127

E.—2

There were, in addition, thirty-one pupil-teachers and nine probationers. Omitting grade 0 schools, in each of which the salary is usually less than £90 a year, and consequently could hardly be expected to provide for a certificated teacher, we still have thirty-three uncertificated out of 154, or 21 per cent. As a result of several new positions being formed this year, the Dumber of uncertificated assistants has increased considerably. It was chiefly in respect to these that the Board last March notified its uncertificated teachers that their positions would be considered temporary and held only for the year following, and that sitting for the coming D Examination would lie a condition necessary for reappointment. We anticipate an improvement in status as a result of this action. Some ten hers possessing the necessary scholarship are lacking only in experience, but there is still a dearth of qualified applicants, for all such find no difficulty in obtaining employment. The number of pupil-teachers has somewhat increased, as there seems no immediate prospect of the regulation that provides for their substitution by additional assistant teachers being carried into effect. At our visits of inspection we find, as a rule, that all registers are kept in a satisfactory manner. In some few cases we have found that the weekly summary has not been posted up to date, or that the weekly totals have not been regularly carried forward in the daily register. In such cases we can Init refer the teacher to the very definite directions supplied, which should lie strictly carried out in all cases. We would here like to note that promptness in forwarding all quarterly returns and other forms greatly facilitates the work of the office. Wβ desire to see. especially in many of the smaller schools, a more systematic method of keeping all school records and official circulars. These should be so arranged I hat we could readily refer to them when visiting a school. An examination register for the use of teachers in conducting periodical examinations has been issued to all head and sole teachers. As these registers will in time form valuable records of schoolwork and of the progress of individual pupils, we shall expect to see all eni ries made fully and accurately. The very clear directions printed at the beginning of the register should show exactly how it is intended to be used. On the whole, the time-tables drawn out are fairly suitable to the working-conditions of the schools. Where defects were apparent we have required the teacher to recast the time-table and forward it to us for approval. As many of our teachers have had little opportunity for training, this has been necessary in a number of cases. Sometimes we have on a visit found a provisional time-table in use, though the school had been working under normal conditions for a considerable time, and the school year had so far advanced that a permanent routine of working should have been adopted long before. Perhaps the most common weakness in the time-tables was the tendency to apportion too great a part of the working time to instruction in arithmetic. The schemes of work which it is now necessary for the head teacher to draw out were duly presented to us. A considerable degree of skill is required to draw out an entirely suitable scheme of work. This can lie gained only by experience. Where changes of teachers are frequent it is imperative that a teacher on giving up his position should leave in the school full schemes of work so arranged that the incoming teacher may take up the work with some continuity. Too often we find a teacher entering on a new appointment unable to readily ascertain the amount of work that has been overtaken by his predecessor. This must necessarily lead to a serious break in the work of the year. The order and discipline of the schools is generally of a satisfactory nature. During the year a giant was made by the Department for the issue of free text-books to Standards II and I, and the preparatory classes. In the coming year a further amount will be provided to extend the issue to pupils of Standard 111. The position then will be that up to Standard 111 no child will be expected to purchase any text-book. Copy-books and drawing-books and necessary school material are of course not included under the conditions of the grant. As the amount is not renewed yearly, special care is necessary in the use of the books provided. Towards the close of the year was passed the Public Service Classification and Superannuation Amendment Act, 1909. As this Act affects the superannuation of teachers we desire to draw attention to the chief alterations it makes. Subject to the approval of the Minister of Education, provision is made for the retirement of a male contributor who is not less than fifty-five years of age if his length of service is not less than thirty years, or in any case in which the length of service of a contributor is not less than thirty-five years. In these cases the Superannuation Board may impose upon the retiring contributor such terms and conditions as to payments into the fund as he thinks fit. The maximum retiring-allowance is fixed at £300. This does not affect those who were contributors to the funds prior to the incoming of this Act. The time during which a contributor may elect to remain under the old Act (Part IX of the Education Act, 1908) is extended until Ist July, 1910; and, similarly, contributors who have elected to remain subject to part IX of the Education Act, 1908, may revoke their decision any time before Ist July, 1910. We regret that it has not yet been found possible to carry out all the provisions of the Education Act Amendment Act, 1908. Nevertheless, we have the benefit of several material advantages resulting therefrom. During the year the Board had before it a proposed scheme for the promotion of teachers within its district. Were such a scheme given effect to we feel sure that it would be of much benefit to education throughout the district. It would at the same time mark out a degree of certain advancement to the capable teacher, and remove the anomalies inseparable from some of the presentday appointments. Most of the items in the following summary for the whole district form part of the Inspector's annual return : —