[Appendix A.

E—2.

Amendment Act 1919. The Board knows from actual experience that Committees cannot properly carry out their functions on the allowances granted under the Act. Hitherto the Board has been able to aid School Committees with monetary grants, but with a diminished income it will be unable to do so This the Board regrets. It is satisfied that the Committees have, on the whole, carried out their duties faithfully and well and without wastage. The good that Committees might do m a school district is seriously lessened by inadequacy of income. Training College.- There has been a considerable increase in the number of students of the Auckland Training College. At the present time 211 students are in attendance- viz., 142 women and 69 men Until the new College is erected it will be impossible to increase these numbers. Ihe Board, however, is assured that the work of erecting a training college suitable to the requirements of Auckland will shortly be undertaken. It is probable, too, that before long the establishment of a hostel for students will be authorized. Last year, in order to make provision lor the large number ol students at the College, arrangements were made whereby Richmond Road School was utilized as an associated school to the Normal School. This arrangement proved a very great convenience During the year Mr. H. C. Cousins, who had been Acting Principal or four years, was appointed Principal of'the Training College, and took up his duties at the beginning ol this year. Early this year Mr N T. Lambourne, formerly an Inspector of Schools, was appointed Vice-Principal ol the Training College, and Mr. N. H. S. Law, formerly an Inspector of Schools, was appointed headmaster of the Normal School. Seddou Memorial Technical College.- -During the year 1919 the Minister of Education agreed to the establishment of a separate Board of Managers for the Seddon Memorial technical College, constituted as follows: Three members elected by the Auckland Education Board three by the Auckland City Council, and two by the parents of pupils attending the Technical High School. Ihe election took place in May, and the new Board took over its financial responsibilities from Ist June. Messrs H S W King J D. McKenzie, and G. W. Murray were the appointees ol the Education Board"- Messrs. T. Bloodworth, A. J. Bntrican, and 11. I). Heather of the City Council; and Messrs. A Harris MP and C. R. Munro were elected by the parents ol pupils. The first meeting ol the Board took place on Friday, 30th May, and Mr. A. J. Entrican was elected Chairman ; the Director of the College, Mr. George George, was appointed Secretary and Treasurer. As in previous years, the work of the College' was very much handicapped through want of more accommodation, and the new workshops, which have been under consideration for a very long time now, arc very much needed The number of students in attendance last year in the Technical High School was 587, as against 595 in 1918, whilst the number of students in evening and special technical classes was 1,285 - -an increase, of 108 over the previous year. Conference of Education Boards. Tin- various Education Boards throughout New Zealand met in conference in Wellington in the month of September, and formed an association ol Education Hoards. The Board hopes that the activity of this newly constituted body will materially affect lor good the cause of education. Conference with Members of Parliament.—ln August the Board conferred with members of Parliament of the Auckland District upon matters concerning the welfare and educational advancenienl of their several districts. Fourteen members were present, and they showed marked interest in the various matters brought under their notice. The Board is satisfied that already much good has resulted from the conference, and that even greater good will ensue. District High Schools. -[See 8.-6, Report on Secondary Education]. National Scholarships.- During the year the Board entered a strong protest against National Scholarships being tenable at private schools. The Board is strongly of opinion that where public money is involved scholarships should be held only in public schools. The Board referred the matter to other Boards throughout New Zealand, and has received considerable support in its contention. Conveyance of Children- The Board asked for a revision of the regulations concerning the conveyance of children to school, in order that greater benefits might be conferred upon children who are conveyed to school. The Board held that the present allowance is insufficient, and ought not to be less than Is per head. It also held that the benefit should be extended to children who ride to school along a metalled road. The Board is strongly of opinion that riding to school on horseback is less dangerous to children than conveyance by vehicle. The Board regrets that the Department could not see its way to amend the regulations in the direction indicated. Organizing Teachers, The Department authorized the appointment of organizing teachers in three centres'in the Auckland Education District, and accordingly appointments were made to the Whainvarei centre, to the Te Kuiti centre, and to the Dargaville centre. The Board hopes that the cause of education in rural areas will be much advanced by the appointment ol organizing teachers, and extended to the Department its congratulations upon the venture. Undoubtedly since the inception of public education in New Zealand a great weakness has been the inadequate training and direction of teachers of country schools. The organizing teacher at each centre will now be a source of guidance to which every teacher in a small isolated school in the vicinity may refer. Ihe Board wishes to see a very wide extension of the number of organizing teachers appointed and in the scope of their activities. General— During the year the. Board had under consideration several matters connected with school activities. It set up a committee to deal with the question of the application of tin' cinematograph to educational purposes. This committee made valuable recommendations, which the Board hopes to give effect to during the current year. The question of the establishment of parent-teacher associations received consideration, with the result that School Committees have been specially requested to enlist the sympathies ol the residents of their districts in matters pertaining to the school. The Board endeavoured to impress upon the Department the desirability of assembly halls m all large school), but without result. However, assembly halls are so necessary for the satisfactory carrying-on of large schools under modern conditions that the Board proposes to continue its efforts in this direction.

II