Appendix B.]

E.—2.

The average attendance was 918 per cent, of the average roll, a yery good result. The following are, the percentages in successive years : 1922, 91-8 per cent. ; 1921, 91 per cent. ; 1920, 87-5 per cent. The number of prosecutions decreased from forty-nine in 1921 to thirty-five last year, and of convictions from thirty-eight to sixteen last year, the, remainder of the cases being withdrawn or deferred on condition of future regularity. Teaching Staff. —The following were the number of teachers, pupil-teachers, and probationers in the service of the Board at the end of the year :—

Males. Females. Totals. Certificated .. .. .. ..177 406 583 Licensed .. .. .. .. 3 2 5 Uncertificated .. .. .. .. 6 122 128 Total adults .. .. 186 530 716 Pupil-teachers .. .. .. .. 17 39 56 Total teaching staff . . .. 203 569 772 Probationers .. .. .. .. 22 67 89 Grand totals .. .. 225 636 861 The above numbers include the teachers in thirty-seven small household schools. Excluding these, the number of uncertificated teachers has during the past three years decreased by nearly 30 per cent., as the number of qualified trainees of the training college has increased. Notice was given to uncertificated teachers that in the event of certificated teachers becoming available they must be prepared to relinquish the positions they hold. In addition to the numbers included in the table, the staff also included the following : One organizing teacher ; two instructors in agriculture ; one supervisor and five instructors in woodwork ; five instructors in home science ; Training College staff —Principal, Vice-Principal, five lecturers, librarian. Training College. —-The Principal and his staff are to be congratulated on an excellent year's work. Two questions arise out of it, and no doubt will receive your careful consideration —namely, whether the time is not due for the abolition of the; pupil-teacher and the probationer in favour of the course of training for the profession indicated in the report; and, secondly, whether, in view of the sharp rise in the number of students and of the widening scope of the course of training, the staff of the College should not be further strengthened. The Board is much pleased that at last education has been created an honours subject. The following are the essential statistics of the Training College: (1.) Total number of students, 277 (74 men and 203 women). (2.) First-year students, 160 ; second-year students, 117. (3.) Students classified : Division A, 175 ; B, 86 ; C, 6 ; D, 10. (4.) Districts : Wellington, 124 ; Wanganui, 59 ; Hawke's Bay, 30 ; Nelson, 27 ; Taranaki, 28 ; Otago, 2 ; Canterbury, 4 ; Southland, 1 ; Auckland, 2. Secondary Education. —The average attendances for the year 1922 at the district high schools in the district were —Carterton, 62 ; Eketahuna, 53 ; Greytown, 25 ; Hutt, 45 ; Levin; 62 ; Masterton, 135 (closed 31st March, 1923) ; Martinborough, 34 ; Pahiatua, 37 ; Petone, 54 : total, 507. Scholarships. —There were current at the end of 1922 thirty-seven senior and sixty-one junior scholarships. On the 31st December, 1922, one senior and seventeen junior scholarships expired. On the results of the 1922-23 examinations twenty senior and twenty-six junior scholarships were awarded. Instruction of Teachers. —Week-end classes in drawing and in science, in preparation for the certificate, wore held at Wellington (Training College), at Masterton, and, for the first time, at Levin. A fortnight's course, under the management of Inspector Warren, was held during the May term holidays at Blenheim. The correspondence course was discontinued. Manual and Technical. —Instruction in elementary handwork was given in all schools as prescribed by the syllabus. The pupils of sixty-one schools attended classes for instruction in cookery and woodwork. Swimming and life-saving classes were held in connection with sixteen schools. The withdrawal of recognition of swimming as a subject of instruction after the 30th June has discouraged the teaching of this important subject, but the Board hopes that the Education Department may be able at an early date to resume the recognition. Special Schools. —The school at Trentham was closed at the end of the year.

IX

Head Teachers. Sole Tcachei 'S. Assistants. Certifi- , . , Cncortili- Certili- -. ■. . catod. Uo6bsBi - cated. cated. Uncertificated. Certificated. Licensed. Uncertificated. .Males Females Totals 87 .. .. 23 3 ..14 .. I 40 2 101 .. 1 63 5 4 74 67 352 2 47 78 419 49