E.—2

14

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 being disregarded : —

„, , , . Average Number iotal Average , ,-._°._ ■, ... , fe ot Children per Attendance. m v Teacher. Grades 111-VII (two or more teachers) .. .. .. 150,402 38 Grades V-VII (six or more teachers) . . .. . . 88,650 45 All schools .. .. .. .. .. .. 174,647 32 The average number of pupils per teacher in all schools (two pupil-teachers being taken as equal to one adult teacher) was thirty-two—one less than the figure for 1918. The comparatively low average figure is, however, dominated to some extent by the large number of small sole-teacher schools, the average number in the larger schools being considerably in excess of this figure. About half of the total number of pupils attend schools where the average number of pupils per teacher ranges from fortythree to forty-six, and in the largest schools many of the classes are much larger than the average figure indicates. Amended regulations came into force in 1919 providing for additional assistance being employed in the larger schools for every additional forty pupils, instead for every additional fifty as had previously been the case. The necessity of still further reducing the size of classes as opportunity offers is well recognized. With regard to the sex of public-school teachers, the figures below show that the heavy increase in the proportion of female to male teachers which took place during the years of the war has been, arrested. In 1918 there were 253 adult women teachers to every 100 men ; the figure has now fallen to 211 women, corresponding closely with the proportion in 1916. The proportion of male teachers in soleteacher schools shows a large increase and is now greater than it was in 1916. As has been stated in previous reports, women may be regarded as suitable teachers for three-fourths of the school population, so that while a proportion of one male teacher in every four teachers might be regarded as sufficient, the present proportion of nearly one in every three teachers is very satisfactory. Attention must, however, be directed to the entrants to the profession in order to ensure that sufficient men are taking up the work to maintain the requisite proportion of male teachers in the future. It is therefore satisfactory to note in 1919 an increase in the proportion of both male pupil-teachers and male probationers, and an increase of 50 per cent. in the number of men attending the training colleges. The numbers entering the teaching profession at present are approximately in the proportion of one man to five women, but, the average length of service of women teachers being much shorter than that of men, the disparity in these numbers will lessen with the passing of time. The following figures show in detail the position with regard to the population of men teachers and women teachers in the primary schools : — Ratio of adult male to adult female . 1915. 1910. 1917. 1918. 1919. teachers- M - V - M> F ' M> F ' M ' Fl M ' ¥ - Schools with 1 to 20 scholars .. 100:323 100:386 100:544 100:523 100:362 Schools with more than 20 scholars 100 : 176 100 : 194 100 : 213 100 : 227 100 : 193 All schools .. ;. .. 100:193 100:214 100:240 100 253 100:211 Ratio of male pupil-teachers to female pupil-teachers " . . . . . . 100 : 344 100 : 379 100 : 391 100 : 425 100 : 409 Ratio of male to female teachers (in eluding pupil-teachers), all schools . . 100 : 205 100 : 228 100 : 251 100 : 267 100 : 225

Grade of School. Total Average Average Number Attendance of Children per teacher. Grade of School. Total Average Attendance. Average Number of Children per Teacher. 0. (1-8) 1. (9-20) II. (21-35) .. IIIa. (36-80) .. I 11b. (81-120) .. IVa. (121-160) .. IVri. (161-200) .. IVc. (201-240) .. Va. (241-280) .. Vb. (281-320) .. Vc. (321-360) .. Vd. (361-400) .. VIA. (401-440) .. VIb. (441-480) .. I l_ I 1,123 6 10,410 14 12,712 25 28,748 26 17,563 32 6,378I 7,990 39 6,073) 7,802\ 7,483 7,831f 4<i 4,815) 5 ' 449 ]- 44 6,5271 M VIIa. (481-520) .. VIIb. (521-560) .. VI Io. (561 600) .. Villi. (601-640) .. VIIe. (641-680) .. VI If. (681-720) .. VIIg. (721-760) .. VIIh. (761-800) .. VII i. (801 840) .. VHj. (841-880) .. VIIk. (881 920) .. 5,331 4,964\ 6,938 8,716 6,715 5,6231 5,074/" 2.179 1,636 627 940/ 46