E.—2.

[Appendix B.

During the year district high schools were established at lYlorrinsville, Ngatea, I'iopio, To Puke, and Warkworth. Junior High School. —The Junior High School established in 1922 at Kowhai Road with a roll number of six hundred now provides for the tuition of more than eight hundred pupils. The school seems to have passed the experimental stage, since all educational authorities who have visited it speak in high terms of the work being done therein. There seems now to be no doubt that the establishment of junior high schools will result in a distinct advancement in the education of the young people of this Dominion. Consolidated School. —The establishment of a consolidated school at Piopio was authorized during the year, and steps were taken to ensure the opening of the school early in 1924. The pupils of schools in the neighbourhood of Piopio will be conveyed to the Piopio centre. The Board believes that the education of the pupils so conveyed will be a distinct improvement upon that received in the small rural schools they have been attending. Subsidies. —The Committees of the Auckland Education District still continue to show keen interest in the schools over which they have jurisdiction. This is evidenced by the large amounts contributed by the residents of each district for the improvement of school-grounds, for the establishment of school libraries, and for other suitable school requirements. This increased interest is, in the Board's judgment, a most hopeful sign for the advancement of eduoation in the future, and should be encouraged by the granting of liberal subsidies. It is becoming more and more recognized that school surroundings have the most important bearing upon the pupils who attend. Staffing Conditions. —The Board notes with great satisfaction the movement of the Department to provide a more adequate staff for the schools of the Dominion. Last year a substitution of assistants for pupil-teachers in many of the larger schools in the Auckland Education District obviated to a great extent the large classes which have proved in the past a hindrance to education, Uncertificated teachers were to a large extent replaced by certificated teachers. The teaching profession is evidently commanding more attention from parents of children who have had a secondary education. The number of applicants for positions as pupil-teachers and probationers has considerably increased. Their academic qualification is higher than has been before noted. This enables the Board to make a selection instead of being compelled to take every applicant. The examinations during last year proved that the attention given to junior teachers has improved considerably. The number who qualified at the end of last year for entrance to the Training College was greater relatively than in any previous year, and shows a marked advance upon former years. Educational Films. —An Educational Film Committee, consisting of members of the Board, representative headmasters, and the Senior Inspector of Schools, took an active interest in all matters pertaining to visual education during the year. Tho Board is still of opinion, however, that educational films should be presented to school-children in their own schools, and trusts that in the near future the Department will find means tq_ carry out this idea. Medical and Dental Inspection of Schools. —The Medical and Dental Officers of the Department still continue to go good work in this district. The establishment of a few dental surgeries has proved a great boon to the chiklren of the districts in which they have been established. The Board trusts that the Department will see its way, at an early date, to extend the number of school dental surgeries established in rural areas where it is difficult for children to obtain treatment of any sort. The Board is of opinion that the number of School Medical Officers and school nurses attached to the Auckland Education District is far too small, and should be materially increased. It is impossible for the number now engaged to adequately cope with the requirements of a district containing more than sixty thousand children. In conclusion, the Board desires to express satisfaction with the cordial relations existing between the Board, the School Committees, the teachers, and the Education Department. The School Committees have shown great interest in all matters that pertain to the welfare of the schools under their jurisdiction ; the teachers have done their utmost in the interests of the pupils under their charge ; and the Department has met the requirements of this education district as far as was possible witn limited financial resources. 1 have, &c, E. C. Banks, Chairman. The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington.

TARANAKI. Sir,— New Plymouth, 31st March, 1924. Tn accordance with the requirements of the Education Act, 1914, I have the honour, on behalf of the Taranaki Eduoation Board, to present the following report of our proceedings for the year 1923 :— Board Members. —The personnel of the Board during the year was as follows : Central Ward— Messrs. R. Masters, M.P., and F. H. Sims ; North Ward—Messrs. H. Dempsey and P. J. H. White ; South Ward —Messrs. H. J. Eaves and A. Loos ; Urban District of New Plymouth —Messrs. R. J. Deare and S. G. Smith, M.P. Fifteen ordinary, special, and extraordinary meetings have been held throughout the year, and in addition individual ward members have given much time to meetings of committees and in visiting various localities for purposes of administration, &c. The Board's representatives on various educational bodies were as follows: Committee of Advice, Wellington Training College —Mr. Mclntyre ; New Plymouth High Schools Board—Messrs. H. Trimble (retired August, 1923), H. J. Eaves. Boards of Managers : Stratford Technical High School—Messrs. R. Masters, M.P., and H. Trimble ; Hawcra Technical High School—Messrs. A. Lees and H. J. Eaves ;

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