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APPENDIX B.

REPORTS (EXTRACTS) AND STATEMENTS OF ACCOUNTS OP EDUCATION BOARDS.

I. EXTRACTS PROM REPORTS.

AUCKLAND. (Chairman, Mr. A. Burns.) School Accommodation. —The Board regrets that the Government has been compelled, owing to the financial depression, to reduce the grants for the provision of school accommodation. The Board feels assured, however, that the most urgent of its requirements in respect of new school buildings, and the enlargement of existing school buildings, will receive consideration as soon as funds are available. In order to render assistance to the Department during the time of financial stress, the Board has continued to make contributions from its Rebuilding Fund towards the cost of works in connection with school buildings. Open-air Schools. —The question of erecting open-air schools has received careful consideration by the Board. The Architect was authorized to visit Taranaki and Canterbury in order to inspect openair schools erected in those districts. Subsequently the Architect submitted a design of what he considered to be the best type of open-air school buildings, and one such building has recently been erected as an experiment at Avondale South. Teachers' Residences. —The Board is still experiencing considerable difficulty in the staffing of rural schools owing to the lack of suitable accommodation for the teachers. The Board recognizes, however, that, Owing to lack of funds, it is necessary to postpone the erection of residences. Training College. —The Board regrets that the matter of the unemployment of ex-students of the training college is still very acute. At the present time there are 248 ex-students who have not yet obtained permanent employment. Of these, 123 are now temporarily employed as relieving teachers for periods varying from two weeks to a term. During the early part of the year fifty-four other ex-students were given temporary employment. There are, however, seventy-one such teachers to whom the Board has not yet been able to give even temporary employment this year. District High Schools.—The secondary departments of district high schools have proved to be of the greatest benefit in providing for the post-primary education of children of country districts. The results obtained by the pupils at the Matriculation Examination, Public Service Entrance, and other annual examinations, are very gratifying. The Board greatly appreciates the fact that suitable arrangements have now been made for the training of training-college students for the work of teaching in secondary schools. The Board is pleased to report that arrangements have been made for the establishment of a district high school at Northcote, which school will not only make provision for the secondary education of pupils of that district, but will greatly relieve the overcrowding in the secondary schools in Auckland City. Junior High Schools. —The junior high schools at Kowhai, Matamata, and Northcote continue to render most efficient service. The Board desires to renew its request that the numbers of the members on the School Committees at Matamata and Northcote be increased by the election of two members by the parents of pupils. During the year, the Government authorized a grant for the erection of a new school building at Otahuhu South, and a junior high school has been established therein. Subsidies. —During the year over £6,000 was raised by local contributions for improvements at schools. The Board regrets, but fully recognizes, the financial stringency which has necessitated the curtailment of subsidies on voluntary contributions, and trusts that the withdrawal of subsidies will be only a temporary expedient, and" that they will be reinstated at the earliest possible date. The Board considers that the spirit of self-help evidenced during the past years by the very generous contributions made by parents throughout the district should be fully encouraged. Staffing of Schools. —Certificated teachers have now practically replaced uncertificated teachers. Even in respect of aided schools the Board has in very many cases been able to secure the services of certificated and trained teachers. Medical and Dental Inspection of Schools.—The Board highly appreciates the efficient work being undertaken by the Medical and Dental Officers of the Health Department in connection with the schools in this district. The Board fully appreciates the action already taken by the Government in establishing school dental clinics in many parts of the Dominion, but desires to renew the representations that provision be made for the dental treatment of school-children in country districts where the services of dentists are not available. Organizing Teachers. —The two organizing teachers continued to do good work, and their services have resulted in a greatly improved standard of work in several schools under the charge of inexperienced teachers. The Board regrets that, owing to financial considerations, it has been necessary to withdraw the services of organizing teachers, and hopes that such teachers will be again employed in the work of country schools, as soon as financial conditions improve. Consolidation of Schools—Several applications have been received for the establishment of consolidated schools, and arrangements are now being made for one to be opened at Katikati. The difficulty in respect of many of the cases is the high cost of conveyance.

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