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E.—lβ

Singing and sewing show no special improvement Except in the primer classes of the larger schools, singing is still too' much exotic in school life. The varied burden of work imposed on the modern teacher is no doubt largely reaponaible for this, but teachers, I feel sure, greatly undervalue the refreshment of spirit that a few minutes devoted to singing every morning and every afternoon can give. Teachers of needlework would confer a favour on the Inapectora if they got each pupil to prepare a neat aample of all that is prescribed for each class, worked out on a piece of calico about the size of a small apron. For showing the various stitchea clearly, coloured sewing-cotton should be considered indispensable. Though phyaical instruction generally receivea careful attention, it would be much more effective if the exercises used were practised for a short time once or twice a day. The special lesson for thia is for teaching new exercises and movements, and cannot alone be considered sufficient to meet the requirements of physical exercise. Deep-breathing exercises are now used in a good many schools. I have not heard of any ill effecta therefrom, but evidently such exerciaes need to be uaed with caution. Skipping and games "involving running and Si. .art exerciae are the natural means of securing deep breathing. All such active games are to be encouraged. Wherever the number of boys of suitable age is sufficient, male teachers, and occasionally female teachers also, give satisfactory instruction in military drill; and when a cadet corpa can be kept up it is taken up with great spirit. At all the larger schools a very good training is given in this direction. In general, good order and discipline prevail in the Board's schools, and in quite a large number they are excellent. Every year sees some improvement in the attention and working spirit of the scholars, though there are still schools where the discipline is unsatisfactory, as there will be until we have reached Utopia. For this very satisfactory condition the teachers deserve very great credit. Throughout the year there has been a pronounced scarcity of qualified teachers, and quite a large number of inexperienced and uncertificated persons have had to be taken into the aervice. Thia ia partly due to the opening of the Auckland Training College, which has withdrawn from service for a time a considerable body of ex-pupil-teachera ; but it is in large measure due to the profession's being relatively unattractive. Where, as in this district, the number of small schools is very great, the great mass of the teachers must be inadequately paid so long aa the average attendance forma to any large extent the baais of payment. The claim, now vigorously put forward by teachers, that payment should be determined mainly by teaching-efficiency, and not by the average attendance at the schools at which teachers happen to be placed, is well founded, and will ere long be recognised. Great modification of the existing system of classifying teachers will have to be made before such a change becomes practicable, but thia should not be allowed to block so needful and just a reform. During the present year (1907) the system of examination in use for the past few years will be continued. I have little sympathy with the present-day outcry against examination by Inspectors as it is now carried out in all our larger schools. Not a few of our most thoughtful head teachers entirely disapprove of the discontinuance of such examination. It makes in a high degree for thoroughness and intelligence in teaching, and these are ends of the very first importance. The present position of the schoola of thia diatrict, one in which the teachers and all connected with their administration may take a modest pride, is, I believe, mainly due to the effecta of a judicioua system of examination. Apart from this, it is impossible for Inspectors to form and express, as they are required to do, any independent opinion as to the discretion and soundness of a teacher's classification of his pupils without undertaking much careful examination of the work of the pupils. It seems to me preposterous to ask Inspectors to express an opinion on this fundamental aspect of school management, and at the same time discourage them from using the only means available for forming a trustworthy opinion about it. I add, from the Inspectors' reports to me, an extract or two that have not conveniently found place elsewhere. " Bearing in mind that the syllabus requirements are not to be interpreted too rigidly, and making reasonable allowance for the numerous disabilities of the Northern District in school matters, I think I may state confidently that a good year's work haa been done. On leaving the district I would assure the teachers of my appreciation of their unvarying courtesy and loyalty, and their readiness at all times to give due weight and consideration to my instructions and suggestions " (Mr. Grierson). " I trust I am not unduly optimistic, but I am convinced that the spirit of work among our pupils is perceptibly improving. In almost every school the attitude of the great bulk of the pupils towards their teacher is one of co-operation and towards their school-work one of earnest endeavour " (Mr. Purdie). " The teachers of the district (the S.E.) as a rule are zealous and industrious. Many are enthusiastic. The quality of the work in some country schools has surprised me : it has been characterized by intelligence and "thoroughness, and has reached a high standard of merit. I desire to express my indebtedness to the teachers for the way in which they have co-operated with me, and for the spirit in which my auggeationa have been received " (Mr. Stewart). The teachera throughout this large district are as a rule painstaking, zealous, and eager for improvement, and many show most praiseworthy devotion to their work. Many of our largest schools are well directed, and the assistant staffs are receiving a fine training under their able headmasters. Many of the younger teachers are doing very creditable work in the smaller schools, and are earning solid claims to promotion when the opportunity offers. Yours, &c, The Secretary, Education Board, Auckland. D. Petrie, M.A., Chief Inspector.