E.—2.

[Appendix A.

Teachers.- —On the 31st December, 1915, there were in the Board's service 407 teachers, classed as follows :—

In addition to the above, the following instructors in special subjects were employed: Agriculture and. dairying, 2 (male) ; domestic science, 2 (female) ; woodwork, 2 (male) : total, 4 (male), 2 (female). Instruction oj Teachers.- Teachers' Saturday classes in elementary hgyiene and drawing were conducted at Gisborne, Napier, and. Dannevirke ; classes in domestic science at Gisborne and Hastings, and in agriculture at Hastings. The roll numbers and average attendances were as follows : —

With the exception of the classes in domestic science the standard of instruction was for Class D. Correspondence classes were continued for the purpose of assisting uncertificated teachers to obtain their D certificates. Forty students joined the course, which was somewhat modified as compared with that offered during the previous year, teachers being permitted to take only two groups. The work, submitted by the students during the year showed that much better work was done under the new arrangement. In connection with this course a summer school for practical work in science subjects was held at Hastings from the 29th November to the 19th December. Sixteen, students attended. District High Schools. —[See E.-6, Report on Secondary Education.] Manual Instruction. —Except in a few of the household and Grade 0 schools, some form of hanelwork was taken in all the schools in the education district. The following table shows the subjects of instruction, the number of schools in which instructiem was given, and the average attendance at the classes receiving such instruction :• — Number of Average Schools. Attendance. Handwork .. .. .. .. .. ..121 10,506 Elementary agriculture . . .. .; .. 52 788 Agriculture and dairy science .. .. .. .. 33 984 Elementary experimental science ~ ... 10 540 Woodwork ... .. .. .. .. ..15 697 Cookery . . -. . . . . . . . . . 15 595 Dressmaking .. .. . -. .. ... 15 557 Swimming and life-saving .. .. .. .. 2 397 Physical Instruction. —The Department's instructor, Mr. Roydhouse, has been, stationed in the district and has given, valuable instruction and assistance in this important branch of school-work. In Napier during the summer vacation he gave special instruction to a selected class of children more or less physically defective. His work with this class was highly successful and beneficial, and the Board trusts that similar classes will be conducted perioelically in Napier and other centres of the district. The Inspectors report, " Generally the recjuiroments under this heading [physical instruction] are carefully attended to." Scholarships. —Scholarships in tenure at the end of 1915 were —Junior Board, 58 ; Senior Board, 19 ; Junior National, 8. As a result of the examinations held in November last three candidates from the district qualified for Senior and twelve for Junior National Scholarships. The Board is of opinion that under the new system of awarding scholarships, those districts with many large town schools will secure an unfair proportion of the scholarships available.

X

" Certificated. Lieonsod. Uncertificated. Total. lead teachers Solo teachers Assistants M. 54 9 28 v. 6 17 119 M. F. 1 0 M. I-. M. ll'. 55 6 19 68 34 153 10 51 5 30 1 4 Totals of adult teachers 'upil-teachers .. 'robationers 91 142 2 4 15 81 108 6 1 227 40 25 Totals for 1915 115 292

Centre; Drawing. Hygiene. Domestic Soience. Agriculture. risborne Sfapier . . Dannevirke Hastings M. F. 17 13 33 25 12 9 M. F. 19 14 32 26 II 8 M. [F. 10 8 M. F, 17 12 15 11 Totals 62 17 62 48 27 20 15 11