E.—lβ

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their schools taking no mean place among those of the colony. It is our hope to encourage and help them in this. It is our expectation that their number will increase. We have, &c, John Smyth. M.A.. D.Phil.. i T t ~ ~ , Inspectors. James Milne, M.A., i The Chairman, Education Board, Wanganui.

Summary of Results for the District.

WELLINGTON. Sib,— Wellington, 31st December, 1901. I beg to present my twenty-eighth and final report on the primary schools of the Wellington Education District for the year 1901. My colleagues (Messrs. Fleming and Bakewell) and I have examined all the schools in operation, and inspected all but a few very small distant aided schools, which are not usually visited more than once a year. We have also again examined and inspected eight Eoman Catholic schools. During the year 1901 there were 143 Board schools open—two less than in the previous year ; the following four schools being closed —Wharau, Wainuioru, Te Mai, and Woodhurst ; and two —Saunder's Road and Horoeka—being newly opened. The total roll-number of the Board schools for the past year was 15,241, and for the previous year 15,211, giving an increase of only thirty children on the books. The number of children presented in Standards I. to VI. for the past year was 9.768, and for the year before 9,758, showing an increase of only ten ; and if we take into consideration the number (490) classed above Standard VI. in 1900, as compared with 481 in 1901, this increase is reduced to one child. Practically, therefore, the number on the books for the present year, and also the number presented in standards, remains unchanged from the previous year, 1900. The number of children passed in standards (including those above Standard VI.) was 8,543 in 1901, and 8,231 in 1900, showing an increase of 312 in the number of children promoted. Of this increase, seventy-three were in Standard 1., nineteen in Standard 11., thirty in Standard 111., 145 in Standard IV., and seventy-three in Standard VI., with a decrease of twenty-seven in Standard V. In the district as a whole 875 per cent, of the children presented in standards were promoted. This percentage reached 89-5 in the average of the eleven largest schools, and in the remaining schools, including Eoman Catholic, the general average was about eighty-five— a satisfactory numerical result. In my last two reports I have shown a grading of the schools made with the object of testing in a measure their status year by year. I have again followed the plan this year, and the estimate for the past three years is here given : 1899—Satisfactory, 81; fair, 40; inferior, 15 : total, 136. 1900—Satisfactory, 81; fair, 51; inferior, 13: total, 145. 1901 — Satisfactory, 85; fair, 48; inferior, 10 : total, 143. The eighty-five " satisfactory " schools are working under good conditions, and are doing good work in all sections; the forty-eight " fair " schools are not under unsatisfactory management, but are either working with weak assistance or with serious drawbacks; the third set of ten " inferior " schools are in a weak condition, though not necessarily under incompetent teachers. The classification as to the actual state of the school is irrespective of conditions ; and it shows that much remains to be done before every school is doing the best work possible ; which, as I understand, should be the outcome of an efficient system. An analysis of this grading shows that the largest schools are most satisfactory, and the country schools under one teacher are the least commendable. Many of the latter are, however, exceptionally well taught schools, and, although it must be admitted that they are the most difficult to manage, it does not follow that the condition of the others should not be improved. The following is the analysis: Schools with over three hundred children—Satisfactory, 11. Schools with one hundred to three hundred children —Satisfactory, 16; fair, 5 ; inferior, 1: total 22. Schools with less than one hundred, having more than one teacher —Satisfactory, 13; fair, 12; inferior, 2;

Per Cent. ( >[ Passes on Classes. Presented. Present. Absent. Failed Passed Average Age of Pupils in Each Glass. Number presented. Number examined. Yrs. mos. Above Standard VI. Standard VI. ... V. ... IV. ... III. ... II. ... I. ... 179 677 1,025 1,369 1,419 1,347 1,364 3,464 160 642 965 1,311 1,361 1,290 1,330 3,113 19 35 60 I 58 58 57 34 351 142 209 267 243 114 119 500 756 1,044 1,118 1,176 1,211 73-8 73-7 76-3 78-7 87-3 88-7 77-8 78-3 79-6 82-1 891 910 13 11 13 2 12 3 11 4 9 8 8 9 Preparatory Totals ... 10,844 10,172 672 1,094 5,805 80-6 84-1