B.—lβ

18

and the total number of names returned on the examination schedules was only thirty-five in excess of those for the year 1900. This apparent stagnation in the school attendance appears to have arisen mainly in consequence of the removal of the people from place to place, when the children remain at home either to assist in domestic work or until such times as they can be sent to school without inconvenience. The regularity of attendance of children at school shows a slight improvement. In the year 1898 it was 85 per cent, of the roll-number, in 1899 it fell to 817 per cent. ; but it rose the following year to 83 per cent., whilst for last year it stood at 83-3 per cent. It is difficult to say what effect the School Attendance Act of last session is likely to have upon the general regularity of attendance at school, but in the case of Native children an improvement is already noticeable at Wairoa and Mohaka. In order to foster regular attendance the Patutahi School Committee have instituted what appears to me as being a very laudable scheme. To every pupil who makes full attendances throughout the school year a silver medal is presented by the Committee, with the name of the pupil and the year in which the medal is gained engraved on it. The plan has now been in operation for four years, with the following results : First year, one medal ; second year, thirteen medals ; third year, sixteen medals ; and last year twenty-two pupils made the full 422 attendances, one of the winners being a Native. This appears to me as a satisfactory result, and it shows what is possible without the introduction of Truant Officers, policemen, Magistrates, and Police Courts into the school life and training of young children. School Committees have it within their power to do a great deal of good in the furtherance of education in a district, and the example set by the Patutahi Committee might well be followed in places where the school attendance is not satisfactory. For the first time in a period of twenty-three years I was unable to individually examine in standards the whole of the pupils who are returned as belonging to the schools, as shown in the tabulation given below. My absence from duty for three months as a member of the Public-school Teachers' Salaries Commission threw upon a number of teachers in Patangata and Waipawa Counties the responsibility of examining their own pupils in all standards, including Standard VI. All promotions were made by the teachers without the usual supervising control; but, having subsequently examined all the papers that were sent to me from the different schools, I am satisfied that no undue liberty was taken with the privilege they enjoyed, and I wish here to express my thanks to those teachers who carried out the full examination of their pupils during my absence from duty. With the exception named, all my usual visits to the schools throughout the district took place; and the Catholic schools were also examined, though not inspected. Ido not think, however, that it will be possible any longer to continue my examination of the Catholic schools, for, though very willing to do so, the increasing number of Board schools, and the additional calls upon my time through the working of the technical classes for teachers and the operation of the Manual and Technical Instruction Act, compel me to limit external work as much as possible. In my opinion, the examination of the Catholic schools has been of public benefit, and it will be a pity if arrangements cannot be made whereby such schools may have the benefit both of inspection and examination on the lines of the Education Act. The accompanying tabulation gives in summary form the total presentations, promotions, &c, for the year. With the exception of Standard VI., all promotions were made by the teachers in accordance with the new departmental regulations. For the convenience of comparison the results of the previous year's examinations are also added : —

I. —Board Schools.

II.-Catholic Schools.

Presented. Examined. Absi int. Failed. Passed. Percentage of Passes in Age: Classes. 1901. 1900. 1901. 1900. 1901. 1900. 1901. 1900. 1901. 1900. 1901. 1900. 1901. 1900. ibove Standard VI. Standard VI. V. ... IV. III. ... II. ... I. ... 'reparatory 79 464 734 937 1.019 1,066 1,082 2,675 60 406 640 947 1,121 1,067 1,061 2,719 446 719 926 1,005 1,054 1,067 403 627 928 1,064 1,017 997 18 15 11 14 12 ' 15 3 13 22 57 50 74 121 147 138 141 114 110 110 98 121 150 101 86 325 572 788 864 940 957 293 529 804 914 916 ' 911 72-8 79-5 85-1 86-0 89'2 89-7 72-7 84-3 86-9 85-9 90-0 92-3 lib 13-1 122 11-1 100 8-8 14-0 13-2 12-3 111-2 10-2 8-9 I 8,056 8,021 5,217 5,033 85 219 771 666 4,446 4,376 87-1 86-9 11-3 10-1

Above Standard VI. Standard VI. V. IV. ... III. II. I. Preparator}' 2 42 69 125 101 113 94 232 ... ■ 567 J / 42 I 123! ] 100 106 1 91 1 1 I ... ... 1 2 1 7 3 24 22 33 14 12 11 18 46 90 1 86 94| 80 42-8 67-6 73-1 86-0 88-7 88-0 311 778 878 530 530 14 116 145 414 422 79-6 79'6 37 • Average.