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cannot possibly be followed as a workable programme. As a basis on which to draw up examination tests they are most misleading and valueless. Some teachers content themselves with drawing up the programme of work after it has been gone over. This is no more than a Progress Book or a Lesson Register. A scheme of work should give a forward as well as a backward view of the work. We have, &c, W. A. Ballantynb, 8.A.,) T R. G. Whettee, M.A., f Ins P ecto ™. The Chairman, Education Board, Taranaki.

WANGANUI. Sir, — Education Office, Wanganui, Ist March, 1909. We have the honour to present our report for the year ended 31st December, 1908. The following table (A) summarises the statistics for the year : —

Table A.

Table B.

The number of pupils in Standard VII in other than district high schools was, in 1907, seventyeight, and in 1908, thirty-two. The opening of a secondary department in Bull's School only partly accounts for this decrease. In every class except Standard 111 and the Preparatory classes the percentage of pupils is slightly less than it was in 1907. In Standard VII the decrease does not appear in the district high schools, where the number of pupils has increased from 187 to 210. It is in the smaller schools that pupils are to a less extent than previously taking advantage of the higher education provided by Standard VII. The large increase in the number of pupils in the Preparatory classes must be due either to an increase in the number of infants in the district, or, as may more readily be supposed, to a tendency on the part of teachers to keep pupils longer than usual in the Preparatory classes. The percentage of pupils in the P. classes throughout the Dominion was 31*11 in 1907; in our district it was 33"41 in 1907, and 3666 in 1908. It is satisfactory to note that the number of pupils on the roll at the time of the annual examination has been steadily increasing year by year. From the end of 1907 to the end of 1908 the percentage of increase was 4"8,

Classes? Number on Roll. Present at the Annual Examination. Average Age of Pupils in each Class. Standard VII (including secondary pupils in D.H.S.)... VI V IV HI II ... I ... Preparatory. 246 851 1,231 1,451 1,637 1,583 1,644 5,005 242 821 1,188 1,394 1,572 1,527 1,580 4,624 Yrs. mos. 14 10 13 11 13 1 12 3 11 2 10 -3 9 2 7 1 Totals 13,648 12,948 11 6* • Mean of average a| ;e.

Number on Roll in 1907. Number on Roll in 1908. Percentage each Class is of Total Roll. Classes. 1907. 1908. itandard VII (including secondary departments) VI v IV Ill II I 'reparatory 255 912 1,249 1,461 1,552 1,619 1,618 4,348 246 851 1,231 1,451 1,637 1,583 1,644 5,005 1-96 7-01 9-59 11-23 11-93 12-44 12-43 33-41 1-80 6-24 9-02 10-63 12-00 11-60 12-05 36-66 Totals 13,014 13,648 100-00 100-00