Appendix C]

E.—2.

The following summary shows the number of classes and the average ages of the pupils in attendance: —

These figures sln.w a total increase of 132, or, in detail, a Blight increase in Classes P, SI, S-">, S5, and S(i, and a decrease in S2 and ST. Though on the aggregate number w have more than held our own, we regret to notice thai the country schools (Grades 0-6) as a whole show a decided decrease in numbers —nearly 400. This is in part due to the fact that many of our small settlers have moved to the cheaper land along the Main Trunk line, hut, unfortunately, the main cause has undoubtedly been the growing tendency towards aggregation in towns. We are pleased, however, to note that settlers in the backblocks are taking fuller advantage of the liberal allowances made to aided schools by the Education Department. The numbers in S(> ami S7 have been practically stationary during the past two years. We had expected an increase this year in our district high school numbers, but this expectation has not beer realized, a fact largely due to the alteration in the Wairarapa Railway time-table. In the Greytown District High School alone the new time table entailed a loss of nearly 111 per cent, in the number of secondary pupils. As the matter of accomi Lation receives more particular attention in the Chairman's report, we touch on the question only in so far as it affects general efficiency. Of our total of 163 schools. 150 are satisfactorily accommodated. This number includes ten aided schools, where the parent-, have provided accommodation quite suitable for the small numbers in attendance. Ten schools an , housed, wholly or in part, m rented halls or churchrooms, ami eight are in old and dilapidated or otherwise unsuitable buildings. In four instances this disability in the matter of accommodation has been such as seriously to afieci the organization and efficiency of the school work. The matter of school residences has been referred to in previous reports, and it is satisfactory to know that both Department and Board have in hand a comprehensive scheme to afford our teachers a higher standard of comfort. During the year special accomi lation has Ixen provided for woodwork at the live high schools now taking the rural course. Woodwork and cookery centres have also been established at the Mount Cook ScFools. The matter of efficiency naturally receives detailed attention in our inspection and examination reports, and it is due to our teachers to say that a large measure of improvement has resulted from suggestions made in these reports. The following table summarizes our opinion !■!' the schools as a whole : — Satisfactory to good ... ... ... ... ... •■■ 135 Fail' ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 18 Tnferior ... .. ... ■ ■ ■■ ■■■ ■ ■■ 10 As in previous wars, these unsal isfac: ,>ry schools are for the most part in tirade 0 or in Grade 1, and, while in no way wishing to extenuate a decided weakness, we would point out the greal difficulty experienced in finding suitable teachers to meet the frequent changes that occur in the management of the schools in these grades. While still expressing general approval of the discretion exercised by our teachers as a body in the classification and promotion of their pupils, we would direct attention to our warnings in last year's report, relating to this matter, as we again noticed at the proficiency examination an appreciable number of candidates who gave indications of hasty and ill-judged promotion from S5. It has been contended that under the new regulations the small country school is Buffering. An idea has gone abroad that the Inspectors' visits now mean merely a cursory examination of the teaching methods and an estimate of the.general condition of the sc] I as a whole. We take this opportunity of assuring the Board that the new order gives a decided advantage to the country school, and if responsibility is anywhere taken from the Inspectors it is in the larger city schools, where the individual examination of the pupils is— unless the circumstances are exceptional confined to S(i. The small country school is generally visited by an Inspector in March, and the teacher's classification of the pupils is then put to

iii—E. 2 (Ap P . c).

XVII

Classes. Number on Roll. i I Present at the Average Age of Annual Pupils in each Examination. Class. Standard VII ... VI V ... IV ... Ill ... II I ... Preparatory 365 1,386 1,855 1,906 2,050 2,041 2,151 6,139 Yrs. mos 355 14 10 1,365 13 11 1,831 12 10 1,880 12 0 2,010 10 11 2,013 9 9 2,095 9 0 5,865 6 11 Eleven Catholic schools ... 17,893 1,442 17,414 1,384 II 3* Totals 19,335 18,798 • Mean of average age.