E.—l

93

The'above return shows that the irregular attenders have been diligently looked after by the Truant Officer, and his efforts have without doubt materially assisted in improving the'sehool attendance. But with so wide an"area to supervise it is manifest that a few cannot but escape. With the assistance of the teachers the Truant Officer can keep in touch with those whose names are on the school rolls, but there are many children whose names are not on these rolls, possibly a few whose names are to be found on no school roll, and these it is very difficult to lay hold of. The following instructions have been issued by the Police Department: " The police will cautiously ascertain if on their heats, patrols, or sections there are any children over seven and under fourteen years of age not attending school, in contravention of the law ; and, if so, they will make a note of the facts, taking the names of the parents or guardians, at the same time (where necessary) explaining to them the law relative to school attendance. Leaflets containing extracts from the Act can be obtained from the Secretary to the Education Board. In cases where the law is being so contravened, reports thereof are to be made, so that notices as provided by the Act may be issued." Were the police occasionally during school hours to visit the haunts of idle boys and act in accordance with these instructions, and then communicate with the Truant Officer, they together with him might secure education for a number of neglected children. Inspection of Schools.—Although the table attached to the report of the Inspectors shows a decline in the number of pupils on the roll similar to that shown in the table of last year, the number of pupils present at the Inspectors' annual visit is only fifty-two less than the number present at the previous visit. The Inspectors consider that the latter number is more reliable for purposes of comparison than the former, and, making allowance for the number of pupils who left the Seventh Standard to occupy free places in the high schools, and for the number of pupils belonging to a school which, at the time of the annual visit was closed on account of sickness, they look upon the condition of attendance as more hopeful than it has been for years back. They do this the more that there is a marked increase in the number of pupils in the lower classes. In presenting their report on the efficiency of the schools during 1903, the Inspectors noted that the condition was not so satisfactory as that of 1902, and they attributed the falling-off to the severity of the weather and the prevalence of sickness, but also to the number of inexperienced and unclassified teachers whom the Board, in the absence of qualified teachers, had been compelled to appoint. So far as weather and general health are concerned the work of 1904 was done under normal conditions, as is clearly shown by the greater regularity of attendance, 88-6 per cent, of roll-number against 86-8 per cent, in 1903. The improved attendance should have helped towards greater efficiency, but the above table is almost identical with that of 1903. The Inspectors report that the majority of schools have improved as they should have done under the more favourable working-conditions, but too large a minority having" remained stationary, or having retrograded, the average efficiency has not been effected. In estimating the efficiency of a school the Inspectors take into account every subject as presented to them, and they state that in the future more and more importance will be attached to success or failure in the higher classes. The schools are grouped according to efficiency as follows: Good to very good, 42 per cent.; satisfactory, 42 per cent.; fair, 13 per cent.; weak to very weak, 3 per cent. The Inspectors remark also that many of the " good " approach " very good," and many of the " satisfactory " approach " good." In eighty-seven schools Seventh Standard classes had been taught, but from thirteen of these on the day of the annual visit all the pupils were absent. Seventh Standard.—This standard might well receive greater consideration from the Department. The Board many years ago realised the possibilities that lay in it, and drew up a syllabus of work for its teachers' guidance. Now the Department has done so, but the extra work entailed thereby on teachers, especially the teachers of outlying schools, has received no fitting acknowledgment. Whenever a school beyond a certain distance from a high school or a district high school is efficiently taught, and has an efficiently taught Seventh Standard, extra remuneration should be provided for the teacher. These classes have in the past successfully prepared pupils for matriculation, and the Board has in its schools teachers who owe to Seventh Standard teachers' instruction and guidance their own teachers' certificates, and who, without the opportunity the class afforded, would have been lost to the service. The Department not only withholds encouragement from this class, but provides an absolute discouragement in the training-college regulations recently issued. Manual and Technical Instruction.—The number of schools in which handwork classes earning Government capitation were held is fifty-four, which is about 25 per cent, of the schools. Handwork was, however, taken up in most of the schools with a staff of two or more teachers, and in some with only one teacher, but, feeling unable to comply with the time condition of the regulations, a large number of teachers took up this class of work, but did not give to it the time necessary to qualify for capitation. When the scheme of instruction in the manual and technical subjects was initiated some four years ago, the teachrs of this district evinced no great readiness to introduce the new subjects into their schools, the reason assigned being that, in their judgment, a considerable'curtailment of the prescription of work in some of the other subjects was necessary before the study of the various branches of handworkcould he entered upon by the pupils with advantage to the pupils and the general work of the schools ; and many teachers contend that they are in no better case under the new syllabus. The Department makes no grant for apparatus or material for classes that do not conform to its regulations as regards duration of instruction, programme of work. &c, and the Board has no fund for the purpose, so that, in schools where unrecognised handwork classes are conducted, the cost of the equipment and main13—E. 1.