pYppendix A.]

8.—2.

XVII

SCHOOLS.—The number of schools in operation at the end of the yea;, including fifteen aided schools, was _'()!), classified as follows (table not reprinted). TRAINING COLLEGE. full information as to the number, of students admitted to the Training College during the year 1910, and other statistical information, will be found in the Director's report, which is appended.* bast year, in consequence of an adverse report received from the Department's Inspectors, the Board called upon the Director to draw up a scheme of work, the carrying-out of which should ensure that the college fully discharged its functions. The Board felt that the weaknesses disclosed were due in some measure to the difficulty experienced in arranging for students to attend Canterbury College without detriment to their work in the Training College. Early in the year the Director submitted details of schen f work, making provision for teaching practice and observation and for students' studies, which, with some minor alterations, the Board approved. From the report presented by the Department's Examiners on their inspection of the college in November last, the Board is glad to notice that in their opinion the college is endeavouring in an earnest spirit to realize the purpose for which it was established. The Board would venture to express the opinion that good work is being done in the Christchurch Training College, and that its students receive a sound professional training. As was to be expected, the change in the plan of work, while increasing the opportunities for the professional equipment of the students, has lessened their opportunities for university study, and has had an unfortunate effect on the results of the university examinations. In order that the more favourable conditions previously existing may be restored, the Director seeks such discretionary power as will enable him to give the students an opportunity for .university work equal to that enjoyed in the other training colleges. It a].[tears to the Board that the Department should not hesitate to comply with the Director's implied request, the granting of which would at least er.able the Board to determine on whom the responsibility for success or failure should be placed. Those not conversant with local difficulties met with at the Christchurch centre may be disposed to point out that in framing regulations to be a].].lied in common at the four training colleges, the Department has already given all discretionary power necessary. To this the Board can only reply that the conditions under which classes at Canterbury College are held differ materially from the conditions obtaining at other centres. Incidental Expenses of School Cihimittkks. During the year considerable misapprehension has arisen respecting the incidental allowance to School Committees, and the special capitation grant of 9d. -UI School Committees in North Canterbury were paid the additional 9d. for the year 1909. and for all previous years in which the grant was available. The grant was not authorized by Parliament I'm the year 1910. and consequently the Board did not receive it. Fnder the Education Amendment Act. 1910. the capitation payable to Education Boards has been increased from I Is. 3d. to 125.. of which not less than ss. 6d. (for all the Committees taken together) must be granted to School Committees for incidental expenses. By an Order in Council dated the 13th February. 191 I. regulations have been gazetted defining the purposes for which the incidental grant to Committees shall be used. The Board, recognizing that the minimum sum (ss. 6d.) named in the Act would be insufficient, has informed Committees that it will endeavour to continue payment on its old scale—viz., slightly more than 7s. 3d. (for all Committees taken together) for each child in average attendance. Under the new regulations, however, all expenditure on repairs to school buildings, furniture, fences, and premises generally (other than those due to wilful or careless damage), and the cost of providing certain requisites previously supplied by Committees, must now be borne by the Board. .\ return covering the last six years shows that such expenditure by Committees in this district has exceeded 9d. per head. Consequently, should the Board be able to maintain an incidental payment of 7s. 3d., Committees will be slightly better off under the new arrangement than they have been in the past, when in receipt of the 9d. capitation grant now superseded. At the same time, the Board wishes it to be clearly understood that it would have preferred its own well-tried regulations, and a continuance of the payment of the extra 9d. to Committees. The Board is convinced that the taking of small repairs from Committees ami placing them in the hands of the Board will prove cumbersome and expensive, and troublesome to all concerned. It appears to the Board absurd that- School Committees should be unable to have a door-handle repaired, or a new picket put in a fence, without the matter being first reported and the sanction of the Board obtained : and yet this is the only logical inter).rotation of the effect of the new regulations, quite apart from the more serious question of the additional cost which the supervision of trivial matters at a distance by the Board's officers will necessarily entail. The allowances to School Committees in this district have always been on a generous scale, and this being so the Board cannut see that there was any good reason for the Department to alter the conditions which have obtained for so many years, and which have given such general satisfaction. SCHOLARSHIPS. —There were twenty-six candidates for the Board's Senior Scholarships —viz., eighteen boys and eight girls—of whom eight wen- successful. In the Junior class there were 141 candidates (eighty boys and sixty-one girls): of these, two gained National Scholarships. Board Scholarships were awarded as follows: Group A. sixteen; Group B, four; Group C, one. One hundred and twenty candidates sat. for the Junior National Scholarship examination, of whom sixty-two (thirty-four boys and twenty-eight girls) passed : five scholarships were awarded. For the Gammack Scholarships there were fourteen candidates. The first four in order of merit and the sixth and seventh in order of merit respectively found themselves, owing to various reasons, unable to accept scholarships. A Gammack Scholarship has therefore been awarded to a scholar who obtained credit in the examination, and was fifth in order of merit. During the year, after a good deal of consideration, and in order to encourage scholars to take up art and technical

* See Appendix D, " Training of Teachers,"

iii—E. 2 (A P p. \).