E.—2.

for three years. Otherwise it will be difficult for ordinary students to qualify in connection with teachers ; pupil-touchers ; and other courses. The classification of the pupils in the various standard classes is in this district carried out under favourable conditions. The greater number of the schools receive the Inspector's annual visit after the middle of September, and the. remainder, those of South Westland, in February. The probable or actual classification is usually known during such visit, and can be discussed by the Inspector and the teacher. This consultation is valuable, as the question can be considered both with intimate knowledge and from a general aspect. The teachers evince a desire both to advance the older and more clever pupils and to refrain from promoting those deficient in training and understanding. This wise acceptance of responsibility is an important factor in establishing the schools on an efficient basis. As during the present year the syllabus of instruction of the primary schools may be regarded as under revision, comment on suggested amendments appears desirable. It is recognized that tin , English course is adequate in amount. Generally, the scope of reading includes the use of one Reader and the School Journal. These, if prepared with completeness, usually occupy as much time as can be spared, especially as reading-books in connection with health, history, and geography are also studied. The preparation is insufficient if it is not based on an understanding of the ideas and forms of expression. The amount of technical knowledge or grammar required by the present course is adequate if it is acquired in accordance with methods adapted to each stage of the children's school life. Such instruction, if simple in form, can be easily made to assist in increasing the power of expression. Composition is .in art that relics very largely on hearing and reading good models of language; but the process of its acquisition can be hastened by an intelligent, though not extended, study of rules and of the functions of words, phrases, and clauses. These must 1 c accompanied by continual practice, which should include oral and written exercises in the various subjects of the course. The present syllabus provides ample opportunity for such practice, and the result depends rather on the methods of instruction than on any prescribed programme. Arithmetic, on the other hand, requires careful arrangement in the order of its preparation, and modification is needed in almost all the standards. The main object of any alteration should lie a reduction of the work of the Second and Fifth Standards. The work of the latter ehiss especially requires simplification so as to allow time for the study of new processes with the aid of abundance of concrete examples. It is. however, in geography that greater changes are demanded. In schools under sole teachers especially, a single definite course is more suitable to the conditions. Teachers should be encouraged to correlate a very limited amount of mathematical and physical instruction with an adequate course of commercial geography. The former should be regarded as serving their purpose if they assist in explaining climate and other conditions that affect the distribution of the population of the world. It should be clearly understood that a definite, although limited, knowledge of the countries of the world and their inter-relation is to lie acquired. In the smaller schools there should be smaller demands and less option. If these considerations receive attention, the knowledge acquired will lie more definite and practical. It will be of greater use in after-life than the study of comparatively abstruse problems connected with the earth's motions and formation. In drawing a clearer arrangement of the requirements is needed. In the schools under sole teachers drawing and handwork should be combined with a certain amount of option in selecting the course. This would induce greater correlation of the two branches. In history, further, a definite programme is necessary in place of the vague preparation by the reading of a text-book. Apart from the few suggestions thus offered, the present syllabus is excellent in purpose, methods, and scope. Its presentation in a clearer form will .assist teachers, especially those with little experience, to work with a definite objective, thus avoiding waste of effort and lack of thoroughness. All the Catholic schools are recorded as a 1 least satisfactory in efficiency. The classification of the pupils receives strict attention, and this, with improved methods of instruction, has had a good effect. Of seventeen pupils receiving instruction in the Sixth Standard, eleven obtained certificates of proficiency. I have, &c, A. J. Morton, 8.A., Inspector. The Chairman, Education Board, Westland. NORTH CANTERBURY. Sir,— Education Office, Christchurch, Bth March, 1910. We have the honour to submit our annual report on the schools of this district for the year 1909. The number of public schools remains practically unaltered, 210 centres being in operation, all of which received two visits from us during the year, except Allenton and Seafield, which were closed during our round of inspection, and in consequence were visited only once ; and two others recently reopened, Bealey and Kaiapoi Island. In addition to these, we paid two visits to each of eighteen private schools, with the exception of the Roman Catholic schools at Akaroa and Leeston, which received only one visit, being closed when we were inspecting the surrounding schools. Considerable attention was paid to the secondary departments of the district- high schools, schemes of work and courses of instruction being closely examined, and pupils tested with such thoroughness as the time at our disposal permitted.

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