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E.—2.

Otago District. Nature-study.—We regret that we were not, in general, favourably impressed with the work in this very important subject. Programmes were seldom drawn up with respect to the special environment of the school, while nature-study excursions were very rarely undertaken. In a few schools, however, enthusiastic teachers had done really fine work, and the pupils were deeply interested in the natural phenomena, the plant and animal life, and the many interesting problems which presented themselves for observation and study. Singing. Canterbury District. Although in some schools the educational value of singing does not receive the recognition to which it is entitled, the majority of teachers, we are pleased to note, are evincing increased interest in this important cultural subject. The Supervisor of School Music, Mr. E. D. Tayler, paid short visits to a few schools and delivered public addresses, at which large numbers of teachers were present. These addresses and the helpful articles in the Education Gazette have been much appreciated, and have contributed towards a more generous treatment of the subject, so that in the near future a marked advance is confidently anticipated, and singing may eventually take its rightful place in the school curriculum. Wanganui District. In many schools splendid work is being done by the teachers in voice-production, with the result that the pupils sing with pleasing tone and expression. The introduction of the gramophone has had a beneficial influence upon the attitude of the pupils to the subject, and the time spent in musical appreciation cannot fail in producing a keener interest in music generally. Where musical instruments are not available, and, indeed, even where they do exist, more could be done in the teaching of singing in the use of the Tonic Sol-fa. Very few classes are to be found possessing the ability to read music at sight or to learn the songs without the aid of the instrument. During the year a decided forward movement has been made by the Schools' Musical Association in one of the larger centres in the appointment of a visiting instructor who personally directs the teaching of singing in the schools. His work therein, coupled with the enthusiasm stimulated among the teachers, has resulted in most creditable work being done. The establishment of school choirs is a valuable feature of the work. Otago District. We are pleased to report that greater interest is being taken in this subject, stimulated, without doubt, by the visits and lectures of the Supervisor of School Music and by the publication of articles in the Education Gazette. In many schools the teachers are making good use of the gramophone both for recreative purposes and for the appreciation of music. Auckland District. Singing is better taught than in previous years, and it is now quite exceptional for a teacher to plead that he cannot take singing with his class. The gramophone has given the most diffident the necessary confidence to make a start. Once the teacher's initial nervousness has been overcome, the pleasure of the children in the lesson has keyed him to display his latent ability to teach simple folksongs and traditional songs, with often surprisingly successful results. Teachers would be well advised to allow unison singing to bulk more largely than part-singing. Singing in two parts should always be reserved for the senior classes, though even there it should supplement and not supplant unison singing. Whenever the song has a definite alto part the teacher must be on his guard against the danger of causing injury to the child's voice at the time of the adolescent break. Nor should the same children always take the same part. It will often be advisable for those who have been singing alto on one occasion to sing treble on the next. A class should never be divided so that the boys always sing alto and. the girls treble. In contradistinction to singing for children, some teachers make the mistake of singing with them, and others of making too much use of the piano. In junior classes the piano is almost a necessity in helping the children over the technical difficulties of a new song, but its continued use as a support to the children is to be deprecated. Simple breathing and voice-training exercises are well taken in many schools. The excellent articles which have appeared in the Education Gazette on " Musical Matters " by the Supervisor of Musical Education have done much to arouse enthusiasm in the teachers. Physical Instruction. Auckland District. This subject is, on the whole, well taught, and in only a few schools is it neglected. " Unfavourable weather conditions "is sometimes an excuse offered for a temporary cessation of the lessons. As a general rule, however, indoor drill is taken with creditable results when wet weather has prevented the usual outdoor exercises being taught. In some large schools a beginning has been made with the teaching of folk-dancing and eurhythmies. The educative value of games properly organized is generally recognized ; good work is being done, in all schools in the *~:> + ter of competitive sport—e.g., football, cricket, hockey, and basketball.