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for girls is situated at Richmond, near Nelson, and can accommodate about 75 girls. Girlsjon leaving the school section receive an all-round training in handwork, dressmaking, knitting, housewifery, and fancy work, &c., while gardening is also included in the scheme of training. There is a large recreation-room, and eurythmic exercises, dancing, singing, drill, &c., form a leading feature of the scheme of training and entertainment which includes occasional trips to the seaside, &c. A tennis-court has recently been provided. Blind Children. The education of blind children is compulsory, and where necessary the Department arranges for the admission of pupils to the New Zealand Institute for the Blind, a private institution which is situated at Auckland. There were 21 such Government pupils in residence at 31st March, 1937, but many parents arrange privately with the Institute for the admission of their children. The annual report which is issued by the Institution gives a full account of its various activities. SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF. Report of the Principal for Year ending 31st December, 1936. I have the honour to submit the following report oil the affairs of the institution for the year ending 31st December, 1936. On Ist December there were 118 pupils on the r011—59 boys and 59 girls. Of these, 9 boys and 7 girls were day pupils and 50 boys and 52 girls were boarders. During the year 14 new pupils were admitted. Their ages were as follow:— From five to six years .. .. .. .. .. ~ .. 6 From six to seven years .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 From seven to eight years .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 From eight to nine years .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 From eleven to twelve years .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 14 Some of the older pupils were admitted from other schools, but the boy of eleven years of age had received no previous schooling. For the purposes of instruction ten of the pupils must be regarded as being congenitally deaf, having no speech, no hearing, and possessed of ail the characteristics of those born deaf. Two had traces of speech and some degree of hearing, and two had considerable speech and considerable powers of hearing. During the year the school was visited by the Hon. the Minister of Education, Mr. P. Fraser, who took a keen interest in the working of the institution. As a result of this visit it was decided to pull down the Boys' House, a building which had outlived its usefulness. The plans for the new Boys' House which had been decided upon are at present under consideration. The Canterbury Education Board's Inspectors carried out their annual visit of inspection and spent a considerable time in all the class-rooms. The work and organization of the school received favourable criticism. Three pupils were granted Proficiency Certificates and two obtained Competency Certificates. The School News was brought out monthly, items of interest being contributed by the various pupils. This publication is a means of stimulating the children's interest in reading and of keeping them in touch with current events. The physical training of the pupils was well catered for. The boys went through the usual gymnastic course, and physical drill was taken daily. A team of deaf boys was successful in winning the "A " Grade hockey competition promoted by the primary schools of Christchurch. The girls also had gymnastic and physical drill exercises regularly. A team of girls was entered for the Christchurch Girls' Sports Day Competitions and was successful in gaining second place in a field of eleven. Such opportunities of making social contacts and of enabling our pupils to measure their abilities alongside their hearing brothers and sisters are of very great benefit to the deaf. Two hearing aids and an audiometer were given a try out during the year. The results obtained from these devices are somewhat inconclusive. The members of the staff are following with close interest the research being carried on along these lines in Manchester and other parts of the world. The Staff Library, to which all members of the teaching staff make monthly contributions, is proving a great help in stimulating interest in the work of educating the deaf in Europe and America. This library now contains most of the standard works dealing with subjects bearing on our school work. It is a very valuable part of our school equipment. In addition to the usual school, curriculum classes were held in woodwork, dressmaking, and cooking. The results obtained in this field of training were very creditable. The health of the children during the year has been quite good, there being a remarkable freedom from epidemics of any kind. This happy state of affairs was brought about by the able manner in which the children have been cared for by the Matron and her staff. I have to thank both the domestic and teaching staffs for their local co-operation in all matters pertaining to our work, which enables me to record a year of progress without friction of any kind.

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