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2

From December, 1900, to December, 1909, the total increase in the number of schools with not more than forty pupils in average attendance was 272, the number of such schools in December, 1900, being 1,039, and the number in December, 1909, being 1,311 (in each case two half-time schools b ing counted as one). The Committee points out that the establishment of the before-mentioned small schools has brought education within the reach of many children who would not otherwise have received any recognized State instruction. In the great majority of cases it is not at present practicable to bring education within reach of these children by means of conveyances. The great majority of the teachers who have no recognized examination status are employed in the schools included in paragraphs (a) and (b) above mentioned. The total number of such teachers in December, 1899, was 158, while in December, 1909, the number was 689. The number of certificated teachers employed in public primary schools in 1899 was 2,495 , in 1909 the number was 2,594 but it should be remembered that in the interval the Department (acting in accord with other Education Departments of the Empire) has ceased, except in a few special instances, to issue certificates of Class E, the lowest class in existence in the former year. A truer comparison of the number of certificated teachers would be made by taking the certificates of Classes A, B, C, and D only. The number of these certificates held by teachers employed in June, 1899, was 1,642 in June, 1909, the number had grown to 2,351, the increase being thus 709. On the other hand, the requirements for a license are much stricter than formerly, being only slightly lower than those for a D certificate, and therefore, in general, higher than the requirements for an E certificate. Further, many of those having what are known as partial qualifications are also of a standing equivalent to E. The numbers of teachers holding licenses and having partial qualifications have increased from 14 and 75 respectively in 1899 to 68 and, 264. 3. Differentiation in Classification and Appointment of Teachers as between Country and City Schools. The Committee sees no reason why a distinct cleavage should be made in the classification of country and city schools. The regulations already give considerable liberty to teachers to differentiate in the country schools as regards the subjects taught and the grouping of classes. The appointment of teachers is in the hands of the Boards, and the Committee is of opinion that the Boards have ample powers in this respect under the existing law No evidence has been submitted to the Committee to show that the Boards are not using their powers wisely 4. Examination, Pro-motion, and Courses of Study of Pupils , and Appointment of Organizing and Teaching Inspectors. While approving of the general principle that the teacher should be responsible for the promotion of his pupils, the Committee is of opinion that in the smaller schools the Inspector should give a larger amount of attention than at present to organizing such schools, to visiting more frequently such of them as may specially require his assistance, and to exercising- a more immediate supervision over them. If necessary the regulations should be altered to insure this object. The Committee considers that if the work of the Inspectors is reorganized, additional funds ought not to he necessary to give effect to such object. The attached tables supplied by the Inspector-General give information as to the status of teachers and the number of small schools referred to in the report. 22nd November, 1910. T. K. Sidey, Chairman.

Schedule.

No. 519.—Cooper, G. M., and 6 others. No. 545.—Mitchell, J., and 8 others. , 520.—Creighton, T., and 4 others. „ 546.—Nicholson, W., and 6 others. 521.—Cruickshank, J., and 4 others. „ 547.— Venn, J. W., and 6 others. 522.—Dallas, C, and 4 others. „ 548.—Wheeler, R, W., and 6 others. 523.—Graham, J., and 4 others. „ 549.—Duff, J. S. R., and 4 others. 524.—Kerr, R. C, and 4 others. „ 550.—McCulloch, J., and 6 others. 525.—Peterson, J., and 3 others. [ „ 551.—Newlauds, J., and 4 others. 526.—Sim, James, and 4 others. „ 552.—Simpson, W., and 5 others. 527.—5ma11, G., and 4 others. „ 553.—Yardley, W J., and 5 others. 528.—Warnook, R., and 3 others. „ 554.—Bayne, John, and 3 others. 529.—Aitkon, J., and 3 others. „ 555.—Brisco, P., and 5 others. 530.—Allison, J., and 6 others. „ 556.—Brimston, William, and 4 others. 531.—Begg, John. „ 557.—Craig, A., and 4 others. 532.—Christie, J., and 6 others. „ 558.—Lockwood, C. J., and 4 others. 533.—Cla,rk, William, and 4 others. „ 559.—McLachlan, J., and 5 others. " 534.—Crozier, William, and 3 others. „ 560.—Milnes, J. T., and 5 others. 535.—Fahey, E., and 5 others. „ 561.—Story, A., and 6 others. 536.—Ferris, J., and 5 others. „ 562.—Williamson, A., and another. 537.—Haggart, H., and 4 others. „ 563.—White, P., and 4 others. 538.—Labes, W F., and 3 others. „ 564.—Bennett, James, and 5 others. 539.—McKinley, P., and 4 others. „ 565.—Calder, D., and 6 others. 540.—Petrie, J. W., and 7 others. „ 566.-Cromb, A., and 6 others. , 541.—Walker, J. A., and 4 others. „ 567.—Fisher, H., and 6 others. 542.—Webster, J., and 4 others. „ 568.—Geddis, R. L., and 4 others. ', 543.—Bruce, G., and 6 others. „ 569.—Iversen, A. C, and 6 others. 544.—Findlay, J., and 3 others. „ 570.—Marslin, E. and 7 others.

No. 545.—Mitchell, J., and 8 others. „ 546. —Nicholson, W., and 6 others. „ 547. —Venn, J. W., and 6 others. ~ 548. —Wheeler, R. W., and 6 others. „ 549.—Duff, J. S. R., and 4 others. ~ 550.—McCulloch, J., and 6 others. „ 551. —Newlands, J., and 4 others. „ 552.—Simpson, W., and 5 others. „ 553.—Yardley, W J., and 5 others. „ 554. —Bayne, John, and 3 others. „ 555. —Brisco, P., and 5 others. „ 556.—Brimston, William, and 4 others. ~ 557. —Craig, A., and 4 others. ~ 558.—Lockwood, C. J., and 4 others. „ 559.—McLachlan, J., and 5 others. „ 560.—Milnes, J. T., and 5 others. „ 561. —Story, A., and 6 others. ~ 562. —Williamson, A., and another. „ 563.—White, P., and 4 others. ); 564.—Bennett, James, and 5 others. „ 565. —Calder, D., and 6 others. „ 566.—Cromb, A., and 6 others. „ 567. —Fisher, H., and 6 others. „ 568.—Geddis, R. L., and 4 others. ~ 569.—lverscn, A. G, and 6 others. „ 570.—Marslin, E. and 7 others.