E.-i.

57

REPORTS OF EDUCATION BOARDS FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1381.

[Note. —Minute details relating to school districts are in some cases omitted. Tables are not all reprinted, the substance of most of them being embodied in the tables in or attached to the report of the Minister. The order of details has been in. some instances changed in the statements of accounts.]

AUCKLAND. Auckland, 10th March, 1882. _ In accordance with section 102 of the Act, the Board presents the following report of its proceedings during the year 1881. Board.—Thirty-three meetings of the Board were held during the year, with an average attendance of six members. The Executive Committee, consisting of five members, met fifty-two times. An election was held in March to fill the vacancies caused by the retirement of Mr. Joseph May, Mr. Moat, and Mr. Dargaville. Mr. Moat and Mr. Dargaville were re-elected, and Mr. Eichard Hobbs was the successful candidate for the third vacant seat. Through the retirement of Mr. May, who did not offer himself for re-election, the Board has lost a member whose experience and knowledge of country districts enabled him to render much useful service. Public Schools. —There were 215 schools in operation during the year. Of these, 38 were halftime schools, 14 were " aided " under section 88 of the Act, and one (Great Barrier) was conducted by an itinerant teacher. The number of schools according to the numeration in Returns I. and ll.* accompanying this report was 196. The number of school districts was 162. New schools were opened at Kohukohu, Otonga, Kirikiriroa, Wairanga, Mangawai, and also at Churchill (half-time with Eangiriri). Half-time schools have been opened at Whakahara and Tokatoka, instead of the employment of an itinerant teacher for the district (formerly known as Wairoa North). Aided schools have been opened at Muddy Creek and Te Aroha Gold Field. The schools at Awhitu (No. 2), Huia Mills, Hakaru, Orongo, Pollock, and Punga Mat (Thames), have been closed, but arrangements are contemplated for reopening the school at Pollock. The Kaipara Heads School was taken over as a Native school at the 30th June, 1881. The half-time school at Whakatiwai (Miranda) was closed, and a school was opened at the Miranda Settlement (half-time) with Kaiawai. Kaiwaka became a full-time school at the closing of Hakaru School; and the schools at Lucas's Creek and Pukeatua have been made fulltime schools. The utmost caution is observed by the Board in opening new schools; but, owing to the scattered settlement of the outlying districts, the demand for the establishment of small schools is frequent, and in most instances well founded. The Board has been obliged to consider the question of how these small schools can be maintained upon an income which is entirely dependent upon average attendance of scholars. In many country places there ai'e but few children of school age, and some of them have to travel a long distance to and from school. Bainy days and almost impassable roads have a serious effect in lowering the attendance and in reducing the funds (already quite inadequate) for the maintenance of such schools. The Board has been obliged in many instances to reduce the grant to a capitation allowance of £4 a year on the average attendance. Wherever it has been possible to do so, the Board has introduced the half-time system. The schools at Buakaka and Waipu Cave, at Brookside and Kariaotahi (Waiuku), at Harapepe and Te Bore, and at Mackaytown and Waitekauri, have been combined into half-time schools. The Board is glad to report that the half-time system has been found to work with fairly satisfactory results. Teachees. —The staff of teachers has increased from 466 to 495. This number is distributed as follows: — Male. Female. Total. Head teachers ... ... ... 153 43 196 Assistant teachers ... ... ... 26 103 129 Pupil-teachers ... ... ... 15 105 120 Sewing teachers ... ... ... ... 46 46 Yisiting'teachers ... ... ... 7 ... 7 201 297 498 Eegulations for the employment of pupil-teachers received the approval of the Minister of Education and came into force in June last. They provide for the employment of pupil-teachers at a minimum age of fifteen years. The term of service is three years, secured by agreement^ but subject to termination by three months' notice on either side. Candidates are expected to have passed the Sixth Standard or an equivalent examination ; but the Board has discretionary power to accept candidates of the Fifth Standard. The first annual examination of pupil-teachers under the new system will be held in April next. Eegulations have been framed so as to enable a pupil-teacher to pass into the Training College at the minimum age of eighteen, immediately after completing the three years' term of service. Advantage has also been taken of the regulation (made by Order in Council) for the issue of district licenses to pupil-teachers upon completion of their term of service.

* In Tables 9 and 10, pages 9-16 and 42-45.

B—E. 1.