E.—2

15

Full details of the primary staffs of the public schools in the several education districts is given in Table El, appearing on page 34. The relieving-teachers .appointed by the several Education Boards are not included in this table, nor in the summary above, but will be found in Table F3 (see page 38). Including all grades of schools, the average number of pupils per teacher is 34, if we take into consideration both pupil-teachers and adults. Table El gives details for the vaiious education districts. In spite of the very considerable improvement in the staffing of New Zealand schools as a result of the provisions of the Education Amendment Act, 1908, there is no doubt that there is still much room for improvement in the staffing of the larger schools. Counting only schools having an average attendance of over 200, we have the following results : (1) If pupil-teachers are altogether left out of consideration, and only adult teachers are counted, we find that each adult teacher is in charge of an average number of 58-4 children. Obviously, however, this is not a fair method of calculation. (2.) A much fairer method is to count two pupil-teachers as one adult. We then find that each adult teacher is in charge of 48-3 children. (3.) If pupil-teachers and adults are both counted together, each teacher is found to be in charge of 41-2 children. The second method of calculation is undoubtedly the only fair method. A comparison with the staffing in countries generally considered to be most advanced in education emphasizes the fact above stated—viz., that there is considerable room for improvement in the staffing of the larger schools. It must, of course, be borne in mind that all schools in these countries are taken into consideration, while in New Zealand only the large schools are counted. The rural school in England is very different from the rural school in New Zealand ; it approaches the rank of a suburban school in this Dominion. Were it possible to eliminate from consideration all schools with an average attendance of under 200, it would be found that the average number of pupils per teacher in England and elsewhere would increase considerably, but the available reports are not sufficiently full to enable this to be done. Average Number of Children per Adult Teacher (counting Two Pupil-teachers as One Adult). London (County Council schools) .. .. .. .. ■ • 39-0 England (Board of Education schools) .. .. .. .. .. 32-5 Wales (Board of Education schools) .. .. .. • • • • 28-3 Scotland .. .. •• •• •• •• •• •• 38-1 New York City .. .. .. • ■ • • • • • • 34-6 Switzerland .. .. .. • • ■ • ■ • • • • • 42-7 United States .. .. •• •• •• •• •• 25-0 New Zealand (in schools, 201-700) .. .. .. ... • • 48-3 Salaries of Public-school Teachers. The total amount of all salaries and allowances (as at 31st December, 1911) was .£631,2-51. This includes pupil-teachers' salaries and allowances, £35,419 ; probationers' salaries and allowances, £8,395 ; also house allowances to head or sole teachers who had no residence provided, £15,370; but the total does not include the corresponding amounts saved in rent where houses are provided, estimated at £26,600. The average rates of salary for adult teachers in public primary schools were, — (1.) All schools — (a.) Excluding house allowances and amounts saved in rents where £ s. d. residences are provided ... ... ... ... 148 16 5 (/).) Including house allowances and amounts saved in rents ... 159 14 9 (2.) Schools with average attendance over fifteen — (a ) Excluding bouse allowances and amounts saved in rents ... 158 14 6 Namely, men 204 3 4 women ... ... ... ••• ••■ 126 16 3 (6.) Including house allowances and amounts saved in rents ... 170 3 8 Namely, men ... •■■ ... ••• ••■ 225 1 7 women ... ... •• ... ••• 131 4 1 Status of Teachers in regard to Certificates. Table E2 (printed on page 34) gives the number of certificated and uncertificated teachers respectively on 31st December, 1911, exclusive of secondary schools and secondary departments of district high schools. It is safe to say that the number of these latter holding certificates is very much larger now than in the past. The following summary of Table E2 shows the number of certificated and uncertificated teachers in each of the years 1906 to 1911 respectively :—