[Appendixqß.

E.—2.

IV

Attendance. —The Board's Attendance Officer reports that the general regularity of attendance, at schools still shows improvement. The following is an abstract showing the number of schools, teachers, and pupils in the district for the, past three years : —

In the course of his duty the Attendance Officer has found it necessary to investigate nine cases of infringements of the Education Act. Medical, Dental, and Physical Inspection: has throughout the year, and a decided improvement is noticeable in the physique and vitality of the, pupils generally. Nevertheless the scheme cannot be the success it should be unless dental clinics arc established and more frequent visits made by the Medical Officer and physical-drill instructor. My Board hopes the time is not far distant when provision can be made to actually and effectively treat children suffering from the various defects reported. School Committees.- -It is pleasing to note the harmonious relations existing between my Board and the School Committees generally. Their loyal support in the administration of the schools evinces a keenness and enthusiasm for the educational welfare of the district which is highly commendable and thoroughly appreciated. Some £1,978 has been been raised by voluntary contribution ; many school libraries have been established, and improvements made to grounds and buildings. 1 have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington. A. Leks, Chairman.

WANGANUI. Silt,-- Wanganui, 31st March, 1923. 1 have the, honour to present a report on the proceedings of this Board for the year 1922. Board. —The personnel of the Board at the end of the year was as follows : Messrs. W. A. Collins (Chairman) and E. F. Hemingway, West Ward; Mr. A. J. Joblin and Mrs. N. Dunne, North Ward ; Messrs. A. Fraser and 11. Mclntyre, Smith Ward ; Messrs. J. Aitken and E. V. Laws, Wanganui Urban Area; and Messrs. W. R. Birnie and W. F. Durward, Palmerston North Urban Area. The Board was represented on other bodies as follows : Wanganui Girls' College Board- Messrs. W. A. Collins, A. Eraser, and E. V. Laws ; Palmerston North High School Board- Messrs. .1. W. Rutherford, W. R. Birnie, and T. R. Hodder; Wanganui Technical College Board of Managers—Messrs. W. Bruce and E. V. Laws ; Feilding Technical High School Board of Managers Messrs. 11. Mclntyre and 11. Tollev. Mr. H. Mclntyre represented the Wanganui, Taranaki, Hawke's Bay, and Nelson Education Districts on the Committee of Advice of the Wellington Training College. Schools and Attendance. New schools were opened at Jluikuma, Kauarapaoa, Kirikau, and Te Maire, and a, side school at Wharangi. The schools at Burnside, Coal Creek, Kakatahi, and Tupapakura were closed during the year. The Tiriraukawa, Matahiwi, and Taumata Schools were reopened. At the close of the year there were open 205 main schools, five side schools, and one mode! school. The total roll at the end of the year was 16,801, being an increase of 399 over the previous year. The number on the rolls of the secondary departments of the district high schools was 128, an increase of thirty-six. The average, attendance, for the year was 15.136, and the average weekly roll number 16,665. The average attendance expressed as a percentage of the roll number was 90-8, which is 0-8 higher than for 1921. The highest attendance during the year was during the December quarter, the average being 15,351. In recent years the attendance has been much affected by epidemics, but there was not nearly so much sickness amongst pupils during last year, and in only a few cases was it necessary to close schools. The Attendance Officer paid 239 visits to schools : 110 informations were laid against parents, and eighty-seven convictions were recorded out of the ninety-two cases proceeded with. Teachers. —The, number of adult, teachers on the staff at the end of the year, excluding twentyfive relieving teachers, was 425. Of these, 126 were uncertificated, twenty-one being in charge of Grade 0 schools, forty-six in charge of Grade I schools, thirteen in charge of Grade 2 schools, and three in charge, of Grade 3 schools ; forty-three were assistants. The positions held by uncertificated teachers are in nearly every case at schools situated in remote parts of the district, and although the Board has endeavoured to replace these teachers by those holding certificates it has not been successful. There were twenty male and thirty-six female pupil - teachers, and ten male and twenty-eight female probationers, totalling in all ninety-four. It is gratifying to again be able to report that at the beginning of the year a satisfactory number of males applied for appointment as pupil-teachers and probationers. Another pleasing feature in this connection was the high percentage of applicants who had passed the Matriculation Examination. Conveyance, and Boarding Allowances- Conveyance allowance was paid for an average of 132 children attending twenty-eight schools, and boarding-allowances for an average of thirty-three

Year ending Schools. Head or Sole Teachers. Assistants. Pupilteachers and Probationers. Total. I I December Boll. Average Attendance. _ j__ 920 921 922 158 162 163 154 160 163 137 137 155 55 59 66 346 356 384 10,439 10,829 11,121 8,917 9,438 10,060