E.—2.

The classification of Maori children attending Native schools is given in the special report on Native schools (E. 3). The following table shows the age, sex, and classification of those attending public schools : —

TABLE Ca.—Classification of Maori Children attending Public Schools, December, 1909.

N.B.—For the purposes of this return, half-caste children and children intermediate in blood between half-caste and Maori are reckoned as Maori. The number of Maori children in the public schools, as compared with those in Native schools, continues to show an increase, owing principally to the fact that the policy has been steadily followed of handing over Native schools to the Education Boards' as soon as the pupils have become, educationally at least, so far European in character that they can be conveniently taught with European children. This point is reached when the Maori can use English fluently in his ordinary conversation. It is part of the same policy to assimilate the programme of work in Native schools as nearly as possible to that in public schools, and to make no distinction in point of salary between teachers in the two classes of schools. Europeans in Native Schools. There are 391 European children—2o6 boys and 185 girls—attending Native schools. Under this head those children who are intermediate in blood between half-caste and European are reckoned as European. The age, sex, and classification of these children is as follows:—

TABLE Cb. —Classification of European Children attending Native Schools, December, 1909.

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By Ages. By Standard Classes. Years. 5 and under 6 6 „ 7 7 „ 8 8 9 9 „ 10 0 „ 11 1 „ 12 2 „ 13 .3 „ 14 4 „ 15 ;j years and over Totals Boys. Girls. Total. , Classes. 169 170 339 Class P ... 238 222 460 „ SI 299 250 549 „ S2 318 265 583 „ S3 ... J 298 231 529 „ S4 289 246 535 „ S5 270 206 476 ! „ S6 236 174 410 „ S7 196 122 : 318 106 59 165 42 28 70 ... 2,461 1,973 4,434 Totals Boys. Girls. Total. ... 1,316 1,136 2,452 ... i 345 274 619 ... 272 214 486 231 163 394 ... 153 99 252 90 57 : 147 47 27 74 ... 7 3 10 ... 2,461 1,973 4,434

By Ages. By Standard Classei I, Yeats. P.nys. Girls. Total. Classes. Boys. Girls. Total. I 5 and under 6 G „ 7 7 „ 8 8 „ 9 9 „ 10 10 „ 11 11 „ 12 12 „ 13 13 „ 14 14 „ 15 15 years and over 16 15 31 32 16 48 17 29 46 17 22 39 24 30 54 19 12 31 22 27 49 25 ! 17 42 20 10 30 10 l 6 ' 16 4 I 1 5 ! ! Class P ... ... 67 „ SI 20 „ S2 ... ... 19 „ S3 27 „ S4 29 „ S5 21 „ S6 17 „ S7 6 72 15 18 25 24 18 9 4 139 35 37 52 53 39 26 10 ) Totals 206 185 391 Totals 206 185 391