Appendix B. ]

E.—2.

Organizing Teachers. —There are: two organizing teachers in this district, each having under his supervision from twelve to fifteen schools. As the teachers in charge of these schools are: mostly inexperienced or untrained, they stand, in great need of the expert guidance and instruction which the organizing teacher is so well qualified to give;. There is no eloubt whatever but that this method of increasing the efficiency of the poorly equipped teacher continues to yield good results, and it is to be hoped that a larger number of our small schools in remote places will in the near future be able to participate in the benefits of this system. Demonstration Schools. The preceding paragraph directs attention to a topic which must, under present conditions, be a recurrent one in any review of the progress of education—viz., the question of the: untrained teacher. Although we have received this year from the Training College a large:r number of teachers than usual, the proportion of untrained to trained teachers is unduly large in this district. The: Board reiterates the opinion that the establishment of a demonstration school would still further relieve the situation by giving the inexperienced teacher a use:ful equipment for his work in the small country sohool. School Attendance. —The following are the figures for the year : Average: roll, 12,036 ; average; attendance, 10,790. The figures for last year were: Average roll, 11,841; average attendance, 10,200. On the 31st December, 1921, there were 12,424 children on the rolls of the schools in this district- 6,500 boys and 5,924 girls- a record for this education district. These figures, as compared with those of the ye:ar preceding, show an increase of 364 pupils. The Attendance Office:r in his annual report to the Board states that a great deal of sickness prevailed throughout this district during the year, with the: inevitable result that the attendance was seriously affected. He sent out 331 notices to defaulters, issued fifty-nine; summonses, and secured forty-two convictions. The amount of fines inflicted was £16 2s. Teaching Staff. —On the 31st December, 1921, there were, in the: Board's service 450 teachers. The: following table will show the distribution of the; teaching staff in the schools in this education district :—

Males. Females. Total. Pupil-teachers .. .. .. .. .. ..10 22 32 Probationers . . . . .. . . . . . . 3 42 45 Teachers of needlework . . . . .. . . .... 19 19 Manual and technical teachers . , . . . . . . 4 4 8 The proportion of uncertificated teachers remains practically the same: as for the previous year, a fact that is to be regretted. During the year the Board dispensed with the services of several uncertificated teachers who had failed to improve their literary status. Notwithstanding the fact that our training colleges are contributing in great measure; to the supply of fully trained candidate's for ordinary vacancies, the actual results, so far as this Boarel is ooncerned; are that the: percentage of uncertificated teachers has not diminished. Instruction of Teachers. —Saturday classes for pupil-teachers, probationers, and uncertificated teachers were held in Invercargill for a period of twenty-five wee:ks, the number of teachers in attendance being 116. Following are particulars regarding the subjects in which instruction was given and the number of teachers who attended : Drawing (three classes), 75 ; advanced needlework (three classes), 55 ; agrie:ulture (two classes), 19 ; elementary hygiene (two classes), 61 ; physical drill (three classes), 70 ; mathematics, 8 ; vocal music, 30. In addition afternoon classes in drawing for town and suburban pupil-teachers and probationers were conducted in Invercargill throughout the year, the numbe:r of students in attendance being thirty. Towards the e:lose of the school year a special short-term class in agriculture was held for a week for the bene:fit of those: teachers who wished to obtain the necessary certificates for practie;al work to enable them to sit for the D examination. This class was attended by eleven teachers, and as most of the work was carried on at Messrs. Lennie and Sons' nursery, which was kindly placed at the disposal of the class, students were enabled to carry out a very interesting and helpful course of practical work. Junior and Senior National Scholarships. —The annual examination of candidates for Junior National and Senior National Scholarships was held at Invercargill and Gore the last week in November. For the junior competition there were 107 candidates, eighteen more than in 1920; and for the senior twenty-five candidates, twelve less than in 1920. In the junior division scholarships we:re awarded to pupils of the Waihopai School (three), Gore High School (three), Waikawa Valley (one), Southland Boys' High School (two), Otautau School (one), Invercargill Middle: School (two), Southland Girls' High School (one). Senior National Scholarships were awarded to pupils of the Southland Girls' High School (three) and Southland Boys' High School (one). Of the seventeen successful candidates seven are attending the Southland Girls' High School, seven the Southland Boys' High School, two the Gore High School. One decided to attend a private school, consequently the: scholarship awarded to her was cancelled.

XXI

Certificated, j Licensed. Uncertificated. Total lead teachers iole teachers assistant teachers M. F. 59 16 11 30 17 94 M. F. M. F. 2 2 .. 30 42 2 1 1 39 77 115 154 Total 87 140 1 31 81 346 i i