8.—2.

Appendix A.]

OTA CO.

Sin, — Education Office, Dunedin, -'ilst March, 11)11. 1 have the honour to pit sent the following report of the Education Board of tin . District of Otago for the year 1910. Boakd. — At the beginning of the year the Board consisted of the following members : Northern Ward —Messrs. Donald Borrie, Andrew McKerrow, and James Mitchell; Central Ward —Hon. Thomas Fergus (Chairman), Messrs. George C. Israel, and William Scott; Southern Ward —Rev. 1 , . B. Fraser, M.A., Messrs. William Smm and I). T. Fleming. Of the members who retired in the ordinary course, Messrs. James Mitchell (Northern Ward) and William Scott (Central Ward) were didv re-elected, the latter without opposition; while Mr. William Snow, on account of failing health, did not offer himself for nomination. The election to fill the vacancy in the Southern Ward resulted in the election of Mr. Parker McKinlay, M.A. To the Board's regret, Mr. Snow, who had represented the Southern Ward Tor many years, died in the month of October. He has left behind him a tine record of service in the cause of education in this district. At the firs! meeting of the Board in August the Hon. Thomas Fergus was re-elected Chairman, a position lie has now occupied for three consecutive years. Twenty-eight meetings of the Hoard were held during the year, the average attendance of members being eight. In addition, the Board met on twelve occasions as a Selection Committee to deal with the applications for the various vacancies for teachers. The following were the Board's representatives on various educational bodies: Otago High Schools Board —Hon. Thomas Fergus ami Rev. I', l>. Fraser, M.A.; Waitaki High Schools Hoard Mr. .l ames Mitchell ; Otago School Commissioners Mr. Donald Borrie; Boards of Management of Associated Classes Dunedin. Rev. P. l>. Kraser, M.A., Messrs. D. T. Fleming, George C. Israel, James Mitchell, William Scott, and P. Coven; Oamaru, Messrs. James Mitchell and Frederick S. Aldred. Numbed of Schools. —At the end of l!>o;i there were i.S.i schools in operation in the district. During 1910 the schools at Akatore Coast and Kuriwao, and the household school at Timaru Station. were closed, and new schools were opened at Ivauroo. Puketiro, Tapui. Wharetoa. and Waipori Falls, and a household school was started at Balruddery. The number of schools mi operation in December, 1910, was 238, an increase of three for the year. The following table shows the classification of the schools in grades on their average attendance for the year 1909 (table not reprinted). SCHOLARSHIPS. —Of the 182 candidates for the Junior National anil the Hoard's Junior Scholarships, L 29, or 71 per cent., passed the examination, and fifty-three, or L".) per cent.. Failed. Of the sixty-tive competitors for the Senior Board Scholarships, fifty, or 77 per cent., passed the examination, and fifteen, or 23 per cent., failed. The introduction of the free-place system and its extension in recent years lias not had the effect of diminishing the desire of pupils for scholarships. The number of competitors is increasing year by year, las' war's entry being the highest ever recorded. The Junior National Scholarships were awarded as follows (five scholarships awarded: details omitted). With the funds available the Hoard was able to award sixteen Junior and fifteen Senior Hoard Scholarships, as follows: Junior- -Division A (for pupils attending any school in the district) : Three scholarships; Division B (for pupils from schools with only one teacher): Two scholarships; Division C (for pupils from any school in the district except secondary and technical schools): Eleven scholarships. Although the Hoard offers annually three scholarships in Division I! (schools of only one teacher), it is rarely that the full number is awarded, owing to there not being qualified pupils, bast year only two candidates in this division qualified, and one of them declined the scholarship. Two of the Senior Scholarship winners had previously held Junior National Scholarships, and eight had held Junior Board Scholarships. The amount expended on scholarships for the year was: Hoard Scholarships (Junior and Senior), .£1,217 10s.; junior National Scholarships, t287 10s.: total. £1,505. The scholarships current at the end of the year were: Board's Junior—Males 24, females 11. total 35; Hoard's Senior— Males 25, females 8, total :i-'; : Junior National Males !l. females I. total 1.'!: totals—Males 58, females 23, total 81. The names of those who held scholarships in December. 1910, and particulars as to the marks obtained by those who passed the examination at the end of that year, are given in Appendix X (not reprinted), which also contains a complete list of those who have held Junior National Scholarships. DiuiiT, and Physical Exercises. —The provisions of the Act in regard to the practice of drill and physical exercises has been given effect to in all the schools under the Board's control. These exercises (which include- breathing-exercises) are taken daily, and the Inspectors report that generally they are satisfactorily performed. As in former years, Saturday classes in physical exercises, under Mr. Manna's direction, have been held. At these classes the attendance of all pupil-teachers and probationers employed in the Dunedin and suburban schools is obligatory, while those employed in other schools are encouraged to attend. AttENDANCK.- -The Hoard is pleased to report an increase both in the roll-iiumliers and in the average attendance for the year. The weekly roll-numbers for the four quarters as compared with those of the previous year were : — 1909. 1910. First quarter ... ... ... ... . 19,518 19,695 Second quarter ... ... ... .. ... 19,608 19,857 Third quarter ... ... ... ... ... 19,09") 19,964 Fourth quarter ... ... ... ... ... 19,<>r>7 20,2!)(! Mean of the four quarters ... ... 19,694 19,953

XXI