E.—2.

[Appendix C.

wear. The keeping of records of quantities and prices of materials should be a useful training for future domestic duties. The present needlework syllabus requires amendment, and we trust that at an early date requirements will be more in accord with present-day ideas. Singing. —Singing is the least satisfactory of our school subjects. In too many of our schools little or no progress seems to be made —-a great many teachers being content to repeat the same three or four songs year after year. Instruction is of a most perfunctory kind ; theory receives very little consideration ; and there is no attempt at gradation, the pupils in the senior classes taking exactly the same exercises as taken by the infants. Teachers do not seem to realize the relief afforded by five minutes' singing-practice. With the advent of a new syllabus we shall look for better results. Drawing and Handwork. —There has been steady progress during the year, with a continually widening scope of work. The educational results of these subjects have been kept prominently in the foreground. We would again impress upon teachers the importance of object-drawing, and trust that more attention will be given to mass drawing in pencil and brush. During the year there has been considerable extension of the opportunities for taking cookery, and we hope that the instruction at the various centres will be on such lines as to avoid overlapping, and break sufficient new ground each year to maintain unabated interest. Health ami Morals. —Tone and discipline throughout the district are distinctly good, and in an increasingly large number of schools the manners and general deportment of the pupils are well looked after. An occasional school is still found, however, in which the teachers fail to realize the importance of the little courtesies and proprieties of conduct and of manner as means for moral training and the upbuilding of character — Manners are not idle, but the fruit Of loyal nature and of noble mind. Truism as it is, the statement will bear repetition that " Knowledge is of less importance than the child." Accordingly, we recognize with deepest gratitude that care for the children's welfare, morally and physically, is a pronounced feature of the general government of our schools. We hail, too, with pleasure the frequent presence of the teachers in the playground, and the interest shown in the games and amusements of their pupils. Open-air calisthenics and deep-breathing exercises are given in all schools, while the newer school buildings erected are a great improvement on the old with regard to sanitary and cheerful surroundings. " Moral development is conditional on bodily health," says Professor MacMunn, and it must be conceded by all that good health is a prime condition of practical energy. Looking back over the work done in our schools during the past twelve months, there is much to be thankful for. The men and women employed in our schools are, with few exceptions, fully conscious of their great responsibilities, and give of their best freely and ungrudgingly in their efforts to promote the well-being and mould aright the future lives of their charges. Indeed, the majority of our teachers seem to have in view the high standard set forth by Ruskin, " The entire object of education is to make people not merely do the right things, but enjoy doing them ; not merely industrious, but to love industry ; not merely learners, but to love knowledge ; not merely pure, but to love purity ; not merely just, but to hunger and thirst after justice." We cannot conclude our report without congratulating our late chief and colleague, Mr. T. S. Foster, on his well-deserved promotion to the position of Director of the Normal Training College. We shall miss his excellent advice, kindly criticism, marvellous tact, and genial comradeship ; but the district will still have the benefit of his ripe scholarship and long experience. Under his guidance and direction our young teachers will be inspired with the highest ideals, and sent forth well equipped to discharge their professional duties. We have, &c, W. Brock, "| C. D. Hardie, i . S. C. Owen, f Inspectors. The Chairman, North Canterbury Education Board. J. B. Mayne, J

APPENDIX I. Summary of Results for the whole District.

XLIV

Classes. Number on Roll. Present at the Annual Examination. Average Age of Pupils in each Class. itandard VII VI V IV III II I 'reparatory 321 1,371 2,031 2,369 2,568 2,677 2,795 7,856 305 1,293 1,934 2,302 2,493 2,615 2,709 7,346 Yrs. mos. 15 1 13 11 13 1 12 2 11 3 10 1 8 11 6 11 Totals 21,988 20,997 9 8