Appendix A.l

E.—2.

Excluding special teachers and the assistants employed in the secondary departments of district high schools, and reckoning two pupil-teachers as equivalent to one adult, the average number of children per adult teacher was 353, practically the same as in the previous year. The following table shows the ratio of male to female teachers for the past three years : — Column 1. Column 11. Adult Teachers. Pupil-teachers and Probationers. 1909 . , .. 100 males to 160 females. 1909 .. .. 100 males to 212 females. 1910 .. .. 100 ~ 156 „ j 1910 .. .. 100 „ 256 1911 .. .. 100 „ 164 ~. I 1911 .. .. 100 „ 264 The Board notes with regret that the figures in column II above show an increasing disparity between the number of males and the number of females joining the teaching profession in this district. In the opinion of the Board it is desirable that the proportion of the positions in its service held by male teachers should be greater than is now the case, but, in view of the decreasing number of qualified young men in comparison with the number of qualified young women offering themselves as pupil-teachers and probationers, the desire of the Board would not appear to have any immediate chance of fulfilment. Seemingly the State must be prepared to offer yet greater inducements before it can hope to secure what in its best interests it ought to have—an adequate supply of male teachers of mental power and high character, and imbued with enthusiasm for their vocation. The following table shows the number of certificated and uncertificated teachers in the Board's service for the years 1909, 1910, and 1911 respectively : —

It is gratifying to record that the number of uncertificated teachers in the service at the close of the year was fifteen less than at December, 1910. The Board is keenly alive to the necessity for making the backblocks teacher as efficient as possible, and to his claims for facilities for improving his professional status. Last year it provided for these teachers such classes as it was possible to establish with the means at its disposal, and there can be no doubt that these contributed to the very decided advance which the uncertificated teachers generally have made towards their certificates. Taking into account the results of the teachers' examinations held in January lust, it would appear that of the eighty-five uncertificated teachers in the Board's service at the close of the year seventeen have now completed their examination for a certificate, thirty-two have some success recorded towards their certificate (either C or D), while thirty-six have failed to obtain any recognized qualification. It is proposed during the present year to extend the scope of the week-end classes in Dunedin for those not fully qualified, while, for such teachers as cannot attend the Dunedin classes, arrangements will be made with competent teachers in their own neighbourhood to give them instruction in the subjects in which they have yet to pass. Probably, correspondence classes may have to be instituted for a few for whom other methods of instruction are impossible. Attendance of Pupils.— Boll-number: The weekly roll-number for each quarter showed an increase over that of the corresponding quarter for the previous two years. The figures are as follows : — 1909. 1910. 1911. First quarter ... .. ... ... 19,518 19,695 20,065 Second quarter... .. ... ... 19,608 19,875 20,193 Third quarter ... ... ... ... 19,695 19,964 20,281 Fourth quarter ... ... ... ... 19,957 20,296 20,697 Mean of the four quarters ... 19,694 19,953 20,309 The increase in the mean roll-number for the whole district was 356, or 1"8 per cent. Ihe roll-number for Dunedin and suburbs was 8,797. Average Attendance: The average daily attendance for each quarter of the last three years, and the percentages of those attendances to the weekly roll-number are shown below : —

XXI

Uncertificated. Jertificated. Holders of Li ieenses. ! Other Teac] lers. 1909 1910 1911 M. 160 165 168 F. Total. 233 393 235 400 252 420 M. | F. 4 6 4 4 3 3 Total. 10 8 6 M. F. 21 58 25 67 20 59 Total. 79 92 79 Difference for 1911 17 20 i - ; 3 I- 1 I" 1 -2 - 5 - 8 - 13 I

1909. Average Attendance. Percentage of Wee] ;ly Roll. 1910. 1911. 1909. 1910. 1911. I First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter 17,670 17,587 17,746 18,071 ! 17,963 17,869 17,828 18,608 18,784 18,434 18,328 18,988 90-5 89-6 90-1 90-5 j 91-2 89-9 89-3 91-6 93-6 91-3 90-3 91-2 Whole year 17,769 18,067 18,634 90-2 90-5 91-7