E.—2.

Table A16.—Lower Departments of Secondary Schools, 1931. —Average Attendance, Roll, Classification, and Staff.

14. REPORTS (EXTRACTS) OF EDUCATION BOARDS. AUCKLAND. (Chairman, Mr. A. Burns.) School Accommodation.- —The Board regrets that it was necessary, owing to lack of funds, to defer many necessary building works such as the erection of new school buildings to replace halls and other privately-owned buildings which, in many cases, are unsuitable for school purposes, and the enlargement of buildings which were overcrowded. The Board recognizes, however, that the Government has, with the limited funds at its disposal, met the most urgent requirements. The Board has been pleased to assist in carrying out building-works by making contributions from its Rebuilding Fund, but such assistance will be no longer possible as the available moneys in the fund are practically exhausted. Teachers' Residences. —The want of suitable accommodation for teachers in country districts, particularly in newly settled areas, continues to give the Board concern in the staffing of schools. It is realized, however, that the provision of actual school accommodation should take precedence of the erection of teachers' residences. Staffing oj Schools. —The staffing of schools has continued to show the marked improvement of recent years. Trained and certificated teachers have now replaced uncertificated teachers in all schools of Grade 1 and higher. The Board has been able to secure the services of trained and certificated teachers for many of the Grade 0 schools in back-block districts, which in the past have suffered considerably through the employment of inexperienced teachers. Married Women Teachers.—The Board renewed its representations that Education Boards be given discretionary power in the matter of the employment of married women teachers, and greatly appreciates that the necessary authority has now been given by Parliament. The Board has contended that it should have the right to refuse to employ married women teachers whose husbands are in a position to support them, especially when there is so much unemployment in the teaching profession. The interests of married women teachers, whose circumstances are such as to necessitate their employment, will receive every consideration by the Board. District High Schools. —The inspection reports and examination results show that the district high schools are maintaining their high standard of efficiency. The value of such schools in providing post-primary education for the children of country districts cannot be over-emphasized. The results attained compare very favourably with those of secondary schools in towns. The Board is now experiencing great difficulty in securing teachers qualified to give pupils tuition in commercial subjects. The Board is pleased to report that arrangements have now been made for several of the students of the training college to receive special training in commercial instruction. Junior High Schools. —The junior high schools at Kowhai, Matamata, and Northcote (including the secondary departments at Matamata and Northcote) have continued to give every satisfaction. A post-primary school has been opened at Otahuhu, which school provides tuition for pupils of Forms I and II from the Otahuhu Primary and Mangere East Schools. The new school has also relieved overcrowding in the Auckland secondary schools. Improvements at Schools. —Notwithstanding the fact that it has been necessary to withdraw the payment of subsidies owing to the financial stringency, many districts have raised by voluntary contributions funds for improvements at schools, which work could not otherwise have been carried out.

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. -Poll Classification according to Standards of Pupils on Roll ° £ w la Number at 1st July, 1931. Sjai! I si at 3ist - : . a Decern- Class P. SI. S2. S3. S4. Form I. Form II. Totals. ££§ School. H ber, 1931. " <x> aj , —— ' . . : Mo «3 o "re I s | | B. G. B. G. B. G. B. G. B. G. B. G. B. G. B. G. ■% M. F. <1 pq 3 w New Plymouth Boys'High .. 19'2 21 4 .. 4 .. 4 .. 9 .. 2ll .. 21 1 .. New Plymouth Girls'High .. 15*3 .. 17 .. 4 1 .. 3 .. 3 .. 3 .. 4 .. 18 18 .. 1 Wanganui Girls'College .. .. 20'0 .. 23 1 .. 2 .. 6 .. 2 .. 11 .. 22 22 .. 1 GisborneHigh .. .. .. 22*0 9 16 ..! 2 2 .. 3 3 3 4 7 9 15 24 .. 1 Napier Girls'High .. 19*2 .. 22 4 .. 1 .. 5 .. 2 .. 5 .. . I 23 23 .. 1 Nelson College .. .. .. 25'2 28 1 .. 6 .. 6 .. 14 .. 27 .. 27 1 .. Nelson Girls'College .. .. 38'9 ..42 3 .. 6 .. 6 .. 9 .. 17 .. 41 41 .. 2 Timaru Boys' High .. .. 40" 5 42 .. 3 .. 3 .. 2 .. 5 .. 9 .. 14 .. 8 .. 44 .. 44 2 .. Timaru Girls'High .. .. 24*0 .. 27 1 .. 2 .. 4 8 .. 10 .. 25 25 .. 2 Totals, 1931 .. .. 224-3 100147 3 4 3 5 2 8 12 22 19 20 27 30 35 55 101 144 245 4 8 „ 1930 .. .. 311-4 179146 2 8 1 4 8 18 23 32 19 28 28 43 53 69 134 202 336 3 10 Difference .. .. -87"1-79+1+1-4+2+1-6-10-11 &lo| ..-8-1 -13-18-14-33-68-91+1 -2 J |