21

E.-l

The following figures represent the total number of children (of whom the average weekly roll number was given above) in average attendance at registered schools giving primary instruction : — Public schools (excluding secondary departments of district 1910. 1917. high schools) .. .. '.. .. .. 160,980 166,510 Native village and mission schools .. .. .. 4,622 4,619 Registered private primary schools .. .. .. 15,199 16,429 Lower departments of secondary schools . . .. 403 530 Special schools .. .. .. .. .. 570 588 Totals .. .. .. .. ..181,774 188,676 Classification, Age, and Examination of Pupils. (E.-2, Tables Cl-07.) Classification and Age of Pupils. The classification of primary-school pupils is left for the most part in the hands of the teachers, Inspectors of Schools supervising and assisting in the work where necessary. The importance of correct classification has been frequently emphasized, special attention being drawn to the danger of retaining children too long in the preparatory classes. At the same time it is to be regretted that the age at which children in general qualify for a certificate of proficiency entitling them to free education at a secondary school on the completion of the primary course is still too high. Care in. avoiding waste of time in the classification of the pupils, and the reduction where possible of the size of the classes, are essential for any advance in this respect. The problem of classification, especially where large classes have to be dealt with, is a particularly delicate task demanding the best experience and judgment that, the teacher has to bring to bear upon it. The table below sets forth the ages and classification of the pupils of public schools in the Dominion :—

Classified Return of the Numbers on the Rolls of Public Schools at the end of 1917, excluding Secondary Departments of District High Schools.

The table is useful in showing the retardation occurring in the schooldife of the pupils. The average age of children in the Dominion in Si at the end of the year is nine years, in S2 ten years, and so on. These ages are one year higher than would be the case if all children began school at the age of five and spent two years

I'll Class P. Standard I. J Standard II. Standard III. Standard IV. Standard V. Standard VI. Standard VII Tot Sals. I Boys. Girls. I Boys. Girls. 1 Boys.' Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. J I I I Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. 5 and under 6.. 7,907 7,218 1 1 l| 7,909 7,219 6 „ 7 .. 10,358 9,304 116 123 7 5 7 „ 8 .. 9,547 8,426 1,5721.768J 120 H7 5 9 .. 8 „ 9.. 4,907 4,177 4,6534,7611,5201,671 144 164 3 1(] 9 „ 10.. 1,614J 1,307 3,8243,3924,3314,2841,4011,389 138 133 .0 „ II .. 496! 373 1,545.1,2173,0793,3803,7193,7181,218il,19<! 4,653 4,761 9 164 3 . 10 1 1 .. .. 1 .. 10,481 11,244 11,228 9,432 10,340 10,784 3,824 3,392 4,331 4,284 1,389 1331 133 6 8 1 l| .. 153 129 7 2 .. 11,310 10,514 1,545.1,217 3,079 3,380 3,719 3,079 3,380 3,719 3,718 l,2l8jl,194 10,817 10,013 I .1 [„ 12..; 149 145 507 3681,7231,4643,5563,3393,3423,26* 507 3681,7231,464 3,556 ___ 3,556 3,339 3,342 3,268 1,1791,164 138 122 I 2 10,595 9,872 2 „ 13 .. i 58 88 176 115 668' 5331,9261,696 3,383 3,101 3 „ 14 .. ; 26 12 62 38 194 158 765 6301,863 1,66' !4 „ 15 .. 8| 5 14 13 51 42 197 136 626 43t 176 115 668 j 533 1,926 62 38 194 158 765 14 13 51 42 197 1,696 630 136 3,3833,101 1,863 1,667 626 439 3,060 3,194 1,382 3,066 2,962 895 948 1.7 12 3,1942,8902,5102,490 57 77 1,382 1,149 1.922J1, 776 38 70 357 240 670 597 7 13 12 9 32! 38 3 4 2,962 2,890 10,189 8,671 4,238 9,455 7,968 3,630 .5 „ 16 .. 2 I. 2 6 8 10 30 20 100 8) 2| 6 8 10 30 2 .. 1 .. 1 20 100 81 357 1,170 968 .6 „ 17 .. .. I 2! .. ; 1 .. 1 .. 3 8 3 3 12 54 55 3ver 17 1 I 3 3 1 3 .. 2 2 9,353 8,559 6,178 5,974 125 180 8 4 Totals, 1917 .. 35,072 31,057 12,474jl 1792 12303 1 U?94|11744 11101 10671 9,89' 12,474jl 179212303 II694ill744 11101 106719,897 9,353 97,920 90,254