15.—1.

XXVIII

The programme followed in the upper departments of district high schools embraces generally a secondary course in English, mathematics (including arithmetic), and science. Where possible, handwork is also included, and in many cases Latin, French, geography, and history are taken up by a greater or less proportion of the pupils. With few exceptions—the secondary departments attached to the training colleges for teachers in the four chief centres, two other schools in Wellington, one in Christchurch, and one in Wanganui—the schools are really rural schools, situated in the smaller boroughs or in townships without any of the features of urban environment, and it is to be hoped that as opportunities occur every effort will be made to adapt the course of study accordingly. In many cases steps in this direction have already been taken, and with the introduction of more teachers on the staff of these schools who have been trained on modern lines a further extension of the work in the direction of agricultural science for agricultural districts, chemistry, or geology and allied knowledge for mining centres, and some branch of handwork to cultivate manual dexterity in all, could be profitably undertaken. The difficulty at present experienced of finding suitable teachers who will be content to remain long enough in such a position is undoubtedly great; but that so many are secured well equipped in point of attainment for the work they have to do is already a ground for much gratification. Exclusive of the principals of the schools, some thirty of whom possess University degrees, 64 of those employed are graduates, several holding degrees in both arts and science, 20 have a Class C certificate, and 9 a certificate of Class D, out of a total number of 101.

Table K.—District High Schools: Staff, Salaries, etc., in Secondary Departments, 1907.

Secondary Schools. The reports furnished by the governing bodies of secondary schools, and detailed information of the scholarships and free places held in these schools, together with a full statement of the staff, salaries, and attendances m connection with the upper departments of district high schools, are contained in a separate paper (E.-12). The following table (LI) gives the customary information of the attendance at the schools and the staff employed, and some proportionate calculations in this connection will also be found in E.-12. The total number of pupils on the rolls of secondary schools in the last term or quarter of the year was 2,528 boys and 1,668 girls, as against 2,528 boys and 1,742 girls at the end of 1906.

Education District. O ■ A jogo Number of Pupils. >h as* a i rn "a S M M. F. Total. From Receipts from Government. Amounts paid in Salaries during the Year. From other m nra . Sources. lotal - ' Auckland Taranaki Wanganui Wellington Hawke's Bay Nelson \ .. Grey :«.;.. Westland North Canterbury.. South Canterbury Otago Southland Totals for 1907 1906 10 25 191 : 188 379 .. 1 4 64 29 93 .. I 6 15 i 110 88 198 10 31 226 279 505 8 8 30 j 44 74 .. ! 4 9 67 73 140 1 3 I 16 22 38 1 3 17 18 i 35 9 22 219 157 376 4 10 66 60 126 ..10 24 172 179 351 5 11 65 72 137 64 165 1,243 1,209 2,452 61 160 1,331 1,263 2,594 £ s. d. 2,730 16 8 560 4 0 1,682 18 8 4,250 8 4 928 0 5 827 10 0 355 0 0 339 3 4 2,916 19 6 1,364 8 0 2,945 4 11 1,060 0 0 £ s. d. I £ s. d. : 2,730 16 8 560 4 0 24 0 0 1,706 18 8 4,250 8 4 75 0 0 1,003 0 5 827 10 0 60 0 0 415 0 0 168 6 8 507 10 0 100 0 0 | 3,016 19 6 ; 1,361 8 0 I 2,945 4 11 I 1,060 0 0 1,209 1,263 2,452 2,594 19,960 13 10 19,070 7 6 427 6 8 466 9 8 20,388 0 6 19,536 17 2