The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 1914. EDUCATION REPORT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 58, 30 June 1914, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 1914. EDUCATION REPORT.

The annual report, of the Taranaki Education Board, now to hand, indicates a year of progress in matters educational so far as Taranaki is concerned, but at the same time leaves the impression that we might do better. In the previous year the total 101 l number showed a decline over' 1911, but in 1913 this recovered to within one of the total for that year which was\6l99. In 1912 Taranaki’s average school attendance was the lowest of any Education Distrcit in Now Zealand, and though there may bo special causes such as climate and the'means of access to schools in the outlying districts which partly accounts for Taranaki’s low average, the Inspectors are not satisfied and urge t.hd Board to take more stringent measures to enforce the compulsory clauses of the Act. The Board is in entire agreement with this advice, and parents would therefore do well to bear their liability in mind, even if they are not properly awake to the disadvantages they are placing their children under by neglecting to compel their regular attendance at •school. The number of school* un-

der the control of the Taranaki Board at the end of 1913 was 97, an increase of three, while the teachers, including pupil teachers and probationers, numbered 205, an increase of twelve. The average attendance was about ono per cent, better than in 1912, when, as already stated, it was the lowest in the Dominion. So far as efficiency is concerned many of our schools rank high, and are obviously doing fine work. The general efficiency of the Board’s teaching staff is spoken | well of by the Inspectors, though ! there are naturally weaknesses to lie found. A strong plea is made for the retention of the pupil teacher system which has proved to work well for so long. The report states that head-teachers generally prefer as assistant one who has served his apprenticeship as pupil-teacher, and their own experience is that pupil-teachers are better able to govern and discipline than are those who have passed through the, stages of studentship wtihout the long previous contact with pupils which fell to the Jot of the pupil, teacher. The head-teachers and inspectors should certainly be the best judges on this question.