AI'I'I.NDTX C.

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position, and we cannot do better in this connection than ask them to study carefully the paragraph in the regulations bearing on this subject. Arithmetic- —A very substantial portion of each day is devoted to the teaching and practice of arithmetic in every school, and on the whole the results are satisfactory. In the long way the pupils have to go in this subject nothing stands them in such good stead as a thorough grounding in tables, plenty of practice in mechanical operations, and such a training in English as ensures a ready insight into the language that is used in the problems they are required to solve. Geography. —ln many of the schools geography is very well taught, and lessons are conducted on the established principle of proceeding from the known of which the child has personal experience to the great unknown that lies beyond that experience. During the latter months of the year the thrilling events of the great war have furnished the chief materials for the geography lessons, and rightly so. Never before have maps and atlases been so eagerly scanned, nor at any time have our school-children been aroused to take such an intense interest in political and commercial geography as they do now in that of the British Empire and of the peoples and countries engaged in this stupendous struggle. History.- —As teachers are now directed to give definite lessons in history to the several classes, and as more time must be allotted to its teaching than heretofore, and, further, as history is a compulsory subject for the Sixth Standard proficiency certificate, we may anticipate some improvement in dealing with this important subject. It will take some time, however, before it can be adequately treated, as the subordinate place among school subjects that history has held for many years has-had such a disastrous effect that our younger teachers find themselves face to face with what to most *of them is a new subject, for which their equipment in knowledge and in methods of instruction is of a very limited character. Manual Instruction. —[Sec E.-5, Report on Manual and Technical Instruction.] In concluding this report we desire to thank tho members of the Board of Education for the unfailing courtesy with which they have treated us during our many years of service as their officers, and now that we have passed from their immediate control to become officers of the Education Department, we trust that the harmonious relations that have been so conspicuous in the past will continue in the future. We have, &c, Jas. Gisbon Cow, M.A., ), , J. A. Valentine, B.A. 1 "• • ' The Chairman, South Canterbury Education Board.

OTAGO. Sib, — Education Office, Dunedin, 31st March, 1915. We have the honour to submit herewith our annual report on the work of the schools in this district for the year 1914. The following table shows the number of pupils on the roll, the number present at the annual examination, and the average age of each class for the whole district :■ —

The table shows a marked fall in the numbers in S7 and class P, a slight decrease in the numbers in. S5 and S6, and varying increases in the other classes. The correspondence between the decrease in the numbers in Class P and the increase in the number in SI points to more rapid promotion in the junior classes, and is due, we think, to the fact that in the larger schools the staffing of the junior departments has been improvedOf the 255 schools in operation all but four were inspected. Two of these were opened towards the end of the year, one was closed permanently, and one was closed at the date fixed for inspection. Unclassified Teachers.- —At the end of December there were in the employ of the Board 105 unclassified teachers. Of these, seven were temporarily employed for short periods, eleven left at the end of the year, forty-two were not possessed of any recognized educational standing, while forty-five had made some progress towards securing their certificates, or had been granted licenses to teach. Sixty-six of these unclassified teachers were in schools of Grades 0, I, and 11, and so widely scattered that it was impracticable to gather them into convenient centres for the formation of Saturday classes

V —E. 2 (App. 0.)

Classes. Number on Roll. ! Present at the Average Age of Annual Pupils in Examination. each Class. Standard VII VI V IV III II I ... 9 343 1,258 1,946 2,478 2,640 2,620 3,050 7,481 322 1,218 1,901 2,438 2,592 2,565 2,989 7,102 Yrs. mos. 15 5 13 7 13 3 12 2 11 1 10 0 8 1 6 11 Preparatory Totals 21,816 21,127 9 9* * Mean of average aj ;e.