Appendix c.J

XXI

E.—2.

numerous and complicated exercises in brush-marks* and "blobs" were considered necessary. Every year the value of handwork as an aid to teaching other subjects is receiving more recognition, ami the cases where any branch is treated as an isolated subject are rare. Brushwork, modelling, and paper-folding are the favourite subjects in the lower classes. More cardboardwork is desirable, both as a preliminary to woodwork and also as a substitute for it in schools where the buys are unable to reach a woodwork centre. Grants were earned during the year Eor elemental , } agriculture, physical measurements, chemistry, botany, physiology and firsi aid, woodwork, cookery, dressmaking, swimming, and life-saving, and also tor the usual school subjects in classes below S.">. It is hoped that, as the rural and domestic courses are extended, dairying, laundry-work, and other subjects will be added to the list.* Drill.- -We are satisfied with the attention given to physical instruction. Instead of, as formerly, taking one hour on one day in the week for this subject, many teachers have adopted the more satisfactory plan of devoting ten or fifteen minutes daily to the giving of deepbreathing exercises, in addition to a few free exercises. In some cases wands, clubs, and dumb-bells are also used, but in the use of special apparatus judgiueni is required, and a satisfactory course <>f exercise suitable for the harmonious development of all parts of the body may be effectively carried out without such apparatus. In some cases we found clubs in the hands of very young children, for whom a few simple free exercises would have been of much greater benefit. The new syllabus issued by the British authorities is mainly based on the Swedish system of educational gymnastics, which has been adopted 1 in several European countries, and is now the basis of physical training in the British army and navy. The curriculum of the English code for 1910 links hygiene with physical training, and under this heading includes "exercises in proper breathing: instruction adapted to the ages and sexes of the scholars in the element arv rules of personal health, particularly in respect "I' food, drink (including alcohol), clothing, cleanliness, ami fresh air, and careful cultivation of a correct posture at writing and other lessons." ive. This last point requires mole attention from our teachers than it generally receives. Swimming is taught in a number of schools in the country, as well as in the chief towns. Military drill is taught in all our larger schools, with very good results. The decreeing of compulsory military training by the Legislature, the establishment of miniature rifle ranges, ami Ihe holding of training camps for teachers will undoubtedly give an impetus to the military drill of the schools. One danger of this impetus is that physical exercises, as distinct from military movements, may in the case of younger boys be neglected. The general confer,, nee on education held in 1-Vbi uurv, l!t|(), noted this danger, and passed the following resolution : '"That this Conference suggest to the Minister of Defence that in the case of boys under fourteen years of age systematic physical exercises may be substituted for military drill ": and we are pleased to learn from the Commandant of the Public School Cadets thai Ins Cadet Orders "ill insure (hat physical exercises will receive their due share of attention. Great benefit has been derived from the visits of the staff sergeant instructors to the schools in the larger centres, and we hope that their services will be available for teachers' classes. A series of very useful lessons was given to one class which niei in Masterton on Saturdays during the latter part of last year. Judging from a visit paid to the tvaiuiug camp in Artillery Hay during the summer holidays, we feel certain ilia: teachers will derive great benefit from such training, ami we hope that a suggestion of the Commandant's that ill male teachers, whether attached to a cadet company or not, be allowed to attend these camps —will be adopt. J. The importance of organized games as an educational factor is recognized in our schools, more especially in those in the larger centres. Man\ assistant teachers are deserving of coin mendatiou for the extra time given by them to instruction in such sports as cricket, football, tenuis, ami swimming. Needlework.— In most eases the mark given for needlework is good. In a few small schools where a male teacher is in charge this subject has not been taught, mainly because of the inability of the School Committee to obtain the services of a lady competent to teach the subject. SINOING. — The Hoard is undoubtedly reaping much benefit from Mr. Parker's Saturday classes in singing, held in Wellington during the first half of the year, and in Masterton from August to December. Mr. Parker says, "The work done in the various classes which have been held by in, from lime to time is, lam glad to know, showing good results in many schools. A proper!; conducted singing-lesson leaves its mark in many ways: in proper habits of breathing, in beauty of tone both in song and speech, in accuracy of ear. in appreciation of rhythm, and, by no means the least important, in improved pronunciation and enunciation. I have had opportunities of seeing anil hearing some of these results, and I feel that the work of the teachers' classes has not been i,, vain." Mr. Parker has drawn up for the weekly singing-lesson some practical suggestions which would Ik , very useful to all teachers, especially to those who wci'i' unable to attend the singing-classes. As these suggestions would also secure some uniformity of teaching throughout the district, we have much pleasure in recommending that they be printed, and copies forwarded to all t he schools. PUPIL-TBAOHBBS.—OnIy live pupil-teachers were required to present themselves for the pupilteacher examination. Of these, one did not sit, one failed, and three passed. During the year the Board terminated the engagement of several probationers and pupil-teachers whose work was not giving promise. Scholarships. On the establishment of the rural course the Board divided the Senior Scholarships into two classes (A and B). In the former class the Civil Service Junior Examination papers alone determine the results: but in the latter, credit to the extent of one-fourth the maximum of

* Some details omitted.