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REPORTS OF EDUCATION BOARDS FOR YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1886.

[Note. —Minute aetails relating to school aistricts are in some cases omittea. Tables are not all reprinted, the substance of most of them being embodiea in the tables in or attached to the report of the Minister."]

AUCKLAND. Auckland, 4th March, 1887. In accordance with section 102 of "The Education Act, 1877," the Board presents the following report of its proceedings during the year 1886 :— Board.—The members of the Board at the beginning of the year were Mr. Samuel Luke (Chairman), Mr. James William Carr, Mr. James McCosh Clark, Mr. Theophilus Cooper, Mr. David Goldie, Mr. Frank Lawry, Mr. James Marshall Lennox, Mr. William Pollock Moat, M.H.R., and Mr. John Henry Upton. Mr. Luke, Mr. Goldie, and Mr. Lennox retired in March, and were re-elected without opposition. Mr. Lawry resigned his seat in April, and Mr. Richard Udy was elected in July to fill the vacancy. Mr. Luke was re-elected Chairman until April, 1887. Fortysix meetings of the Board were held during the year, with an average attendance of nearly seven members. A committee of the whole Board met once a week for the transaction of routine business, and for the consideration of matters referred to it by the Board. The offices of the Board were removed to the Victoria Arcade building. Public Schools.—There were 242 schools in operation during the year, or, reckoning two halftime schools as one school, 217. The number of school districts was 190. New schools were opened at Bayfield (Ponsonby), Chelsea (Northcote), Epsom, Lichfield, Mahurangi Heads (West), andßotorua; and " aided" schools were opened at Katikati, Mercury Bay (Upper Mill), Paparoa Homestead Settlement, and Red Hill (Te Kopuru). The following schools were closed during the year: Brooklyn (Titirangi), Newmarket Branch, and Whakahara. Teachers.—The number of teachers was the same as at the end of 1885—namely, 648, classified as follows :— Male. Female. Total. Teachers in charge of schools ... ... 173 ... 42 ... 215 Assistant teachers ... ... ... 36 ... 126 ... 162 Pupil-teachers ... ... ... 18 ... 190 ... 208 Sewing teachers ... ... 58 ... 58 Visiting teachers ... ... ... 5 ... 5 Total ... ... ... 232 ... 416 ... 648 Under the title of " assistant teachers " are included thirty-seven probationers or teachers in course of training at the public schools. The following table shows the classification of the head teachers and assistants at the end of 1886 :— Head Teachers. Assistant Teachers. Total. M. F. M. F. Certificated ... ... 122 28 ... 17 87 ... 254 Classified, or licensed ... '... 25 4 ... 4 19 ... 52 Uncertificated ... ... 26 10 ... 15 20 ... 71 Total ... ... 173 42 ... 36 126 ... 377 The proportion of uncertificated teachers is gradually decreasing. There are, however, some small country schools for which certificated teachers cannot be obtained. All uncertificated teachers are required to attend the annual examination unless specially exempted by the Board. Pupil-teachers.—A slight addition has been made to the number of male pupil-teachers. The supply of female candidates for employment is largely in excess of the demand. Every new pupilteacher is required to undergo a period of probation varying from three to six months before being formally indentured for a term of three years' service. The annual examination of pupil-teachers and of candidates for employment was held in June, and resulted as follows : —

The examination of third year pupil-teachers was optional. Pupil-teachers of the first year who had joined the staff since January, 1886, and who were examined only in singing, drawing, sewing, and school method, are not included in this table.

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Grade. Examin ed. Passi id. Failed. First year pupil-teachers,.. Second year pupil-teachers Third year pupil-teachers Candidates for employment M. 5 2 15 F. 68 47 3 64 Total. 73 49 3 79 M. F. 4 35 2 19 1 11 43 Total. 39 21 1 54 M. 1 F. 33 28 2 21 Total. 34 28 2 25 4 Totals 22 182 204 j 17 j 98 115 5 84 89