Appendix B.]
E.—2.
examinations, first-aid, elementary hygiene, and school method for D. A refresher course in physical instruction was also included. Part of the: practical instruction in elementary hygiene and first aid was give:n by Dr. Wilkins, Director of School Hygiene. Correspondence classes wore also conducted for uncertificated teachers. A fee for admission was charged, the fee being refunded if the teacher made satisfactory progress. It was decided in six cases to retain the fee. The Board has learnt with regret that correspondence classes are to be> discontinued, and. that the Department proposes to leave to private enterprise the coaching of teachers by correspondence. Correspondence Instruction for Country Children. —The Board desires to congratulate the Department on tlie introduction of correspondence instruction for the country children in remote districts. This instruction will be taken advantage; of by a, considerable number of children from this district for whom, owing to their isolation, it is impossible to provide ordinary school facilities. District High Schools. —At the beginning of the year a secondary department was established at Wairoa. As in previous years, the first- and second-year pupils of the secondary departments of the district high schools took the rural course. The aim of the course is to provide a good general education in secondary subjects, and also to prepare the pupils for the Public Service Entrance Examination. The science work has been continued for the third and fourth year, thus enabling pupils to take science for their Matriculation Examination. The following were the number of pupils : —•
The above figures include, those for the Hastings Technical High School, which was established on the Ist October, 1921, from which date the: district high school was disestablished. No alteration in the courses or the staffing was, however, made until 1922, hence the inclusion of the figures in those for district high schools. Manual and Technical Instruction. —Classes in elementary handwork were conducted in all schools. Needlework was satisfactorily taught in all schools. Special classes were conducted at fourteen schools in sole charge of male teachers, but in nine schools no instruction was given, as it was impossible to arrange for competent teachers. Agriculture, dairy science, and elementary agriculture : 215 classes (primary and secondary) were recognized for capitation purposes this year, as follows : Elementary agriculture. 74, elementary agriculture and dairy science, 96 ; elementary experimental science, 28 ; home and natural science, 17 : the total average, attendance being 3,546. Thoro is still a number of teachers untrained in science work, and who are therefore unable to take the science programme required by the syllabus. Many of the schools are poorly equipped for practical work in these subjects. The: Board has been supplying additional equipment as funds permit. Under the new regulations which came into force at the: beginning of 1921 no special provision was made for this equipment, and it was not until October that the Board was able to ascertain what funds were available. It was then too late to do much in the way of providing equipment for 1921, but it is hoped with the funds now available to supply the requirements of many of the schools in 1922. Woodwork, Cookery, and Dressmaking: 176 classes, with a roll o 2,945, were conducted at centres to which pupils from the surrounding schools came for instruction. Classes were in operation at Gisborne, Napier, Hastings, Waipawa, Waipukurau, Dannevirke, and Woodville. Under the: new regulations no provision has been made for the salary of a Supervisor. For many years past these classes have been ably supervised by the Board's Director of Manual and Technical Instruction, but it has been necessary, for the reason stated, to discontinue his services in this connection. Napier Technical High School and Waipawa Technical Classes Association.- The Board is the controlling authority of the Napier Technical High School and the Waipawa Technical Classes Association ; these classes aro reported upon separately. Gisborne Technical School. —Evening technical and continuation classes have been conducted by the Board during the past year at Gisborne, and have been very successful. Seventeen classes we're: held, with a total average attendance of 147. Physical Instruction.- An instructress has boon permanently located in the: district eluring the; past few years, and full attention is given to this branch of the work. Swimming and Life-saving.- Five schools took this subject, comprising thirty-two classes, with an average attemelance of 733. Ve:ry satisfactory reports were received from the head teachers regarding the progress made.
ii—E. 2 (App. b.)
IX
I School. Clai IS. Total Boll. Rural. Commercial. Matriculation. Others. 1921. 1920. Hastings Waipawa Waipukurau Wairoa Woodville 44 39 30 15 26 46 6 6 3 96 48 30 15 32 64 39 32 4 2 35 Totals 154 46 Ki 5 221 .170