E.—2

12

Staffs of Public Schools. The number of teachers in the public schools, exclusive of those employed in the secondary departments of district high schools, in December, 1913, arid December, 1914, respectively, was as follows : —

Table E. —Number of Teachers employed in Primary Departments of Public Schools.

The number of pupils per teacher in the several grades or groups of schools is shown below, two pupil-teachers being counted as equivalent to one adult teacher, and probationers not being included on the staff. Average Number of Children per Teacher. Grades 0 and I (1-15 in average attendance, one teacher) . . .. 100 Grades II and 111 (16-35, one teacher) . . . . . . . . 23-2 Grades IV-X (over 35, two or more teachers) .. . . . . . . 38-7 Grades VII-X (over 200, six or more teachers) .. . . . . . . 469 w All schools .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..33-1 Grades 11-X (over 15) .. .. .. .. .. .. 35-9 The staffing of schools in countries considered to be advanced in educational progress, as compared with that of New Zealand schools with an average attendance of over 200, is shown in the figures below, and apparently there is still room for improvement in the staffing of the larger schools of the Dominion. The Education Act of 1914 provides for an immediate small improvement and an ultimate considerable improvement in the staffing of schools. The scale of staffing under the former Acts (1908 and 1913) was one teacher for each 40 or part of 40 children up to 200 in average attendance, then one additional teacher for each 50 or part of 50. The scale in the new Act will give one teacher for each 40 or part of 40 up to 400 in average attendance, and then one additional teacher for each 50 or part of 50. Average Number of Children per Adult Teacher (counting Two Pupil-teachers as One Adult). London (County Council schools) .., .. . . .. .. 36-1 England (Board of Education schools) . . . . .. . . . 32-8 Scotland .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . 36-6 New York State .. .. .. .. ... .. .. 26-4 United States .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 25-2 Switzerland .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 44-0 „ (Canton of Geneva) .. .. .. .. .. 24 - 0 New Zealand (schools over 200) .. .. .. .. ..46-9 ~ (all schools) .. .. .. .. .. . . 33-1

1913. 1914. Men. Women. Total. ll Men. Women. Total. men. women. ±otai. ivicu. women. xoutti. ! J Men. Women. Total. Men. Women. Total. _i_ Adult teachers .. .. 1,603 2,659 4,262 1,628 2,820 4,448 Pupil-teachers .. .. 142 474 616f 139 470 609* 1,603 142 2,659 474 4,262 616f 1,628 139 2,820 470 4,448 609* Total .. .. ! 1,745 3,133 4,878 1,767 3,290 5,057 1,745 3,133 4,878 1,767 3,290 5,057 Number of Adult Teachers (included above). >iber of Adult Teachers (included a\ >ove). Head teachers .. .. 767 104 871 j 771 113 884 Sole teachers .. .. 486 812 1,298 483 829 1,312$ Assistants .. .. .. 350 1,743 2,093 374 1,878 2,252 767 104 486 812 350 1,743 871 1,298 2,093 771 483 374 113 829 1,878 884 1,312$ 2,252 Total .. .. 1,603 2,659 4,262 1,628 2,820 4,448 ! ; I !_, * Exolusivo of 45 male and 278 female probationers. -j- Exclusive of 41 male and 224 female probationers. X The number of sole teachers does not agree with the number of sole-teacher schools because of the fact that there arc a number of half-time schools groups of which are in charge of a sole teacher, and also a number of side schools the teachers of which are not regarded us sole teachers,