E.—lβ

13

Other figures are not. In 1902, Wellington's percentage, 82.5, was more than 1 per cent, lower than that of any other district in the colony. Commenting on this in his annual report to Parliament, the Minister of Education says, " It may or may not be a significant fact in this connection that the Wellington District ceased to employ the services of a Truant Officer." In last year's report we drew attention to the low average attendance in our district, and we then expressed a hope that effectual steps would be taken to remedy this. In August last year Truant Officers were appointed at Wellington, Hutt, Otaki, Carterton, Masterton, Eketahuna, and Pahiatua. While their jurisdiction is extensive, the practical result up to the present seems to be limited to the fivemile radius, beyond which they can claim travelling-expenses if their services are required. The Secretary informs us that few applications were made for their services beyond this limit, and although this scheme has been in operation too short a time to form any reliable estimate of the value of the work done, we have not been able to discover that any benefit has accrued to the country schools. Inquiries made by us from some of the headmasters of the larger schools within the five-mile radius have, however, elicited favourable replies. The earnest co-operation of Committees and teachers is the first requisite for the success of any truant scheme. The police, more especially in the larger centres, can also render valuable aid. The position in the Wellington District is now such that the whole truant question requires the serious consideration of the Board, and this is clearly seen when it is remembered that with a roll of 15,505 children, 2,653, or nearly one-fifth, are absent from school every day. This does not take , into account many children who, we believe, are not attending school at all. It is true that the December quarterly returns (13,054 average) showed an increase of 375 on those for the preceding quarter (12,679); but the latter figures were the lowest for the whole year. Measles, mumps, scarlet fever, diphtheria, and whooping-cough reduced the average, and it would be somewhat hazardous to ascribe the increase solely to the work of the Truant Officers, for towards the end of the year the epidemics showed signs of abating, and the exceptionally good weather experienced during the last quarter afforded better opportunities for the attendance of children, more especially of those living at a distance from school. This question is so serious that we venture to quote at length from the remarks of one of the Commissioners recently sent by New South Wales to Europe and America to inquire into the existing methods of instruction in education in those continents. Under the head of " School Attendance," Mr. Turner remarks, " There are children in all*countries who will not attend school unless under the severest form of compulsion. For these truant schools are necessary. In England every important town has its institution for this class of children, and the general management in all is very similar. . . . For the more incorrigible lad who will not attend the public school there are schools termed 'truant schools.' ... A lad sent to the truant school remains there for about three months, at the end of which period he is licensed out to attend a Board school on the condition that lie attends regularly. Should he fail to fulfil this condition, he is readmitted to the truant school, where he is compelled to spend about four months. At the end of the time he is again licensed out to a Board school on the usual condition, and should he again fail to attend regularly he is sent back to the truant school for a longer period, generally about five months. It will be evident from the practice just described that great care is taken by the authorities to improve the character of the lad. The training consists in the ordinary school subjects in elementary standards, and instruction in technical branches by skilled trade masters." Further on he states, " Compulsory education in its full complete sense must become a live and educative force before the higher developments of public education can be hopefully undertaken. The basic improvements reduced to cardinal issues are as follows: (1) The abolition of a minimum attendance; (2) the provision of adequate means to secure full and regular attendance, and of corrective influences to such an end." Strong differences of opinion exist on the question of truant schools, but the conclusions quoted above are worthy of consideration. It must be remembered that we are not speaking in the interests of those children who have parents capable of appreciating the true value of education, but in the interests of those children whose absence from school makes the returns show that every day nearly one-fifth of the children of the Wellington District are receiving no education whatever. During the year new schools were erected at Epuni, Muritai, Horoeka, and Hutt. The Petone School was added to and remodelled, and additions were made to Worser Bay and Brooklyn. The central school at Levin was completed to replace the Horowhenua and Levin Schools. A new school has been built to meet the requirements of the Korokoro and Maungar.akei Settlements near Petone. It will be opened in March. The school at Whareama was removed to a site more suited to the , requirements of the present settlement. We have placed before the Board a detailed report on the necessities of the district with regard to accommodation urgently needed and repairs absolutely necessary. That report shows that schools are required at Akatarawa and Mangarama, additions to Shannon; Kereru, and Tokomaru; Carterton School requires remodelling; and a new school more centrally situated is required at Nireaha. Additions are required at Makuri, and, as the Government has granted £110 for this purpose, the school there will be enlarged. A grant of ,£3OO has been promised for a new school at Kaituna Road, and this will be built when a title has been obtained to the site selected. Separate accommodation is urgently required for the secondary classes at Masterton, and at Wadestown the Board has already purchased a site for a new school. It is also probable that additions will have to be made to the Ihuraua Valley School. At Marima, Makairo, Takapu, Ngahauranga, and Plimmerton there are no Board schools, but buildings are rented for school purposes. The report above mentioned also gives details of repairs, &c, necessary to put school buildings in an efficient state. Many of our schools have not been painted for years beyond the time it is usually considered necessary to repaint to keep a building in proper repair; the fences and grounds of others require attention; in others, again, the latrine accommodation is inadequate, and some still retain the pit system, which has been severely condemned by the Health Department.