examination, and 1,568 failed. There were also 151 candidates for free places only, of whom 9 qualified and 142 failed. Of the 941 candidates for Senior National Scholarships 140 gained scholarships, 727 qualified for senior free places, and 214 failed. There were 1,285 entries for the Intermediate Examination, .1,157 candidates presenting themselves, of which number 365 passed and 792 failed to do so. The number present at the Public Service Entrance Examination, was 2,288, 1,117 of the number passing and 1,171 failing the examination. The number of candidates who sat for the different stages of the teachers' certificate examinations was 2,384 (635 for the whole or part of Class C and. 1,749 for Class D). Of the total number 359 obtained complete passes in Class D, 118 in Class C, and 6in Class B. 1,233 improved their status and 668 failed to improve their status. Teachers' Superannuation Fund. The position of the fund at the 31st January, 1928, and the principal figures concerning the transactions for the year, compared with those for the year ended 31st January, 1927, are given below : — 1926-27. 1927-28. £ £ Balance at credit of fund at end of year .. .. .. 1,083,155 1,134,015 Increase over balance at end of previous year .. .. 74,332 50,860 Income for the year — Members'contributions .. .. .. .. *147,028 *131,872 Interest .. .. .. .. .. .. 73,420 68,053 Government subsidy .. .. .. .. .. 71,428 71,228 Total income .. .. .. .. £291,876 £271,153 Expenditure — £ £ Retiring and other allowances .. .. .. .. 184,707 188,553 Contributions refunded, &c. .. .. .. .. 26,590 26,075 Administration expenses .. .. .. .. 3,1.47 3,845 Bad debts on realization of securities and reserve .. 3,100 1,820 Total expenditure .. .. .. £217,544 £220,293 * The aum received in contribution was less last year than in the provious year on account ol the larger amount paid in that year by way of arrears of contributions on house allowanco (section 115 of tho Public Service Superannuation Act, 1927).

1925. 1926. 1927. Junior National Scholarships and junior free places Public Service Entrance, Senior National Scholarships, and Intermediate Teachers D and C Kindergarten Certificate Examination Special Public Service Entrance Examination in July-August London University Examinations Handicraft Teachers' Certificate 2,687 5,097 3,393 3 121 2 14 2,775 4,759 2,689 4 219 2 13 2,791 4,386 2,384 10 1 13 Totals 11,317 10,461 9,585

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Teachers' Superannuation Fund— continued. 1926-27. 1927-28. £ £ Number of contributors at 31st January .. .. .. 8,371 8,680 Number of members admitted during period.. .. .. 967 841 Number retiring from the fund, during period .. .. 559 532 Net increase in membership at 31st January.. .. .. 408 309 Number of allowances in force at end of period .. .. 1,273 1,364 Representing an annual charge of .. .. .. .. £174,816 £192,635 Ordinary retiring-allowances .. .. .. ..768 £132,225 843 £149,554 Retiring-allowances under extended provisions of section 75 of the Act .. .. .. .. .. 110 £17,923 109 £17,504 Retiring-allowances in medically unfit cases .. .. 125 £16,720 128 £17,205 Allowances to widows .. .. .. ..183 £5,686 195 £6,058 Allowances to children .. .. .. ..87 £2,262 89 £2,314 Funds invested at 31st January — £ £ At 41per cent. .. .. .. .. .. 30,450 30,350 At 5 per cent. .. .. .. .. .. 12,920 12,920 At 5i per cent. .. .. .. .. .. 38,260 81,160 At 5J per cent. .. .. .. .. .. 12,000 At 6 per cent." ~ .. .. .. .. 771,613 935,487 At 6£per cent."! .. .. .. .. .. 169,419 73,127 Total .. .. .. .. .. £1,034,662 £1,133,044 Average rate of interest on investment at 31st January .. 5-99 per cent. 5-87 per cent. Subsidy to Public Libraries. The sum of £3,000 was distributed to public libraries in country districts on the basis of subsidy on moneys raised locally by voluntary contribution. Three hundred and twenty-five libraries participated in the grant, receiving amounts varying from £6 lis. to £.12 3s. The subsidy is not paid to libraries situated in towns or boroughs with a population exceeding fifteen hundred. Parliament will be asked to appropriate a further sum of £3,000 this year to enable the payment of subsidy to be continued.

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APPENDIX.

STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURE AND RECOVERIES In respect of all Services under the Control or Supervision of the Minister of Education during the Year ended 31st March, 1928.

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General Administration. £ £ £ 30,452 652 323 3,5.14 5,059 445 178 136 2 Salaries Travelling-expenses Telephones Postage and telegrams Printing and stationery Office furniture and fittings Council of Education : Travelling-expenses, advertising, &c... Overtime and meal-allowance Sundries Less miscellaneous recoveries 40,761 1,058 39,103 Elementary Education. 1,719,321 44,527 Teachers' salaries (including probationers' allowances) Teachers' house allowances 1,719,321 44,527 1,763,848 142,716 General administrative purposes (including School Committees' allowances) Organizing-teaehers' salaries and travelling-expenses Removal of teachers Correspondence School: Salaries, &c. Manual instruction : Salaries, capitation, and material School and class libraries Purchaso of gramaphones for schools School buildings and sites — Maintenance and repair of school buildings and residences Rent of buildings and sites used for school purposes Schools destroyed or damaged by fire : Rebuilding and repairs New buildings, additions, sites, and teachers' residences : Education Purposes Loans Act, 1919 Inspectors— Salaries Travelling and removal expenses .. .. Telephones, office requisites, &c. Extra clerical assistance, typing, &c. .. 106,866 5,211 11,537* 191,595t 32,661 9,484 241 391 106,866 5,211 11,537* 9, J 72 739 3,468 80,798 2,370 3,314 191,595t 315,209 42,777 School physical services— Salaries of instructors Courses of instruction Travelling and removal expenses Material: Officers' requisites, uniform allowances, &c. .. 4,794 30 3,118 95 8,037 57,443 Conveyance and allowance for board of school-children railway fares, £12,113 ; boarding-allowances and conveyance by road and water, £45,330) Conveyance of instructors and teachers Fares of children attending Standard VI examinations School Journal: Salaries, printing, &c. Education Gazette : Printing, &c. Subsidies on voluntary contributions on account of public primary schools, including district high schools Sundries 8,455 7 8,662 1,103 23,057 I 11 Less miscellaneous recoveries (including School Journal, £1,278 ; Education Gazette, £328 ; teachers' salaries, £238 ; special examination fees, £116; Correspondence School, £163 ; gramaphones, £2,900) i 2,471,186 6,819 2,464,367$ Secondary Education. Payments to Education Boards for — District high schools : Secondary teachers' salaries National Scholarships Payments to Secondary schools and colleges for — Salaries and incidental expenses Manual instruction capitation Subsidies on voluntary contributions New buildings, equipment, furnituTe, sites, &c. : Edueation Purposes Loans Act, 1919 Maintenance of school buildings I 93,878 1,131 52,359 11,280 248,790 4,414 2,018 95,009 8,280 From reserves revenue in accordance with Education Reserves Amendment Act, 1914 Carried forward .. . • ■ ■ •■ 422,150 2,503,470 • During the financial year £11,824 was recovered from the Fire Insurance Fund In the hands of the Public Trua t Includes £055 cost of raiaint; loans. t Including £54,042 from the national endowment reserves lovenuo and £114,967 from primary-education reservi i tee. es.

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Statement of Expenditure and Recoveries, etc.— continued.

£ £ 422,150 £ 2,503,470 Brought forward Secondary Education — continued. Conveyance of pupils to secondary and district high schools Marlborough High School: Statutory payment, .. Inspectors' salaries Inspectors' travelling and removal expenses Junior High Schools : Incidental oxponses 7,887 400 2,556 787 1,078 434,858 173 Less recoveries 434,685* Technical Education. Salaries of Inspectors Travelling-oxpenscs of Inspectors Technological examinations Salaries and capitation, technical and continuation classes Material for classes .. .. .. .. .. i Buildings and permanent apparatus, &c. — Education Purposes Loans Act, 1919 .. .. .. 30,060 Rents .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,279 Maintenance of buildings .. .. .. .. 1,465 Rebuilding schools destroyed by fire .. .. .. 168 2,655 661 536 175,011 9 Conveyance of instructors and students Conveyance of pupils to technical schools Subsidies on voluntary contributions Tochnical Schools Board : Expenses of meetings Transfer and removal expenses Sundries Less recoveries (including exam, fees, &c, £459) 32,972 82 5,752 2,091 1 110 3 219,883 540 219,343t Training Colleges and Training of Teachers. Training colleges— Salaries of staff (one-half ; the other half is charged to 24,109 teachers' salaries, " Elementary Education ") Allowances to students .. .. .. .. 119,256 Students' University college fees .. .. .. 0,028 Special instruction, libraries, and incidental expenses .. 3,000 Science apparatus and material .. .. .. 712 New buildings, sites, furniture, &c. : Education Purposes 6,349 Loans Act, 1919 Training of teachers other than at training colleges— Classes at subcontres Sundries .. .. . . .. • • .. ... 159,454 510 3 159,967 79 Loss recoveries 159,888+ Higher Education. Statutory grants — University of New Zealand — New Zealand University Act, 1908 .. .. 3,845 National-endowment reserves revenuo .. .. 4,311 Auckland University College— Auckland University College Act, 1882 .. .. 4,000 New Zealand University Amondment Acts, 1914 and 7,100§ 1919 National-endowment reserves revenue .. .. 2,155 Victoria Univorsity College— Victoria College Act, 1905 .. .. .. 4,000 New Zealand University Amendment Acts, 1914 and 7,100§ 1919 National-endowment reserves revonue .. .. 2,155 8,156 13,255 Canterbury CollegeNew Zealand University Amendment Acts, 1914 and 4,100§ 1919 National-endowment rescrvos revenue .. .. I 2,155 Additions to statutory grant: Finance Act, 1920 1,562 (section 43) I 1 13,255 «. 7,817 University of Otago — New Zealand University Amendment Acts, 1914 and j 8,700§ 1919 'National-endowment reserves revenue .. .. 2,155 10,855 Grants for new buildings, &c.— Auckland University College .. .. .. 501 University of Otago .. .. .. .. 22,415 Canterbury College .. .. .. .. j 292 Massey Agricultural College .. .. .. .. 9,104 32,312 115 200 2,426 324 Agricultural Scholarships Sir Cieorgc Grey Scholarships University National Scholarships.. National Research Scholarships Carried forward 88,715 3,317.386 * Including £8,038 from national-endowment resorvs revenue, and £8,280 from sooondary-c £4,521 from national-endowment reserve rovenue. t Including £4,153 from national-ondr £600 for Workers' Educational Association classes. tduoatlon reserves re , iwm.snt reserves rove] 'enue. iue. t Including § Includes

E.-l

Statement of Expenditure and Recoveries, etc. — continued.

35

Brought forward Higher Education— continued. Bursaries— University Educational Agricultural Home Science Engineering £ 13,295 630 965 5,689 1,318 £ 88,715 £ 88,715 £ 3,317,386 Special Technical Classes Workers' Educational Association — Grant for organization expenses Subsidies on voluntary contributions Salaries of professors of education Temporary assistance, Home Science Department, Otago University Schools of Forestry: Maintenance Grant: Otago Universit ,• Maintenance, Palmerston North Agricultural College, New Zealand Agricultural College Act, 1925, Sec. 23 21,897 2,900 1,500 17,418 3,355 450 21,897 2,900 1,500 17,418 3,355 450 2,000 4,000 15,000 62,356 5,001 1,432 113 917 4<)S 2,000 4,000 15,000 157,235* Native Schools. 62,194 162 Salaries (Teachers and Inspectors) Special allowances to teachers in isolated places 62,356 5,(iOZ Higher education and scholarships (including nursing scholarships) Books, school requisites, sewing-material, &c. Storage and despatch of school books, &c. Expenses of removals of teachers Inspectors travelling-expenses Buildings : Now schools, additional class-rooms, &c. — Education Purposes Loans Act, 1919 Maintenance of buildings, rebuilding, repairs, &c. , , 1,432 113 917 493 Manual instruction : Payment of instructors and material for classes Conveyance and board of children Sundries : Advertising, &c. 11,430 3,815 15,245 401 2,143 36 4U3 15,245 401 2,143 36 88,737 147 88,590f Loss recoveries (sale of maps, &o.) 88,737 147 School for the Deaf. Salaries General maintenance of institution Travelling-expenses, including transit of pupils Maintenance of buildings, furniture, repairs, &c. Advertising, &c. Additions to buildings : Education Purposes Loans Act, 1919 5,882 1,831 354 175 8 25 Less recoveries (including maintenance payments, £2,501) 8,275 2,505 i 5.770J Education of the Blind. 417 Grant for maintenance of Government pupils at Jubilee Institute Special Instruction Subsidies on voluntary contributions under Hospital and Charitable Aid Acts, 1909, 1910, 1913, 1923 Sundries 15 1,742 27 Less recoveries (maintenance payments) Schools for the Feeble-minded. Salaries Maintenance of buildings, &o. Additions to buildings : Education Purposes Loans Act, 1919 Travelling-expenses Maintenance of institutions, &c. Advertising, &c. Sundries 2,201 430 7,190 457 246 259 6,160 4 1 1,771 Less recoveries (including amounts received from parents and others and sales of farm produce) 14,317 3,142 i * > Industrial Schools, Receiving Homer,, Probation System, Boarding-out System, &c. i Maintenance of buildings New buildings : Education Purposes Loans Act, 1919 1,257 3,239 4,496 Carried forward 4,496 3,581,927 * including £526 paid from national-endowment reserves revenue, ■eveuue. 1 Including £210 from national-endowment reserves revenue. i t Including .tl § Including £308 frc .,840 paid from national endowment rwervo am national-endowment reserves revenue..

E.—l

36

Statement of Expenditure and Recoveries, etc. — continued.

SUMMARY.

Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing (1,535 copies, including illustrations), £02.

By Authority : W. A. G. Skinner, Government Printer, Wellington.—l92B.

Price Is..]

Brought forward Industrial Schools, Receiving Homes, Probation System, Boarding-out System, &c. — continued. Salaries Boarding out of children, &o. Refund of maintenance payments Refund of inmates' earnings Travelling-expenses Law costs Payment to Post and Telegraph Department for services, &c. Rent, office requisites, &c. Maintenance of inmates in Government schools, &c. Maintenance of inmates sent to other institutions Maintenance of inmates in private industrial schools Transfor and removal expenses Wages of inmates Sundries £ £ 4,4<J6 23,796 70,000 282 49 0,944 09 072 1.930 23,280 56 1,280 4 200 8 3,581,927 104,638* Less recoveries (amounts received from parents and others, and sales of farm produce, &c.) 133.703 29,125 Material and Stores. Salaries Stores and material purchased Lighting, cleaning, cartage, &c. 1,198 3,709 90 Less recoveries (stores issued and issues on payments) 4,997 5,223 Miscellaneous. 6.970 Examination expenses: Teachers', Public Service, and Scholarships Less recoveries 5,558 Grading and Certificates of Teaohers : Courts of Appeal, inquiries, &o. War bursaries Teachors' Superannuation Fund— Government contribution Additional allowances to widows and children 1,412 475 503 68,446 3.497 71,943 Free Kindergartens— Government capitation Accidents to sehool-childron and teachors Compassionate Allowances Conference of Education Authorities Exhibitions : Preparation and forwarding of school exhibits New Zealand Ensigns for schools .. Purchase of motor-cars (to bo rocovored) Storago and despatch of storos and stationery Subsidies to Public Libraries Sundries Purchase of motor-buses (for conveyance of school-children).. 3,780 327 325 1,020 65 1 10 35 2,993 5 750 Less recoveries (motor-cars, £10 ; sundries, £10) 83,363 20 83,030 Total 3,709,909 * Including £3,259 paid from tho national-endowment reserves revenue.

Service. Paid from Pallia- Paid from mentary Votes. Heserves Wevenuo. Totals. General Administration Momentary Education Secondary Education Technical instruction Training Colloges, &c. Highor Education Nativo Schools School for the Deaf Education of the Blind Schools for the Feeble-minded Industrial Schools and probation system .. Material and Stores Miscellaneous Services £ 39,103 2,294,758 418,337 214,822 155,735 143,778 80.750 5,560 1,771 10,807 101,379 Or. 226 83,630 £ 169,609 16.348 4,521 4,153 13,457 1,840 210 £ 39,103 2,464,367 434,685 2]9,343 159,888 157,235 88,590 5,770 1,771 11,175 104,638 Cr. 226 83,630 368 3,259 Totals 3,540,917 213,765 3,769,969