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Special Schools for the Feeble-minded. There are two such special schools one at Richmond for girls, and one at Otekaike, near Oaniaru, for boys. The number of girls in residence at Richmond during the year was 56, and the number of boys at Otekaike 145. Expenditure. The total net expenditure by the Department for the year 1921-22 on the above services was as follows : — £ School for the de:af .. .. .. .. .. .. 6,034 Education of the blind .. .. .. .. .. 101 Schools for the feeble-minded .. - .. .. .. .. 11, 190 Industrial schools, receiving-homes, probation system, boardirjg-oul system, &c. .. .. .. .. .. .. 108,622 Total .. .. .. .... .. £125,947

No. 2.—-REPORT OF THE OFFICER IN CHARGE, INDUSTRIAL AND SPECIAL SCHOOLS BRANCH (INCLUDING AFFLICTED CHILDREN AND INFANT-LIFE PROTECTION). Sir, - Education Department, 22nd July, L 922. 1 have the honour to submit the following report on the work- of the Industrial and Special Schools Branch for last year : - The Branch carries out the following phases of social-welfare work : (I.) Maintenance, supervision, anel training of all destitute, dependent, and delinquent children committed to the care of the State. (2.) Supervision of children and juvenile offenders placed on probation by the Courts. (•'J.) Supervision of all infants under six yeans of age maintained for payment apart from their parents or guardians. (4.) Supervision of children in cases where widows' pensions are paid by the State. (5.) Education and training of afflicted children over the age of six years. The definition " afflicted " includes deaf, blind, or improvable feeble-minded children, and chilclren partially deaf or suffering from defective speech, and stammerers. The following figures show the: number of children dealt with under the foregoing Leadings Nos. (I), (2), (3), and (5) :— Industrial schools, receiving-homes, and probation homes . . . . 3,830 Juvenile probation .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 272 Infant-life protection .. .. .. . . .. .. 706 Afflicted children Deaf .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. IIS Feeble-minded .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 201 5,157 Boarding-out System. The: majority of the children committed to the care of the Stale are not detained in institutions, but are boardoel out in foster-homes situated mainly n suburban areas and in districts in close: proximity to the: smaller centres of population. At the end of the year there' were 2,035 children boarded out 1,974 from Government receiving-homes and fil from private industrial schools (Roman Catholic). Arrange'el according to the ages of the' children the numbers at 30th June, 1922, are: as follows: Under five years, 126; from live: to ten years, 763; from ten te) twelve years, 352; from twelve to thirteen years, 194; from thirteen to fourteen years, 194; and over fourteen years. 125. These numbers include nearly 400 epidemic orphans of all ages, who are placed mainly with relatives. It is pleasing to note' that the authorities of private, industrial schools (especially St. Mary's, Auckland) have adopted the boarding-out system to a, limite:el extent for the purpose of providing for the' children belonging te: these schools. The: rate' paid to the foster-parents for the' maintenance of each child is 15s. a week, but for infants under twelve: months 17s. (id. a week is paid. Each child is provided with a very complete initial outfit, the foster-parents being required to maintain the clothing at this standard. Medical attendance, medicines, and dentistry are: provieied by the. Department, as alsei are schoe)]-books and school stationery. Upon Boarding-out Officers anel Managers of Receiving-homes rests the responsibility of selecting proper homes and of supervising the inmates in these homes. No hard-and-fast rules can be laid down as lii the type of hemic to be selected, or the nu:mbe:r of times a, hemic should be visited, or the' methods e>f supervision. Much depends upon the: personality, ability, and intuition of tho officer concerned. Frequent visiting is advocated in the interests of the children, and as a