17

E.—lb

NORTH CANTERBURY. Sic, — Christchurch, 20th April, 1882. I have the honor to submit my general report for the year 1881. The first six weeks of the year were devoted to the completion of reports on all schools examined during November and December, 1880. From the 10th of February to the 20th April I was engaged in completing the annual report, inspecting schools in Christchurch and its immediate neighbourhood, preparing questions for examination of pupil-teachers, conducting same, and subsequently in perusing, valuing, and reporting on the papers handed in. On the 20th of April I set out on my first round of inspection, and from that date until the end of the year my time was fully occupied in inspecting, preparing standard questions, examining, and reporting on the schools in my district. The number of schools in operation during the whole or part of the year was 68. Of these, all were examined in standards except two. The two schools not so examined were Le Bon's Bay and Mount Somers, and both had been closed for some considerable portion of the year; and, further, a change of teachers had taken place between my visits. Fifty-nine schools were visited a second time. At the second inspection, except in the case of eight schools re-examined in accordance with the instructions of the Board, the ordinary work of the scholars was not interrupted. The organization, classification, methods of instruction, and general matters in connection with the schools were noticed, and suggestions made for improvement where necessary. During the year new schools were opened at the Hinds and at Flemington. A small aided school at Broughton was closed, but, as steps are being taken for the erection of a new building in its neighbourhood, the educational requirements of the district will not be long neglected. The material condition of several schools throughout the district has been improved by repairs and additions, and, with very few exceptions, the rooms are suitably furnished, and the supply of teaching appliances is sufficient. In some few cases I regret to have to state that the buildings and grounds are very badly looked after both by Committees and teachers. Fences, outbuildings, gymnastic apparatus suffer for want of a little timely attention. The rooms, too, are not regularly swept, and dust is allowed to accumulate in all directions. Lavatories are provided in all schools of recent construction, but in the majority of cases they are evidently looked upon as ornamental appendages —at least I have seen very few indications of their being regularly used. In the playgrounds connected with the large town schools, and in some of those in the country, due provision is made for the complete separation of the sexes. This very desirable arrangement is not, however, sufficiently general, and in too many instances the boys and girls are allowed to mix in the playgrounds during the recesses without any attempt being made at supervision. Excepting, of course, the time spent in the schoolrooms, the complete separation of the sexes is most desirable. This could easily be effected by providing two plaj'grounds, with a close fence between, and each having an entrance to the schoolroom. If this were done, lam confident that objections of many parents to sending their children to our public schools would be removed. I have frequently had to listen to complaints on this subject, and I must say that, when in the playgrounds with the children, I have myself both seen and heard a good deal to justify such. The arrangements in connection with the outbuildings of some old-established schools are not quite satisfactory, they being placed too close together, and the entrances to them being unprotected. The total number of scholars on the registers at the dates of my examination was 7,795, or 52 less than last year. The number present at examination was 6,131, and here also there is a considerable falling off, last year's number being 6,318. The following table shows the enrolments and attendances for the years 1879, 1880, and 1881 :— Year. Enrolment. Present at Examination. Percentage. 1879 ... ... ... ... 7,743 ... 5,883 ... 79 1880 ... ... ... ... 7,847 ... 6,318 ... 80 1881 ... ... ... ... 7,795 ... 6,131 ... 78 The falling-of£ in the attendance was noticeable chiefly in some schools in the Akaroa and Ashburton Counties, and was due, so the teachers informed me, to the fact that several families had left the various districts. It is difficult to say what should be done in the case of such schools as French Farm, Kyle, Newland, and Longbeach (side). What with teachers' salaries, incidental expenses, cost of repairs, &c, they must be a sad burden on the revenue of the Board. lam convinced that to make them aided schools would be to close them altogether, for the reason that no certificated teachers would take charge of them at the remuneration offered, and there is very little likelihood that the parents of the children attending would augment the salaries. The plan of parents and others meeting together and applying for the establishment of schools has been followed by good results in most instances. In some places, however, people have been inconsiderate enough to ask for the erection of schools which would interfere unduly with the attendance of those already in operation. It has been pointed out to me that the accommodation provided in some schools recently erected is out of all proportion to the number of children that are ever likely to attend them. I think it would be well in future to arrange that the desks in all new buildings should be placed on graded platforms. My own experience as a teacher has proved to me that the arrangement is a good one, and I have rarely heard teachers speak against it. When new rooms, intended for Standard I. and infants, are added to existing buildings, due provision should be made for some desk accommodation. It is a mistake to occupy the whole available floor-space with a gallery. The following table shows the number presented in each standard, the number passed, the average age at which the scholars pass, the percentage of passes, and the number of schools at which pupils were successfully prepared for the different standards: — 3—E. Ib.