X—2

(ft.)' Further to encourage school libraries provision was made for the payment of subsidies of £1 for £1 on moneys raised by voluntary contributions for the purpose of establishing, maintaining, or increasing the utility of school libraries that contained books suitable for individual reading in school or at home. In addition to this departmental subsidy a subsidy is payable by the Education Board under section 37 of the Education Act, but in this case the Board is not required to pay a sum exceeding 3d. for each child in average attendance at a school, or exceeding £5 for any one school. The books purchased are to be suitable for individual reading in school or at home, and are to be approved by the Senior Inspector. The " School Journal " and other Publications. The School Journal has now completed its ninth year of issue. It is published monthly, except that there are no issues for the months of December and January, when most of the schools a,re closed for the summer vacation. To provide readingmatter for the time the schools are open during the month of December, the November number is considerably enlarged. The School Journal is published in three parts suited to the varying capacities of the pupils ; and to public schools, to Native schools, special schools, and certain other institutions more or less under departmental control or supervision, copies are sent in sufficient numbers to provide each pupil on the roll of the standard classes with a. copy of the appropriate part. To the institutions just mentioned the School Journal is supplied free of cost, and to a, very large number of private schools it is supplied at moderate rates. Of the November issue (the last for the year) the number of copies printed was—Part I, 55,500 ; Part 11, 53,100 ; Part 111, 42,500. In addition to the illustrations appearing in the pages of the School Journal, pictures and prints illustrating geography, history, and nature-study have been from time to time issued separately on cards as aids to oral instruction on modern lines in these subjects. The volume of plates issued in connection with " A Manual of New Zealand Mollusca," by Mr. Suter, has been completed. The departmental library contains a large number of educational books and papers, most of which are available on loan to Inspectors, teachers of primary or secondary schools, and others interested in education. The Syllabus of Instruction. A revised syllabus of instruction was issued for the primary schools in the year 1914. Inspectors report that teachers, in the main, have acquainted themselves with the newer requirements, and fully appreciate the value of the modern ideas and improved, methods introduced within, recent years. Manual Instruction. (Sit also Appendix C mid Tables Gl and G2.) During the year classes for elementary handwork were carried on under the Regulations for Manual Instruction in connection with 77 per cent, and for manual instruction in connection with 60 per cent, of the public schools. The percentages for the various education districts were as follows :— Elementary Manual Handwork. Instruction. Auckland ... ... ... ... ... ... 65 50 Taranaki ... ... ... ... ... ... 69 68 Wanganui ... ... ... ... ... ... 94 74 Wellington ... ... ... ... ... ... 78 63 Hawke's Bay ... ... ... ... ... ... 71 65 Marlborough ... ... ... ... ... ... 62 13 Nelson ... ... ... ... ... ... 58 52 Grey ... ... ... ... ... ... 41 36 Westland ... ... ... ... ... ... 15 21 North Canterbury ... ... ... ... ... 86 02 South Canterbury ... ... ... ... ... 99 78 Ocago ... 99 SO Southland ... ... ... ... ... ... 90 OH

2—E. 2.

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