E.—2.

[Appendix A.

school buildings, and the undertaking of extensive repairs, have been carried out by competent foremen under the direction of the Architect. Owing to the increase in price of labour and materials, considerable difficulty is often experienced in erecting buildings with the amount of funds available. During the year the growth of settlement, especially in the King-country district, has been phenomenal. In several districts where no building is available the Board is supplying marquee tents to afford temporary school accommodation until a building is erected. Grading op Teachers. —All certificated teachers in the service were graded by the Inspectors during the year. The basis of grading was fixed by the allocation of marks under the different heads as follows: Teaching-skill (maximum 45 marks), discipline and personality (2.~> marks), attention to environment (5 marks), scholastic attainments (15 marks), service (10 marks). Marks for scholastic attainments were awarded as follows: Class A certificate, 15; B, 13; C, 11; D, 8; E, 4. For service, one mark was allotted for each two years of service in the public schools of New Zealand. Teachers have been notified of the details of their grading, but not of the numerical positions which their names occupy on the graded lists. In the matter of the promotion of teachers the Board has resolved that in the case of all appointments only one name —viz., that of the teacher standing highest on the graded list—be submitted to the School Committee concerned; and, further, that no teacher in future appointed to any position in a school of higher grade than Gα shall be eligible for promotion unless he or she has mjrved for at least two years in a country school— i.e., in a school having a staff of not more than two adult teachers. It has been further resolved that in making future appointments the Board consider only the applications of teachers who shall have been two years at least in their present positions; provided that in any particular case, if there be exceptional circumstances or hardship, the Bdtird may relax the operation of this general rule. WoitKKKri' Compensation.—The Board has taken out a policy of insurance indemnifying School Committees from liability in the case of injury to any school-cleaner or casual employee of the Committee. SCHOOL GROUNDS. —In view of the restricted area of grounds attached to many of the city and suburban schools, the Board has made application to the Minister for a grant of £.">.0<)l) to provide additional playground area in the most urgent cases. Agricultural Education. —The Board has resolved to make agricultural science a special subject in the curricula of district high schools; and the establishment and care of school gardens have been encouraged by the offer of prizes. The Board is of opinion that the time lias come when the Minister should favourably consider the advisableness of making a definite course of nature-study up to Standard IV. ami a course of agricultural education in Standards V and VI, compulsory, some other less important subject to be omitted from the syllabus. Mr. J. Kalaugher has been appointed Agricultural Instructor, and he has already entered upon his duties. TEACHERS , RESIDENCES. —The Board is pleased to report that the Minister has voted a grant to provide conveniences at eighteen residences. It is hoped thai funds will shortly be available to provide bathrooms, and properly equipped washhouees in all residences. Inspectors.—Mr. E. K. Mulgan, M.A., has been appointed Chief Inspector of Schools in place of Mr. Donald Petrie, M.A., who has retired upon superannuation. The Board records its high appreciation of the long, faithful, and efficient services of Mr. Petrie in the cause of primary education not only in the Auckland Education District, but also throughout the whole Dominion. Mr. M. Priestley has been appointed Organizing Inspector of Schools. The Board desires to thank the Education Department for the careful consideration of its recommendations, and the School Committees of the district for their cordial co-operation during the year. T have, &c., The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington. C. J. Parr, Chairman.

TARANAKI. Sir, — Education Board Office, New Plymouth, 21st March, 1911. In accordance with the provisions of section 174 of the Education Ait, 1908, the Education Board of the District of Taranaki has the honour to submit the following report of its proceedings for the year 1910 : — At the beginning of the year the Board was comprised of the following members : Mr. James Wade (Chairman), Messrs. G. A. Adlam, A. H. Halcombe, W. L. Kennedy. .1. I). Morison, Arthur Morton, William Rogers, Harold Trimble, and James Young. Mr. .1. I). Morison having resigned his seat in December, 1909, an extraordinary election was held on the 26th January, 1910, resulting in the election of Mr. W. Clement Cargill. In the terms of the Education Act, 1908, the following members retired: North Ward —Harold Trimble; Bast Ward—W. L. Kennedy; West Ward—G. A. Adlam; and at the election held on the fourth Monday in July were re-elected. At the meeting held on the 30th August, Messrs. Halcombe, Kennedy, and Young were elected members of the Finance Committee, and the Board decided to abolish the remaining standing committees. The Board held twenty-four meetings during the year, the Finance Com mittee twelve, the Teachers' Selection Committee three, and the Reserves Committee two. New schools have been opened at Kotare, Oeo, and Taurakawa. At the end of the year there were ninety-three schools open, including four half-time schools; and the number of teachers employed was 181, graded as follows : Sole teachers, 43 female and 1 1 male; head teachers, 13 female and 24 male; assistants. 44 female and 14 male; pupil-teachers, 21 female and 4 male; probationers, 6 female and 1 male.

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