72

E.—l

remembered, however, that the results were gained under different circumstances, and are therefore not strictly comparable. Taking the results in class and additional subjects into account, the Board has every reason to think that the efficiency of the schools has been fully maintained during the year. Of the 179 schools examined, 12 (= 7 per cent.) had a percentage of failures ranging from s—o, 17 (= 9 per cent.) from 10—6, 42 (= 23 per cent.) from 20—11, 52 (= 29 per cent.) from 30—21, 29 (= 16 per cent.) from 40—31, 16 (= 9 per cent.) from 50—41, 12 (= 7 per cent.) from 75 —51. The schools in which the percentage of failures is lowest are mostly very small ones, whose circumstances are favourable to high efficiency; but some are of considerable size, and one is quite a large school. The following are the twelve at which the percentage was 5 or less, with the number of pupils examined in standards in each : — Q , , Percentage of Number Q , , Percentage of Number bonooL Failures. Examined. bcnool. Failures. Examined. 1. Kakapuaka ... ... 0 ... 16 7. Patearoa ... ... 4 ... 28 2. Waitahuna West ... 0 ... 6 8. Circle Hill ... 5 ... 22 3. Tarras ... ... 0 ... 7 9. Kuri Bush ... 5 ... 19 4. Stirling ... ... 2 ... 97 10. Macandrew Road ... 5 ...297 5. Pukeuri ... ... 3 ... 77 11. Totara ... ... 5 ... 21 6. Mount Stuart ... 4 ... 25 12. Waiareka... ... 5 ... 80 The following are the twelve schools at which the percentage of failures was above 50 : — „ , , Percentage of Number „ , , Percentage of Number Failures. Examined. Failures. Examined. 1. Bald Hill ... ... 60 ... 20 7. Taiaroa Heads ... 75 ... 12 2. Bannockbum ... 68 ... 50 8. Stafford Street ... 60 ... 10 3. Clarke's Flat ... 71 ... 14 9. Dunrobin... ... 54 ... 26 4. Crookston ... ... 53 ... 20 10. Kaihiku ... ... 74 ... 23 5. Mullocky Gully ... 56 ... 20 11. Lowburn ... ... 58 ... 33 6. Stony Creek ... 62 ... 13 12. Moa Flat ... ... 71 ... 17 Buildings.—The principal works undertaken by the Board during the year have been the erection of a new school in High Street, to take the place of the old William Street School; new schools at Palmerston, North Taieri, North-east Harbour, and Goodwood; schools and residences at Incholme, Kakapuaka, Cambrian's, Miller's Flat, Blackstone Hill, Luggate, Arthurton, Hamilton's, White Sow Valley, and Purekireki; considerable additions and improvements at North Oamaru, Albany Street, Clinton, Stirling, Awamoko, Kakanui, Teaneraki, Otepopo, Clyde, and Alexandra; and masters' residences at Awamoko, Kakanui, Otepopo, and Lovell's Flat. The total expenditure on school buildings was £18,176 3s. lid. A detailed statement showing the amount spent in each district is given in Appendix A. The resolution of the Board allowing for each child in average attendance a minimum floor space of 12 square feet was altered, and a space of 8 square feet per child was adopted for future plans. Training College.—Appended hereto is the report of the Rector of the Training College. The organization of this institution has received a great deal of consideration from the Board during the year. With a view to increasing its efficiency, the intimate connection between the training institution and the normal and model schools was abolished, and in their place nine of the best conducted schools in Dunedin and neighbourhood were connected with the Training College as associated schools, for the purpose of affording students in training practice in teaching for a sufficient length of time, and under favourable circumstances. Though the new arrangements are as yet barely even on trial, the Board trusts that they will work smoothly, and promote the efficiency of the training given to young teachers. The regulations are given in Appendix N. The total cost of the Training College for the year was : Salaries, £1,260 lis. 9d. ; allowances to students, £1,208 9s. lOd.: total, £2,469 Is. 7d. The following is a return of the number of students who entered or left during the year, and of their present employment: — Students in 1886— Males. Females. Left during 1886— Males. Females. Remaining from 1885... ... 17 22 Teaching in public schools ... 11 5 Admitted in 1886 ... ... 15 25 Awaiting appointment ... 0 1 Left during 1886 ... ... 12 8 On leave ... ... ... 1 2 On the books Dec, 1886 ... 20 39 Finance.—Appended hereto is the balance-sheet for the year, certified by the Auditor. The sum paid for teachers' salaries, bonuses on classification, and bonuses for teaching pupilteachers was £63,445 7s. 9d. The amount paid to Committees for incidental expenses was £6,273 9s. Bd. A statement of the sums paid for teachers' salaries, &c, for allowances to Committees in aid of the School Fund, and for the erection, enlargement, and improvement of school buildings will be found in Appendix A. The following statement shows the average salary paid to the various classes of teachers in the Board's service (head teachers have, in addition, a free residence, and in country districts a glebe of some size) : Male head teachers, £210 10s. Bd.; female head teachers, £107 12s. 9|d. ; male assistants, £196 Bs. 5Jd.; female assistants, £112 16s. Bd.; male pupil-teachers, £45 ; female pupil-teachers, £35 ; teachers of sewing, £20. A comparison of this statement with a similar one published two years ago shows that the average salary of male head teachers has increased £5 16s. Bd.; of male assistants, £7 9s. Bid.; and of female assistants, £8 lis. 2Jd. The average salary of female head teachers has fallen £6 lis. 3Jd. This falling off is accounted for by the fact that during the last two years a considerable number of female teachers have been appointed at salaries of £70 per annum. School Committees' Accounts.—An abstract of the income and expenditure of the various School Committees will be found in Appendix F. The Board's contributions for the year amounted