49

H.—la.

REPORTS OF EDUCATION BOARDS EOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 18T9.

[Note. —It has been deemed unadvisable to swell the dimensions of the reports by including in them matters of purely local interest where such can be conveniently omitted, but most of the tables and papers which accompanied the Board's reports are either printed as received, or the information they furnish is embodied in the tables and summaries.]

AUCEL.AND. In accordance with section 102 of the Act, the Board presents the following report of its proceedings during the year :— Board. —Thirty-one meetings have been held during the year, with an average attendance of seven members. The members chosen to retire on 31st March, 1879, were Colonel Haultain, Mr. Luckie, and Mr. O'Rorke. Of these the two last named did not offer themselves as candidates for re-election. Colonel Haultain, Mr. J. M. Clark, and His Worship Mr. Thomas Peacock, were elected out of six candidates to fill the vacancies. In April Dr. Campbell resigned his position as Chairman of the Board, and Mr. J. M. Clark was elected Chairman in his stead. The three members chosen to retire in March, 1880, namely, Dr. Campbell, Mr. Samuel Luke, and Mr. F. L. Prime, have been re-elected. The other three members, Mr. Dargaville, Mr. May, and Mr. Moat, hold office until March, 1881. Public Schools. —The number of primary schools in operation during the whole or any part of the year was 204. Of this number twenty-nine (29) were conducted as half-time schools, eight (8) were schools " aided " under section 88 of the Act, and two (2) schools were conducted by itinerant teachers. The " aided" schools newly established since last year's report, are those at Miranda (Thames), and Te Wharau (Bay of Islands). The itinerant teachers are employed—one at Wairoa North, the other at the Great Barrier Island. Six schools were closed and fifteen new schools were opened during the year. The schools closed are Mangawhare, Kaitangi, Otaika, Pukepoto, Queen's Redoubt, and Te Arai (since re-opened). The new schools opened are: Great Barrier, Hikutaia, Huntley, Karioataki, Kati-Kati No. 2, Kawau, Mackaytown, Miranda, Mount Roskill, Pokeno Yalley, Pukete, Tauhoa, Te Mata, Te Wharau, and Waiwera. At the 31st December, 1879, the number of schools actually in operation was 202. Teachers. —The following table shows the number of teachers in the service of the Board during the last quarter of the year :— Male. Female. Total. Head teachers ... ... ... ... ... 153 38 191 Assistant teachers ... ... ... ... ... 23 111 134 Pupil teachers ... ... ... ... ... 1 61 62 Sewing teachers ... ... ... ... ... 0 44 44 Visiting teachers ... ... ... ... ... 5 0 5 182 254 436 Seventy-eight male and fifty female teachers hold certificates, or are classified, under the Governmentregulations. The nature of their classification (according to the latest information) in the Board'spossession is as follows :— Male. Female. Total. Class B 5 0 5 „C3 0 3 „ D ... ... ... ... ... ... 22 6 28 „ E ... ... ... ... ... ... 47 43 90 Licensed ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 1 2 78 50 128 The Board has notified all uncertificated teachers that, in accordance with section 45 of the Act, their appointments are held temporarily in each case until a certificated teacher can be obtained. An examination of pupil teachers was held in March, 1879, at Auckland, the Thames, Hamilton, and Whangarei. One hundred and three candidates attended. The results are as follows : — Male. Female. Total. Candidates in Board's employment: Passed ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 '26 27 Failed to qualify ... ... ... ... ... 0 14 14 Candidates not in Board's employment: Passed ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 22 *25 Failed to qualify ... ... ... ... . ... 4 23 27 8 95 103

* Most of these have since obtained employment under the Board.