Appendix A.]

il—a.

Number of Schools. —The number of schools in operation at the end of 1917 was 148. During 1918 new schools were opened at Kurukuru, Mangarara, Mutuera, Otamauri, Springhill, Tangatapura, and Tanguru; while schools were closed at Blackburn, Koranga, Mokairau, Otope, Tahora, Tanguru, Tangoio, Tarewa, Te Hauke, and Waiomoko; leaving 145 in operation at the end of the year. Attendance.—The number on the roll at the end of 1918 was 13,614, an increase of 438 during the year. The influenza epidemic in October and November last seriously affected the attendance, and owing to the disorganization consequent upon the epidemic the schools were finally closed for the year on the Bth November. The attendance for the year averaged I 1,887, being 88-8 per cent, of the average roll. The average roll and attendance for the year were as follows : Average roll, 13,372; average attendance, 11,887; being 888 per cent, of the'average roll. Teachers. —On the 31st December, 1918, there were in the Board's service 391 teachers, classed as follows :—

Li addition to the above the following instructors in special subjects were employed : — Male. Female. Agriculture and dairying ... ... ... ... ... 2 0 Domestic science ... ... ... ... ... ... 0 2 Woodwork ... ... ... ... ... 2 0 Totals ... ... ... ... ... 4 2 Instruction of Teachers. —Classes for the training of pupil-teachers, probationers, and uncertificated teachers in drawing and elementary hygiene were established at Gisborne, Napier, and Dannevirke. Excellent work was done in both subjects. Agriculture and dairy-science classes were held at Woodville, Dannevirke, and Hastings, and a class in vocal music for head teachers and assistants was held at Napier centre. Good work was done at these classes. Correspondence classes were continued, thirty-two students taking advantage of the opportunities offered. In addition to the issue of study-sheets, a winter school was held at Hastings. Physical drill was included in the subjects treated. Taking into consideration the disorganization of the work of the correspondence classes during the last two months of the year, due to the influenza epidemic, the results obtained by the students in the Department's certificate examination were fairly satisfactory. During the year the Board arranged for Miss E. Martin, of the Napier West School staff, to take a sixmonths course of training in Montessori method at the Blackfriars Training School, Sydney. Miss Martin has now returned, and a scheme has been adopted by which infant mistresses will be enabled to observe the system in operation at the new Napier West Infant School. District High Schools. —[See E.-6, Report on Secondary Education.] Manual and, Technical, Instruction. —Classes in elementary handwork were recognized in 130 schools, an increase of nine on the previous year. Considerable difficulty was again experienced in procuring material for the work of these classes, and the increase in the cost of these materials was enormous. The capitation paid by the Department remained at the same rate as prior to the war. The average roll number of pupils in the different groups of classes which received instruction in various branches of handwork was 11,580, as compared with 11,007 in 1917. Classes for needlework were conducted in six schools, the total roll number being sixty-two. 130 science classes were recognized for purposes of capitation during the year. The number of classes and average yearly attendances were as follows : Elementary agriculture, 59 classes, average 844; agriculture and dairy science, 51 classes, average 1,087; experimental science, 20 classes, average 690: totals, 130 classes, average 2,621. The cost of apparatus, material, &c, supplied in connection with classes for agriculture and dairy science, when compared with previous years, shows a considerable increase, viz.: 1916, £190 4s. 5d.; 1917, £123 2s. 6d.; 1918, £502 Bs. sd. This was largely due to the abnormal cost of scientific apparatus. Agricultural implements were supplied to a number of schools, and scientific apparatus and materials for indoor science work were supplied to forty-nine schools. It is greatly to be regretted that a large proportion of teachers in the small schools have received no training in science work. It is therefore impossible for these teachers to take the science programme required by the regulations, and it is to be hoped that in the near future the Department will be in a position to insist that all teachers receive a course of training before they commence their career as teachers. Classes for woodwork, cookery, and dressmaking were conducted at centres to which the pupils from the surrounding

VII

I Certificated. I Licensed. Uncertificated. ] Total. lead teachers .. lole teachers Lssistant teachers Total adults., 'upil-teachers .. 'robationers M. F. 52 16 5 26 20 120 77 162 M. if. 2 0 0 1 0 4 2 5 M. F. 0 I 6 36 5 45 M. F. 54 17 11 63 25 169 11 82 90 4 0 249 34 14 Totals 1918 Totals 1917 .. 77 162 77 156 2 5 2 5 i 11 6 82 84 94 92 297 299