11

E.—2

Although the Journal aims primarily at being instructive rather than recreative, there is ample evidence from the Inspectors and teachers that its appearance each month is welcomed by the children, and that its influence tends to the very desirable end of fostering the habit and the love of reading. It differs from most of the miscellaneous [Readers in that, being composed largely of articles belonging to well-defined series, it preserves a continuity absent from ordinary readers. These series deal with the history and geography of New Zealand, of the rest of the British Empire, and foreign countries, from the point of view of the human interests involved, so far as these appeal to a child's mind; with nature-knowledge of various kinds—the object being to extend what the pupils have learnt by their own observation, not to give information as a substitute for actual observation; with practical matters of hygiene ; with civics and moral instruction ; and with current topics, such as Polar exploration, Empire Day, Arbor Day, and so forth. It is believed that these subjects are so presented as to cultivate the imagination as well as to arouse thought. The Journal is regularly illustrated; but, in addition to the illustrations contained in its pages, pictures and prints illustrating history, geography, and nature-study are being issued separately on cards, as aids to oral instruction on modern lines in these subjects. Up to the present—June, 1910 —the following series have appeared: Twenty-four pictures illustrating great British battles, forty illustrations of New Zealand flora, twenty-four of New Zealand geography, eight dealing with the lives of Captain Cook and Lord Nelson, twenty-eight of the geography of the British Isles, and twenty illustrating life on H.M.S. "New Zealand"; also a coloured wall-sheet illustrating the lives of Lord Nelson and Captain Cook. Among other pictures the Department proposes to issue shortly is a comprehensive series of historical pictures, which, it is hoped, will enable history to be taught pictorially and effectively. Among other publications ot general interest that are in preparation, and will appear shortly, are: " A Manual of New Zealand Mollusca," by H. Huter; "New Zealand Plants and their Story," by Dr. L. Cockayne: " Geology of New Zealand," by Dr. P. Marshall; New Zealand Flora plates, published in connection with Cheeseman's " Manual of New Zealand Flora." The departmental library contains a large number of educational books and papers, most of which are available on loan for Inspectors, primary or secondary teachers, and others interested in education. Further reference to this matter is made on page 39. Staffs of Public Schools. The number of teachers in the public schools, exclusive of those employed in the secondary departments of district high schools, in December, 1908, and December, 1909, respectively, was as follows :— TABLE E.—Number of Teachers employed. Adults, — 11108. 1909. Men .. .. .. .. .. 1,331 1,406 Women 2,021 2,208 Total .. .. .. .. 3,352 3,614 l'upil-teacliers, — Male .. 161 106 Female 476 530 Total 637 696* All teachers, — Male 1,492 1,572 . Female .. .. .. .. 2,497 [2,738 Total .. .. .. .. 3,989 4,310

* Exclusive of 25 male and 139 female probationers.