78

E.—l

Teachees.—Eeturn No. 7* gives a list of the teachers in the Board's service at the close of 1883, with the salaries and allowances payable to them, and the positions they hold in their respective schools. The total number was 446, besides 38 teachers of sewing. Of these, 130 were head-masters; 89, mistresses, 52 (19 males and 33 females) assistant teachers and 175 (45 .males and 130 females), pupil-teachers. The regulations respecting pupil-teachers have undergone revision during the year, and many changes made in the programme of instruction and examination. The principal alterations are the substitution of a selection from English literature for the grammar formerly required, and the addition of Latin and modern history as optional subjects. The amended regulations are published in the appendix. Inspection.—A joint report by the two Inspectors, Mr W L. Edge and the Rev J Gumming, is appended.-)- In one respect it shows a decided improvement on the report of last year as the general percentage of success in the examinations has risen from 74 to 82. This improvement is noticeable in all the standards above the Second, particularly in the Fifth. In the other standards there is no material difference. The following table gives the number of children presented and passed, the average age, the percentage of passes, and the number of schools in which children were presented in each standard: —

Normal School.—The lady engaged in England as head-mistress of the practising school, who had just arrived at tho date of the Board's last report, resigned in December on account of her marriage Her loss is to be much regretted, as she had proved herself a very capable and excellent teacher. The Board, having failed to obtain suitable applications for the post within the colony has resolved on sending to England for her successor Towards the end of the year, after a careful inquiry into the organization and working of the practising school, the Board determined on a partial remodelling of the system, involving a small addition to the staff and some important alterations in the relations subsisting between the principal teachers. The changes thus made take effect from tho beginning of the current year and it is hoped will act beneficially m increasing the efficiency of the school. The arrangements introduced in 1880 for enabling pupil-teachers who have completed their term of service to enter as students in tho normal school continues m very successful operation, the majority of pupil-teachers gladly taking advantage of the opportunity thus afforded them of passing a year in study and technical training before entering on the active practice of their profession. The number of students at the end of tho year was 43—14 males and 29 females. The following are particulars respecting the number of students who entered or left the normal school during the year, and their present occupation: — Students in 1883- Males - Females. Total. Remaining from 1882 14 27 41 Admitted in 1883 8 21 29 Left during 1883 8 19 27 On the bo-oks, December, 1883 14 29 43 Left during 1883— Teaching in public schools 1\ 17 ..24 Teaching in other schools 0 2 2 Occupation not known 1 0 .. 1 8 19 27

• See ante, p. 26. ~ t See E.-18. \ Including one student temporarily out of employment.

Quarter ended District Schools. Aided Schools. Total of Schools. On Boll. Average Attendance. Percentages. ecemberSl 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 106 116 121 128 133 139 4 2 1 2 4 110 120 123 129 135 143 13,647 15 230 16 437 16 051 16,907 17,797 10 076 11 381 12,233 11 760 12 747 13,462 73-83 74-72 74-42 73-26 75-39 75-64

Number presented. Number passed. I Average Ago. Percentage. No. of Schools at which Pupils were presented. Standard I. Standard IT. Standard III. Standard IV Standard V Standard VI. 2,033 2,136 i.03a 1,119 409 146 1,931 ■ 308 1, 776 382 -113 Yrs. mos. 9 6 10 0 11 7 12 6 13 6 14 2 95 84 i\ 69 76 i 133 131 ■ 82 38 Total 7 920 6,470 82