E.—l

16

of small sole-teacher schools. The average number in the larger schools, as the above figures show, is considerably greater, being forty-three when schools with six or more teachers are taken together. This figure shows a reduction of two on the corresponding average for 1919, due no doubt to the provision made at the end of 1919 for slightly better staffing in the large schools. Each year it has been possible to make some small advance in the direction of staffing-conditions, and the amended regulations of 1920, while not prescribing an increase in the number of the staff, provided for the appointment of assistants of a higher grade than previously in schools of various sizes, thus ensuring in these cases a more efficient if not a more numerous staff. In the London County Council schools the average number of pupils per teacher is thirty-seven, 4,000 classes under one teacher being forty or less in number, 7,000 being between forty and fifty, and nearly 5,000 being between fifty and sixty. Although it is recognized that ideal conditions in this respect are still some distance off in New Zealand, the comparison with the London County Council schools, where a high standard is set, is not altogether unfavourable. With regard to the sex of public-school teachers, the figures below show the proportion of men and women teachers on the primary-school staff : — 1915. 1918. 1919. 1920. Eatio of adult male to adult female teachers— M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. Schools with Ito 20 scholars .. .. .. 100 : 323 100 : 523 100 : 362 100 : 392 Schools with more than 20 scholars .. .. 100 : 176 100 : 227 100 : 193 100 : 190 All schools .. .. .. .. 100 : 193 100 : 253 100 : 211 100 : 209 Ratio of male pupil-teachers to female pupil-teachers 100 : 344 1.00 : 425 100 : 409 100 : 409 Ratio of male probationers to female probationers .. 100 : 647 100 : 688 100 : 603 100 : 511 Ratio of male students to female students in the training colleges .. .. .. 100 : 387 100 : 488 100 : 362 100: 333 With the exception of the sole-teacher schools in which there was a larger proportion of women than in 1919, and of the probationers and training-college students where the proportion of males has increased, the figures show little change from, those of the previous year. So long as the present proportion of men teachers is maintained — i.e., one in every three —the position in this respect may be regarded as entirely satisfactory ; it is, in fact, much better than obtains in most English-speaking countries. There has been some concern during the last few years at the dearth of young men entering the teaching profession, but an improvement will be observed in the proportion of males among the probationers and training-college students, and from later reports it appears that in the current year young men are applying in still larger numbers to enter the teaching service. Salaries of Primary Public-school Teachers. (Table E4 in li-2.) An amended scale of teachers' salaries was introduced in 1920, operating from April of that year, and providing salaries on the following basis : — Salary por Position held. Head teachers of schools with average attendance of-— £ £ 9-20 .. .. .. .. .. .. 180-210 21-35 .. .. .. .. .. .. 220-270 36-80 .. .. .. .. .. .. 280-310 81-120 .. .. .. .. .. .. 290-330 121-240 .. .. .. .. .. .. 330-360 241-400 .. .. .. .. .. .. 370-410 401-480 .. .. .. .. .. .. 420-440 Over 480.. .. .. .. .. .. 450-480 AssistantsGrade 1 .. .. 160-170 Grade 2 .. .. .. .. .. .. 180-190 Grade 2a .. .. .. .. .. 200-210 Grade 3 .. .. .. .. .. .. 200-230 Grade 4 .. .. .. .. .. .. 240-270 Grade 5.. .. .. .. .. .. 280-300 Graded .. .. .. .. .. .. 310-320 Grade 7 .. .. .. .. ' .. .. 330-350 Gradcß .. .. .. .. .. .. 360-400