NOTES ON EDUCATION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 519, 28 May 1909, Page 4

NOTES ON EDUCATION.

(By Socrates.) EDUCATION IN WELLINGTON; , ITS ADMINISTRATION. - Tlwro havo already appeared, in theee notes, extracts from the annual reports of tho Wellington Education Board's inspectors j and also of tho Principal of the Normal Training Colloga (Mr. Wm. Gray). Moro immediately ooncernod with the activo administration of education in tho district than with 1 academic reflections'on tho training, methods, and results of tho teachers, is tho annual account,, by tho Education Board itself, of its stewardship for the year ended March 31, 1909, s'omo extracts from which are appended:— Tha Board's Toaching Staff. At the close of tho year there were in the service of tho board 144 malo and 220 female teachers, 12 male and 68 female pupil-. teachers, a total of 156 mates, 288 females, or 444 in all—an increase of three during the year. Tho corresponding numbers for 1907 were 163 males, 288 females, or 441 in all. Tho liumber of uncertificated teachers was 78, to 12 of whom had boon granted licenses, tho corresponding numbers for the preocding year being 68 and 23. School Attendanco. The average attendance was 88.1 per cent, of the averago roll, tho highest numerical and the highest average attendance in tho history of the district. Compared with tho figures of -1907 tho increase was 1005; with those of 1906 was 6S6i The attendance conditions were last year miich more fivourabla than in tho previous year. Tho board's powers ' of compelling attendance were exercised with firmness and discretion. Tho following figures summarise the Work of tho truant oiheerVisits to schools, 561; breaches of tlie law reported by head teachers and dealt with, 3700; proceedings Wero taken in 226 cases, in 190 of which a, conviction waß recorded 8 were dismissed, and in 28 cases proceedings wero discontinued owing to improved attendant® or other sufficient reason, flioro wore enrolled 30 children, mostly now arrivals, who wero not attending school. "Making every allowance for misfortune and extreme poverty, there still remains," states tho report, "a very considerable number of parents wno, from indiSorence or actual greed, would deny their children the full advantages of education offered by tho State." Instruction of Toachers. .. The board , was enabled to arrange during the year foT courses'of instruction'in drawing and handwork, agriculture, cookery, woodwork, cardboard modelling, and singing and deep breathing, and the response of the teachers both in attendance and in enthusiasm must Iravo been very gratifying to tlio instructors. At tho schools of instruction inagriculture, threo in number, hold at Greytown in January and at.tho:term .holidays, oncli for a fortnight's continuous work, there wore enrolled 66 teachers who each surrendered a week's holiday in order to attend. Tho inspectors, are of opinion ,that a distinct improvement of the work in many schools is obsorraMo as ontS result of .the earnest efforts put forth by teaclicTS to fit themselves for this new department of school work. Excellent attendances wero recorded at -Mr. Parker's singing classes, both at Wellington and Mastorton. Normal Training College. , Tho work of the Training College for teachers is disciissed at length in tho report of tho Principal. The total enrolment was' 80, a full complement—32 of the second year, 48 of the'first; 34 students were from "Wellington, 25 from Wanganui, 9 from Hawlrs's Bay, 2 from Marlborough, 4 from Nelson, 3 from Taranaki, and 1 each from Grey, Otago, and Southland. Here wore besides a number of teachers who visited tho college-, for purposes of observation. "Tha growth "of the work of. tho college renders necessary," .insists %>' board,;;. % building addition and 'an. iiicrewo in'tlio area of; tho site; • Tho .subjects of agriculture and natiiro study, require much moro room for their adequate treatment than tho small area at . present available permits of. So largo a proportion of tho studonts in the Middle University District will fill positions in country schools that the bdard has no hesitation in commending to the Department expenditure which will benefit most immediately t>he country child." District High Schools. For junior scholarships tliero competed 261 candidates, and there were awarded 41 Junior Board and 4 Junior National Scholarships.' For Senior Board Scholarships there wore 65 candidates, to' 14 of-whom wero awarded*schfrlarships. Tho ten district' high sohools have continued in operation, but the decrease noted last year still continues. For three years the numbers are 540,' 463, 441. The board has expressed its approval of tho medical inspection of school children,, and has, by way of experiment, undertaken an inspection of about 300 children, kindly carried out at tho end of the year by Drß, Pollen and Webster, who will report when some special oases have been , considered. ' School Buildings. The year was one of rapid expansion and of consequent building activity. The fires, Winch devastated considerable areas in the Island, destroyed the school and residence at Nireaha, and the school at Jlaku, Grants being provided, tho ' former were erected on tno old- site, 'l'he latter is being built in;a different position to enable the board to consolidate the schools in the Ma-ngatiti-Maku-Pukehinau districts. The removal of the Mangatiti School completes this change. New scnools, provided by grant, wore also erected- at Dycrvilfe, Waterfalls, Lansdowne, and Maranui, and additions at Masterton, Worser Bay, and Levin. A now school is under construction at Petono West. Now schools aro being provided at Upper Hutt, Martinborough, and AVaikanac) 'and additions at Johnsonvillc, partly by grant on account of increased' attendance, and partly by tho board on account of rebuilding. At Pahiatun tho removal to new sito of tho best parts of the'old building is being carried out in conjunction with tho erection of several new rooms. New residences' have been provid.d by grant at Longbush and Mangatiti. additions at Manakau and Pnekakarffd. The board removed and improved fcho residence at Levin. "The most urgent building requirements of the district at present aro mew schools at Eastern Hutt, and additions at Brooklyn, Muritai, and Wadestowhj together with residences, in districts which can . support a married teacher, and where settlers have no room beyond tho bare requirements of their, families.' Tho board is pleased that in several of such districts residences will bo provided shortly by,grant. Last.yoar.it was necessary to provide a considorable number of sites, especially in the suburban area, and, though in most instances half cost was provided by grant, tho ffoard has found payment of the balance a great tax on its resources. Consequently, tho rebuilding of several of our older schools, now admittedly desirable, has of necessity been postponed. Another problem is presented by tho steady decreaso of attendance at To Aro and Mount Cook Schools through tho .encroachment of tho business on tho' residential area. At Mount Cook Boys' and : Girls' Schools the numbers hare decreased by half. For this reason, arid on account of tho increasing ages of tho buildings, .it appears to: tho board that amalgamation or tho Mount Cook Boys' and Girls' Schools on one site will bo neoeasnry in a short time." "The. board notes with pleasure tho successful endeavours'of committeos and toachers to beautify and improvo tho surroundings of a number'of our best schools—a praiseworthy example which, it is hoped, may bo followed nt others where at present this important educational influonco is almost entirely absent!"\