8.—2.

[Appendix C.

what they regard as the ordeal of a criticism lesson. Of the pupil-teachers in the district who completed their course only six failod to qualify for admission to training college at the end of the year. Discipline, etc. —We hear very few complaints as to the severity of tho discipline in our schools, and we feel that in the treatment of children our teachers generally adopt the rational view, so that school nowadays is not the house of correction and restraint that it was in bygone days when suppression was characteristic of the schoolroom autocrat. In not a few instances during the present year has it been necessary, through the inevitable absence of the teacher, for tho pupils to conduct their own school, and where the school tone is right this can. be done without difficulty. On the other hand, while we wish to emphasize the desirability of the heartiest co-operation, friendliness, arid comradeship between teacher and pupil, we cannot regard lack of orderliness or of courtesy, even though offered in the name of freedom, as being satisfactory discipline. True discipline can be oxercisod only by a teacher who has the personality which appeals to his pupils, and the man who allows his pupils to run out of the school like a flock of sheep, or to remain seated when a visitor or stranger enters the room, under the impression that he must not interfere with the freedom of his charges, has probably the inferior value as a disciplinarian in their estimation which he has in ours. Correspondence Classes and Country Children. —Tho number of applications that have come before us during the year for enrolment in the correspondence classes established by the Department shows that this provision is very much appreciated by the parents in the outlying districts. The opportunities we have had of seeing the work of some of the pupils has shown us that good results are being obtained. We have paid visits to all tho small schools in the district, and have every reason to be satisfied with tho progress that has been made. It has been a very great pleasure to us to give what assistance we can, and tho parents have shown their appreciation in a very marked degree. Wo may say that our country schools have reached a very pleasing degree of efficiency. Three Junior National Scholarships wore gained by these schools at tho end of the year. Wo desire to express our appreciation of the assistance afforded us during the year by the Education Board and its officers. We are provided with excellent accommodation, have received every assistance in carrying out our duties both in the office and the field, and have to thank the • members of the staff for their courtesy and kindness during the year. WELLINGTON. Including twelve side schools, 273 schools were inspected during the year. In 1922 the number of schools in operation was 275, the decrease this year being due to the closing of Grade 0 schools situated chiefly in the Marlborough Sounds, where the system of instruction by correspondence has been substituted. The following table shows tho destination of pupils who left school before and after passing S6 : — After. Before. Secondary education .. .. .. .. .. 1,303 35 Home duties .. .. .. .. .. .. 209 101 Clerical .. .. .. .. .. .. 80 5 Trades .. .. .. .. .. ..228 65 Farming .. .. .. .. .. .. 80 51 Unskilled occupations .. . . .. .. .. 75 4-0 Unknown .. .. . . .. .. .. 95 46 Efficiency.—A summary of inspection reports shows 44-7 per cent, of the schools varying from good to very good, 42-5 per cent, satisfactory, 8 per cent, fair, and 4-8 per cent, inferior. As usual, most of the schools whose condition is below satisfactory are in Grado 0. Remotely situated as they are, and with the low attendances attached to them, the staffing of these schools is a perennial source of difficulty. We are of opinion that, so far as the Sounds are concerned, the nearest approach to a solution of the problem would be a combination, of instruction by correspondence, find itinerant teachers, each taking a group of, say, ten or a dozen schools. District High Schools. —Nine of these schools, with a total roll of 387, aro in operation, their curricula embracing Matriculation, Public Service Entrance, Senior Scholarship, and Intermediate courses. Candidates arc also prepared for Teachers' D Certificate, and for Accountancy Entrance. In seven of the schools elementary agriculture or dairy science is a compulsory subject. The following results of the 1923 examinations indicate a very satisfactory condition of efficiency : Matriculation (full and partial), 15; Public Service Entrance, 36; Senior Scholarship, 1 ; Intermediate, 13 ; D Certificate (Groups), 2. A secondary class has also been formed, at Pongaroa, the Department having sanctioned the appointment of an extra assistant to enable this to be done. Though tho class at present is small, we hope that the effort to bring the elements of secondary education to one of our most remote districts will meet with bettor support later on. Syllabus.— English Subjects. —For reading the efficiency mark is rarely less than satisfactory, and in the majority of cases it is good. The satisfactory pronunciation and enunciation of the pupils during oral reading are not, however, always apparent in their ordinary spoken language. Freedom and fullness of expression continue to be commendable characteristics of the composition, but weakness in punctuation is still too common a fault. Spelling and writing, judged both by set tests and incidentally, are good. Recitation, on the other hand, is the English subject with which wo are

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