E.—2.

[Appendix C.

means to ends, and of thrift—points of eminent educational value in th<> broad and vital sense (if the term. In woodwork and cookery, as in all other branches of handwork, habits of attention .mil thoughtfulness :,<■<■ induced to such a degree that pupils return with increased power to grapple with the more abstract work of the school course. Military 'hill and physical exeroises are well taught, but, like singing, thej are too often, especially in the large schools, treated as isolated branches, and are not made to influence the attitudes, bearing, and deportment of pupils to so greal an extent as they should In too many cases we find pupils sitting with drooping shoulders and arched backs, and standing and ving in a slovenly manner. Responsibility for these defects we place directly on the head teacher, whose duty it is to see that every member of the school is physically and mentally well braced to his work. The order, discipline, and tone of the schools are very good. We have, &c, P. Goyex C. R. Richardson. , C. R. Bossbkoe, Ins P wtw «- The Secretary, Education Board, Dunedin. J. R. Don,

SOUTHLAND. Sib, — Education Office, Invercargill, 27th March, 1911. We have the honour to present our report on the schools of the district for the year ended 31st December, 1910. The following summary gives the necessary particulars as to number on roll, classification, and ages: —

From the above summary, and from the annual return No. 2, the following interesting facts may be gathered (the figures in brackets are those referring to the Dominion as a whole): — 1. For every 100 boys attending our schools there are 91 (91) girls; for every 100 boys between five and seven years of age there are 89 (90) girls; for every 100 boys between twelve and fifteen there are 87 (88) girls. According to the census of 1906 there were in the Dominion 97 girls between the ages of five and fifteen for every 100 boys. It will thus be seen that in Southland, as elsewhere, home circumstances, and, to quote the words of the Minister's report for 1910, "the thoughtlessness of parents who consider education less important for girls than for boys," exert a prejudicial effect on the education of girls. 2. The percentage of the total school-roll in the infant classes is this year 36"2. Last year it was 363 (for the whole Dominion, 36 - 6). Though these results are not satisfactory, it may be held that Southland, considering the scattered nature of its population and the large proportion of small schools within its bounds, compares very well with other parts of the Dominion in this respect. In country districts there is a natural reluctance on the part of parents to send their children to school at a tender age —a reluctance sometimes excusable when climatic conditions and the state of country roads are taken into consideration. 3. As regards the average age of the pupils in each standard class, it may lie noted that there is this year a downward tendency. In Standards I and V the age remains stationary, but in Class P, Standards 11, 111, IV, and VI there is a decrease of one month. The movement, though slight, is nevertheless encouraging. It is, no doubt, partly accounted for by the increased desire of parents to obtain for their children free secondary education. The same reason, doubtless, accounts for the decline in the numbers in Standard Vll—from 94 in 1909 to 64 in 1910.

I

Classes. Number on Roll. Present at the Average Age of Annual the Pupils Examination. - in each Class. Standard VII VI V IV HI II I Preparatory Totals 64 717 1,025 1,110 1,191 1,255 1,280 3,773 10,415 48 691 988 1,070 1,160 1,211 1,225 3,523 9,916 Yrs. moe. 14 8 13 9 12 1] 12 2 11 1 10 1 9 1 6 11 11 4* 9,916 11 4* * Mean of average age.