8.—5

8

" continuation " classes in operation during the year appears to be small, it must not be thought that adequate provision is not made by the schools as a whole for instruction on subjects of general education. Where, as in an increasing number of_ schools, the subject taken in a continuation class forms part of a grouped "course of instruction, the class is regarded as ranking with technical classes, and capitation is paid thereon at the rate for the course to which it belongs. The continuation classes, 158 in number, included in the above table were classes attended mainly by students not taking grouped courses. A considerable increase has again to be recorded in the number of centres in which instruction in subjects relating to rural pursuits was provided. Classes were held at sixty-one centres in 1910 and at sixty-seven in 1911. The subjects of instruction included wool sorting and classing, sheep-shearing, dairying, veterinary science, agriculture, horticulture, bee-keeping, and poultry-keeping. It would thus appear that the continued efforts of controlling authorities to provide facilities for instruction in subjects bearing on rural pursuits are at last meeting with fairly satisfactory response at the hands of the farming community. That a good deal is being done by the bodies charged with the administration of primary, secondary, and technical education to create an intelligent interest in rural pursuits is shown by the fact that recognized classes for subjects related to agricultural and pastoral pursuits were attended during the year by some 15,000 pupils on the rolls of primary schools, by about 650 pupils on the rolls of secondary schools and district high schools, and by about 1,600 students of technical schools. Table Jo. —Number of Students taking Grouped Courses of Instruction occupying not less than Four Hours a Week and Eighty Hours a Year. Course of Instruction. Number of Students. Elementary commercial .. .. . . .. .. .. 1,033 Higher commercial . . .. .. . . .. .. .. 208 Practical mathematics and science .. .. .. . . . . 117 Mathematics and science applied to trades and industries . . . . 1 ,037 Domestic science .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 268 Art and art-crafts .. .. .. .. .. .. . . 541 Total .. .. .. .. ..3,204 Reference was made in last year's report to the provision made in 1910 for capitation payments at higher rates in respect of attendances of students taking up definite courses of technical instruction. During 1911 capitation on the attendances of such students was earned by twenty-six schools in nine of the thirteen education districts. The total number of students taking grouped courses was 3,204, representing 25 per cent, of the total roll. This must be regarded as satisfactory in view of the comparatively short time the regulations governing grouped courses in technical schools have been in operation. It is probable that the current year will see a considerable increase both in the number of schools offering grouped courses and in the number of students taking such courses. The number of students who voluntarily attend evening classes, particularly in the larger centres, is distinctly encouraging, as also is the increase in the pro portion of those who find it worth while to attend on several evenings a week. Following are the roll numbers for 1911 of some of the larger schools (exclusive of the day technical schools that are carried on in connection with some of them): — School. Roll Number - -1910. 1911. Auckland Technical College .. .. .. ..1,060 941 " Elam " School of Art .. .. .. .. .. 360 446 Wanganui Technical College .. .. .. . 636 487 Palmerston North technical School . . .. .. 498 530 Wellington Technical School .. .. .. ..1,110 1,131 Napier Technical College .. .. .. .. .. 225 231 Christchurch Technical College .. .. . . 910 984 Canterbury College—School of Art,. .. .. .. 357 365 Timaru Technical School . . .. .. . . 256 359 Dunedin Technical School .. . . . . . 896 857 Dunedin School of Art .. ~ .. . . . 180 289 Southland Technical College ~ . ~ 344 369