E.-l.

In English and arithmetic the numbers returned remain practically identical with the roll-numbers, following them in the upward grade; under the heading " physical instruction " a ftirther increase is shown in the number receiving some definite course of training; and singing also includes a distinctly larger proportion of the whole. A large increase is again shown in the addition to the number reported as receiving instruction in handwork in various forms; the total number receiving instruction under this heading has now reached 74-79 per cent, of the total roll-number. The percentages of the numbers receiving instruction in nature-study and physical instruction were 86-95 and 97-40 respectively of the total roll-number. According to the returns, there is a fall in the numbers taking geography and history; but, as the figures now given correspond very closely with the numbers of pupils in the classes for which those subjects are prescribed, it is probable that previous returns were based upon estimates that were more or less inaccurate. Public-school Teachers. In December, 1907, there were employed on the primary staffs in the public schools of the Dominion 3,937 teachers; of these 3,287 were adults and 650 pupil-teachers : the corresponding numbers for December, 1906, were 3,201 adults and 671 pupil-teachers. Of the adult teachers at the end of 1907, 1,332 were men and 1,955 women; of the pupil-teachers, 172 were male pupil-teachers and 478 female pupil-teachers. The number of adult male teachers was 18 more, and of adult female teachers 68 more than in December, 1906. The number of male pupil-teachers increased by 19; but the number of female pupilteachers decreased by 40. Taking the schools above Grade 0 having only one teacher, we find that the average number of children per teacher—that is, per school—was 24-5. For all schools with two or more teachers the average number of pupils per adult teacher, if we reckon two pupil-teachers as one adult, was 40-7; and on the same basis the average for all schools of Grade 1 and upwards was 36-7.

TABLE E1.—School Staff, December, 1907.*

The ratio of male to female teachers (adults) for 1907 was 100 to 146, or, omitting teachers of schools of Grade 0, 100 to 124. In 1906 the number of female teachers increased by 52, and the number of male teachers by 12; the corresponding numbers for 1907 were 68 and 18 respectively. The figures given in the table show that for 1906 there was (including pupil-teachers) an increase of 42 women, and an increase of 14 men; for 1907 there was an increase of 28 women and 37 men.

X

u ci Heads of Sole Assistant ~o School. Teachers. Teachers. Education Districts. A r 9 £* 1 ° M. F. M. F. M. F. Total Number of Adult Teachers. Pupilteachers. SA .? S* r °<! rH CD 1- U 9 t® 0~ 9 fi ce . » 2 ~0 I g"5 2 IS <d£d :z» . Sr S O & Bf - A Z? 9 i, u ce 1- 9 TJ r, fi r u.0n d £ « ce X cD >OH M. j F. Total. M. F. d Ha O S Ltickland .. 'aranaki Vanganui Vellington lawke's Bay larl borough kelson Irev Vestland .. Torth Canterbury .. South Canterbury .. )tago Southland 489 143 8l| 23 188 72 164 60 102 49 68| 10 119 27 32 6 35 1 5 205! 85 77 24 232; 93 171 46 1,963, 643 l,92ll 637 42J 6 4 5 6 6 4 1 4 3 "2 2 172 12 53 32 11 7 16 2 3 34 17 36 85 125 38 52 59 37 50 65 21 26 83 33 103 81 57 6 20 40 19 1 6 1 1 36 8 49 15 257 36 110 138 75 15 46 15 7 155 40 177 68 372 41 145 132 79 18 49 9 9 155 49 178 96 386 79 168 203 116 66 115 39 33 240 75 280 155 758 120 313 335 195 84 164 48 42 395 124 458 251 43 3 16 15 8 1 1 1 34 8 26 16 Hi 2i 3i 7i 4; i I 2; 159 23 54 85 53 7 26 6 3 109 22 59 44 917 143 367 420 248 91 190 54 45 504 146 517 295 28,057 4,246 10,925 14,007 7,878 1,703 4,682 1,460 903 16,161 4,506 16,958 8,479 30-6 29-7 29-8 334 31-8 19-4 24-6 270 200 321 30 9 328 28-7 75 14 33 28 "e Totals for 1907.. Totals for 1906.. 43 38 430 415 773 753 2->9 262 1139 1096 1,332 1,314 1,955 1,887 3,287 3,201 172 153 478 518 650 671 3,937 3,872 120,026 121,958 30-5 31-5 Difference 5 15 20 -3 43 18, 68 86 19 -40 1 -21 65 -1,932 -1-0 *Exo>usive of secondar departments i( di: itriot high schools. t See a so det .ils in Table A.