53

E.—l

KEPOBTS OF EDUCATION BOAKDS.

[Note. —Minute details relating to school districts are in some cases omitted. Tables are not all reprinted, the substance of most of them being embodied in the tables in or attached to the report of the Minister.]

AUCKLAND. Auckland, March, 1890. In accordance with section 102 of " The Education Act, 1877," the Board presents the following report of its proceedings during the year 1889 : — Boabd.—The Board consisted of the following members : Messrs. James William Carr, Theophilus Cooper, David Goldie, M.H.E., James Marshall Lennox, Samuel Luke, "William Pollock Moat, M.H.R., Richard Monk, M.H.R, Richard Udy, and John Henry Upton (Chairman). Messrs. Cooper, Moat, and Udy, who retire this month, have been re-elected without a contest. Fortyfive meetings of the Board were held during the year, with an average attendance of seven members. A committee of the Board was appointed to collect and forward educational exhibits for the Dunedin Exhibition. Public Schools. —The number of schools in operation at the end of the year was 255, including forty-eight half-time schools. The number of school districts was 213. New schools were opened at Pakia (Hokianga Heads), Harington Street, Tauranga, Hukerenui South, Waimamaku Valley, Fairburn's Road (Mangonui), Fern Flat (Mangonui), Brown's Bay (Lucas Creek), Bridgewater (Mercer), and Karamu (Waipa). The following schools were closed owing to diminished attendance : Maketu (East Coast), Waipu Cave, Waitoa Valley, Long Bay, Mangawai, Te Arai, and Taupo. In each case the average attendance fell below ten. Tbachees. —The number of teachers employed at the end of the year was 636, classified as follows: — Male. Female. Total. In charge of schools ... ... ... 176 ... 52 ... 228 Assistants ... ... ... ... 37 ... 171 ... 208 Pupil-teachers and junior assistants ... 26 ... 112 ... 138 Sewing teachers ... ... ... ... ... 61 ... 61 Visiting teacher ... ... ... 1 ... ... ... 1 Total at 31st December, 1889 ... 240 ... 396 ... 636 The term "junior assistant" is applied to young teachers who, having passed either the university matriculation examination or Class D, are taken into the service at the ordinary pay"of a pupil-teacher, but are not required to undergo the pupil-teacher's course of examination. All certificated teachers not in charge of schools are ranked as assistants. Many of them occupy positions in the schools which should properly be filled by pupil-teachers. The Board has given careful attention to the problem of reducing the surplusage of assistant teachers. Several have been transferred to the charge of country schools, but a large surplus still remains, which can only be gradually reduced in process of time. As regards classification, it is satisfactory to report that there are now only five teachers (above the rank of pupil-teacher) who have obtained no classification whatever. These five are in charge of small "aided" schools, for which a duly certificated teacher cannot be supplied. There are, however, several teachers, classified partial E, who have failed to complete the examination for their certificate, and there are also one or two teachers of long standing, the holders of " provisional" certificates, who have neglected to avail themselves of the opportunity afforded them year after year to pass the necessary examination for the completion of their certificates. The Board has been obliged to deal with these cases according to law. During the year 1888 fifty-five teachers entered and one hundred and nine left the Board's service. During last year (1889) ninety-one teachers left the service, and ninety-six new teachers were employed. Notwithstanding the disadvantage occasioned by so large a number of changes in the personality of the teaching staff, it is impossible to avoid other additional changes through the removal of teachers for promotion or otherwise. Every care is taken to prevent unnecessary changes and to disturb as little as possible the working of the schools. In making appointment's the Board generally selects the names of five or six suitable candidates, after taking into account their classification, date of certificate, length of service, and teaching ability. These names are submitted to the Committee of the district for their consideration and selection. By this means a due regard is accorded to the wishes of the Committee and to the claims of teachers for promotion. As an encouragement to teachers to qualify for a higher certificate than Class E, the Board has adopted the plan of limiting the selection for the more valuable appointments to those holding the rank of D or a higher rank. Pupil-teachers.—The following table shows the result of the annual examination of pupilteachers and of candidates for employment held m June, 1889 ;- —