[Appendix C.

E.—2.

Ironwork, Woodwork, and Cookery are taught at the lour different centres, Nelson, Westport, Reef ton, and Wakefield. The formation of additional centres at Motueka and Takaka is essential to the completion of a general scheme, which would place within the reach of each of our higher-grade schools —thoso above Grade I— the opportunity of having its pupils trained in an art a knowledge of which is indispensable to the success of a settler <>r housewife. This is merely looking at the matter from a utilitarian point of view. If we consider the educational aspect —that the essential benefit lies in the training itself, the training of the mind to rightly direct the muscle, the training of the muscle to accurately obey the mind—even stronger argument can be found for extending as widely as possible some such system of manual training. At special classes instruction to teachers was given in the following subjects : At Nelson, chemistry, w Iwork, and drawing; at Westport, woodwork, cookery, and drawing; at Reef ton, drawing. Teachers have also the right of attending free of cost any special class formed by the Board, a privilege of which many have availed themselves. The working of other classes under the Manual and Technical Act is fully dealt with in the report of the Director of Technical Schools appended hereto. [Reprinted in E.-5, Manual and Technical Instruction Report.] The last published reports of Inspectors of Schools, to which we have already referred, those for the year 1909, possess a peculiar interest in that therein the Chief Inspectors of the three largest New Zealand districts —Auckland, North Canterbury, and Otago — preseni their final reports. Since the issue of these, Mr. Ritchie, of North Canterbury, is deceased, and Messrs. Petrie and Goyen have retired on superannuation. All had a thorough acquaintance with and a long experience of schools in New Zealand, and their influence in educational matters has been felt far beyond the immediate confines of the districts over which they presided. Their last reports fully maintain the high reputation the authors have deservedly won, are rich in suggestion, ami full of instruction to all who take an interest in education : and their clearly detailed references to certain methods of teaching we would especially commend to the earnest attention of every aspiring teacher. The Education Amendment Act of 1910 introduces several changes that should prove of advantage when they come into operation. We would briefly call attention to some of the most important amendments. By the receipt of an increased capitation School Committees will now receive a larger annual allowance, provided that the school has not fallen much below its previous grade. A change is made in the scope of the Junior Board Scholarship, which will now be open under the usual conditions of age, &c, to all children in the school district. This and minor alterations make it necessary to recast the existing Scholarship Regulations of the Board. Junior National Scholarships, too, may now be competed for by pupils in any school subject to inspection under the Act. The condition as to the income of the parents no longer holds good. From the clauses dealing with the medical inspection of school-children, it would appear that regulations dealing with the matter will be issued. An important amendment that should affect the school attendance is the clause that makes it compulsory for every child between the ages of seven and fourteen years to attend a public school whenever open, unless, of course, duly exempted by regulation. Provision is made for the education of blind, deaf, and feeble-minded children. In this connection it is the duty of every parent, teacher of a school (public or private), constable, or officer of a charitable or kindred institution who is aware of the place of residence of such a child to send notification of the fact to the Minister, giving the name, age, and address of the child. Some amendments are made in the Manual and Technical Act. It is not lawful to enter on the register for any special, associated, or college class, excepi as provided by regulations, the name of any person on the roll of any public school, district high school, or secondary school. Further, the School Committee may make regulations requiring the attendance at continuation or technical classes of young persons within the school district who are not otherwise receiving a suitable education. We have briefly referred to the above amendments with a view to keeping before those interested in education recent advances in legislation that may have a direct bearing on the welfare of the district, but would remain unnoticed unless special attention were called to them. The following table shows, in concise form, the estimate made in our inspection reports of the quality of instruction given in the schools under the Board's control: — Good to excellent ... ... ... ... ... 1 \ Good ... ... ... ... .... . . 19 ... . „ Satisfactory to good 24 ,- elhcent. ,9. Satisfactory ... ... ... .. 35 J Fai rto satisfactory ... ... ... ... 19 \ Fair ... ... ... ... ... ... 9 »f j c ■ or non-efficient, 31. Moderate to fair ... . . ... ... ... 2 Moderate ... .. ... ... ... I ) All schools except one, with the conduct of which fault has been found, are schools under sole teachers, the great majority being in the lowest grades, 1 and o—those for which it has hitherto been a difficult matter to obtain competent teachers. Trained teachers, as a rule, are unwilling, on account of the smallness of the salaries, to apply for such positions, and the untrained who show ability readily qualify for promotion. At present we do not feel justified in insisting upon only certificated teachers being appointed to schools lower than Grade 2, however desirable it might be in the interests of education to exceed that limit. In our larger schools the personnel of our staffs has much improved, those in the highest and in several of the succeeding grades being controlled by able, vigorous, and earnest head teachers,

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