E.—lb

1887. NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION: REPORTS OF INSPECTORS OF SCHOOLS. [In continuation of E.-1b, 1886.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

[It has not been thought necessary in all cases to print the tables and those portions of the reports that relate only to particular schools.] AUCKLAND. Me. Goodwin's Ebpoet. Sib, — Auckland, 21st February, 1887, I have the honour to submit my report for the year 1886. The portion of the Auckland Education District allotted to me at the beginning of the year for the purposes of inspection and examination included the city and suburban schools, and those on the south-east and south-west coasts, extending on the one side to Opotiki and on the other to Kawhia. I also examined and inspected the industrial schools at Kohimarama, and St. Mary's, Ponsonby, and the Parnell Orphan Home. I have during the year examined in standards sixty-live schools, and paid fifty-six visits of inspection. I have not been able to find time to visit either the Huia or Great Barrier Schools. The following table shows the particulars required by Section 13 of the "Standards" with respect to the total number of schools under the control of the Board examined by me. The names of the schools, with the additional particulars required, will be found in the list prepared for the whole district:—

From the above table it will be seen that, of 5,750 scholars who, not coming under the head of " Absent " or " Excepted," should have passed a standard, 4,643, or about 80 per cent., did so pass. These results, as far as standards are concerned, may, I think, be deemed satisfactory. I must here express my regret that so much importance is attached to "percentages" by parents and teachers. Surely the former should be contented if the general results and work of the school are pronounced "good" or "satisfactory," without urging upon the teacher the necessity of obtaining a record of passes equal or superior to that of some neighbouring school. I believe teachers themselves have been mainly to blame for this. One ot two began by getting a notice in the newspaper—favourable, of course—of the results of their annual examination, and others followed. I have been told that in one district the names of all the children who passed were published in the local paper. It is necessary that parents and Committees should understand that a standard examination is a somewhat rough and ready method of ascertaining that the programme of instruction prescribed I—E. Ib.

Standard Classes. Presented. Absent. Excepted. Failed. Passed. Average Age of those that passed. Yrs. mos. 87 S6 S5 S4 S3 S2 SI P. 25 212 460 992 1,555 1,824 1,537 4,070 5 27 70 101 108 82 7 31 50 104 155 90 51 136 205 297 277 141 149 266 667 1,053 1,284 1,224 14 10 13 5 12 8 11 5 10 2 9 2 10,675 393 437 1,107 4,643 * Mean of averai ;;« a; 11 years 11 months.