E.— 5

2

-* No. 1. EXTRACT FEOM THE THIRTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION. MANUAL AND TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION. Manual Instruction in Public and Secondary Schools. During the year manual instruction, in accordance with the regulations, was given in 66 per cent, of the public schools, an increase of 2-5 per cent. The percentages for the various Education districts were as follows :— Percentage of Schools District. at which Instruction was given. 1910. 1911. Auckland ... ... ... ... ... ... ~ 43 51 Taranaki ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 72 68 Wanganui... ... ... ... ... ... ... 93 95 \\eellin«ton ... ... ... ... ... ... 74 71 Hawke's Bay ... ... ... ... ... ... 80 76 Marlborough ... .. ... ... .. ... 32 70 Nelson ... ..: ... ... ... ... ... 57 52 (ire y ■■■ ■■■ ■■■ ■•• ... ... ... 26 22 Westland... ... ... ... ... ... 37 39 North Canterbury ... ... ... ... ... ... 68 68 South Canterbury ... ... ... ... ... ... 61 57 Otago ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 63 64 Southland... ... ... ... ... ... 97 9p Table J. —Subjects of and Number of Classes for Manual Instruction in Public Schools. Subjects of Instruction. Number of Classes - -1910. 1911. Elementary handwork .. .. .. .. .. 3,489 3,530 Woodwork .. .. .. .. .. 273 315 Ironwork .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 8 6 Agriculture and dairy-work .. . . .. . . .. 666 832 Elementary science.. .. .. .. .. .. 109 76 Physical measurements .. .. .. .. ug 222 Cookery .. .. .. .. .. .. . 308 342 Laundry-work .. . . . . .. . . 63 69 Dressmaking .. .. .. .. . . 90 91 Swimming and life-saving .. .. .. 165 200 Physiology and first aid .. .. . . . . 78 75 Totals .. .. .. .. 5 f 367 5,658 The number of public schools in which recognized classes for manual instruction were held was 1,436. The number of pupils in attendance at recognized classes for cookery was 6,110. The number of pupils in attendance at recognized classes for woodwork was 6,742. The number of pupils in attendance at recognized classes for agriculture was about 15,000. The number of pupils receiving instruction in other branches of manual instruction was 118,026. The payments by way of capitation and subsidies on voluntary contributions were £20,892 10s. The average rate of payment per class was £3-7. Special grants for buildings and equipment totalled £4,745. It is gratifying to note an increasing tendency on the part of teachers to regard handwork as a method rather than as an isolated subject of instruction, and to provide for training in handwork under the headings of other school subjects. Subjects such as woodwork and cookery continue to be taught on the central system, and by special instructors. There are now over sixty well-equipped manualtraining schools in operation. In the larger towns special buildings separate from