E.—2.

[Appendix B.

the medical officers and see that pupils in need of attention are treated at the centres provided for the purpose. This plan, however, is not always successful, and we do not suggest its adoption here, where the great majority of parents are sufficiently well-off to pay for medical attention. A better plan would be to appoint nurses for the purpose of visiting the homes of those requiring treatment, and'representing to parents the importance of giving effect to medical advice and the grave responsibilities they incur by failing to do so. If this were done much of the care and attention bestowed on inspection, which under present conditions is wasted, would become effective. In the last education, reports of the New South Wales and Victorian Departments of Public Instruction special attention is directed to the importance of extending the operations of medical inspection. The Victorian Minister in his report says, "In spite of the pressure of events and the inevitable disturbance, financial and otherwise, created by the war, no time seems more appropriate than the present for the extension of medical inspection if we are to neutralize or prevent these bad effects on the children of the nation, who form the next generation of Australians and. on whose shoulders the aftermath of the war must be borne." Here the same words apply with equal force ;we have lost many of the bravest and best, either killed or maimed, from the ranks of our active wage-earners ; on those who are left will devolve the task of maintaining our production at an increased rate, and one of the most important factors in enabling this to be done is a vigorous manhood, free from bodily defects, the outcome of a healthy childhood. Physical Education. —We have written at some length, on this subject in former years, and shall now do no more than refer to one or two matters connected therewith. During the last few years wellattended classes were held for teachers throughout the district. The courses lasted for only a fortnight in each case, an altogether inadequate time to do justice to the subject; and as a number of inexperienced teachers have since entered the service it is not surprising that in certain schools the instruction given is hardly satisfactory, and that special attention is needed in the matter of posture. AYe regret to say that it is quite common to see pupils bending over work in a way that is not only ungainly and unnecessary, but positively harmful. It seems strange that so much care should at times be bestowed on. teaching pupils how to sit for the purpose of writing, and so little on training in habits of correct posture during the progress of other school-work. We hope during the coming year that it may be possible to provide short" refresher " courses for teachers, especially for those living in country districts, thus bringing home to them the supreme importance of the proper application of the most modern schemes of physical training. Time-tables. —Many teachers spend considerable time and thought on the preparation of a timetable, and in the majority of cases are able to satisfy the demands of this complicated though highly necessary instrument. A statable time-table, once prepared, should be adhered to unless there are sound reasons for a temporary suspension of detail; yet we find schools in which departure from details is of frequent occurrence. We would draw attention to our remarks of last year's report under this heading, and remind an appreciable section of the service that what we then said still applies, so that it will be necessary for us to pay special attention to this matter during our visits to the schools. Towards the close of last year the Inspectors approved of two model time-tables, one for a full-time one-teacher school and the other for a half-time school. Copies of these can be obtained from Inspectors during their visits, and will prove of considerable service in enabling teachers gradually to prepare a workable time-table having due regard foi- local and other conditions affecting the school community. School Gardens and Grounds.- —lt is gratifying to know that a considerable increase has taken place in the number of schools having gardens attached, and in the attention bestowed on school activities connected therewith. The school-garden has come to be regarded as an essential adjunct to. all well-appointed schools, and in this country forms a necessary link between the schoolroom and the field in a course of training in nature-study or agriculture. Quite apart from its value in this respect, however, the garden has an influence peculiarly its own in teaching children to take pride in their surroundings, to realize the importance of systematic and constant effort, to recognize the response which, nature is always ready to make if properly questioned, and to appreciate, the attraction of beautiful surroundings in the case of their own homes. In spite of discouraging conditions of climate, soil, and aspect, to mention only a few, the grounds of many of our schools are a credit to all concerned, and with, then well-planned, well-kept, well-stocked gardens form a most pleasing and attractive landmark in many country districts. Instruction: Progress. —A broad survey of the work done in the schools of this district points unmistakably to steady and substantial progress. Teachers, in general, aro fully alive to the importance of modern developments and improved methods. The standard of work in the majority of schools is well maintained, and in the best schools is gradually rising. Unfortunately, the supply of efficient teachers does not keep pace with the rapid expansion of settlement; still, we have such reason to be satisfied with the standard set by our best schools, and with the zealous efforts of a large portion of the service, that we look forward hopefully to future effort and progress. Reading and Recitation- —In most schools reading continues to improve, pupils being able to read aloud from previously unseen tests with pleasing fluency and accuracy. It is when one proceeds to question the class that weakness begins to appear, pupils frequently being unable to give an intelligent account in their own words of the meaning of the passages read. We are of opinion that in many cases this results from too much attention on the part of the teachers to requiring pupils to master the meaning of single words isolated from the context, instead of leading them to understand the thought-content of the passage or paragraph. Obviously, this ability to interpret the meaning of the writer is the most important quality of reading, and practically everything else should be subordinated to its acquisition. Training pupils to use a dictionary is highly desirable ; but the " dictionary habit," great as its possibilities are, fails in its primary and most essential object if it does not result in enabling pupils to follow the meaning of the text. Silent reading, the importance of which has been elaborated

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