E.—s.

1909. NEW ZEALAND

EDUCATION: MANUAL AND TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION. [In continuation of E.-5, 1908.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency. No. 1. EXTRACT FROM THE THIRTY - SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION. Manual and Technical Instruction. Manual Instruction in Schools. Instruction in various branches of elementary handwork, such as modelling, brush-drawing, free-arm and blackboard drawing, paper and cardboard work, treated sometimes as separate subjects, but more often correlated with other subjects of the syllabus, as well as in the more specialised forms of handwork, such as woodwork, cookery, and elementary agriculture, was I given in about 60 per cent, of the public schools during the year. Some particulars are given below : — TABLE I. — Subjects of and Number of Classes for Manual Instruction in Public Schools, 1908. Subjects of Instruction. Number of Classes. Elementary handwork .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,198 Drawing and design .. .. .. ... .. .. .. 682 Woodwork .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..270 Agriculture .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 460 Dairy-work .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 38 Elementary science .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 57 Physical measurements .. .. .. .. .. .. 94 Cookery .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 330 Dressmaking .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 72 Swimming and life-saving .. .. .. .. .. .. 103 Physiology and first aid .. .. .. .. .. . - 51 Totals .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,355 The number of public schools in which handwork was taught was.. .. 1,200 The number of pupils under instruction was .. .. .. 112,952 The percentage of total roll-number under instruction was . . .. 76-6 The payments by way of capitation, grants, and subsidies in aid of classes was . . ■ .. .. .. .. £20,191 14s. sd. The average cost per pupil was .. .. .. .. .. 3s. 6-9 d. The instruction in cookery and woodwork in most districts was given at specially equipped centres, of which there are now nearly fifty.

I—E. 5.