E.—2.

[Appendix C.

Several of our small rural schools are still taught bj unoertificated teachers, most of whom arc doing vary creditable work. In proof of this we repeat the following information from a memorandum submitted to the Board in October last concerning the condition of the sixty one-teacher schools then taught by unoertificated teachers: "'Twenty-nine of these schools were classified as good or very good. 23 as satisfactory. ■'! as fair, and sas weak. Of the same schools, 10 were in Grade 0, and had an average attendance of ■">•.">; :S2 wen/ in Grade 1, and had an average attendance of 14; l."> were in Gradte 2, and had an average attendance of 21: and •'! wen- in Grade '■'>. and had aii average attendance of 26. The total average number of pupils taught in ihe sixty schools was 901—thai is, ."> pei , cent, of the total average for the whole district ; so that the sixty unclassified teachers taught only •"> per cent, of the pupils of the district, and Mi per cent, of them did the work satisfactorily, or well, or very well. The average attendance of the oneteacher schools taught In classified teachers is about 8 per cent, of the total average for the district, and the condition of two-thirds of these schools is good or very good, and that of most of the rest is satisfactory." At the recent examination for teachers' certificates considerable advance was made in the status of our teachers. From the information we have so far been able to gather we find that 2(i teachers have completed the examination for Class li or Class ('. 14 have won their D certificate, 11 are credited with partial success towards ('. II towards 1). while 21 others have passed in from one to live subjects for Class ('. sufficient proof that several of our teachers are strenuously exerting themselves to improve their professional standing. Side by side with this effort it is gratifying to record general improvement in the condition of the schools. The following table shows the grouping of the schools according to their efficiency: flood or very good, 70 per cent.: satisfactory, 21 per cent. ; fair. 7 per cent. ; inferior. 2 per cent. Of tin- Standard VI pupils presented for examination at the end of the year, 70 per cent, succeeded in gaining the profioiency certificate— an advance of ~> per cent, on the results of the previous year. At this examination composition and geography were the weak subjects, but even in these a marked advance was noticeable. In arithmetic and drawing very material improvement had been made, due in the former subject, we think, to the teachers exacting greater accuracy, and in the latter to the influence of tin School of Art. In most cases head teachers are doing their duty by the pupil-teachers ami probationers, but there is a growing tendency f> allow University work to thrust the professional training of these young people into the background. ft is the duty of the head teacher to instruct the pupilteachers and probationers in his school ; Inn we have reason to believe that in a few cases pupilteachers, owing to the neglect or indifference of their head teachers, are compelled to have recourse, at their own expense, to private tuition in order to qualify themselves for examination. Reference to the log-books reveals the fact that in a few schools regular criticism lessons are not taken, and we would direct the attention of head teachers to No. 7 of the Pupil-teacher Regulations and to X<i. 10 of the Probationer Regulations dealing with this matter. The school buildings in the district are in good condition, and in most instances are kept clean and tidy. During the year we have seldom had occasion to refer to neglect in this respect. In a few casts dilapidated fences and the prevalence of noxious weeds in the glebes have been the subject of comment, although the eradication of the weeds should be part of the training in agriculture that is being given in many of our rural schools. By the Education Amendment Act of last session provision is made for continuing the education of the youth of the Dominion after they leave the primary school, a matter that was dealt with at length in our report for 1!)()!). Such provision will, we feel sure, meet with universal approval; but it is a matter for regret that the inauguration of the work should rest with Committees instead of with the Boards. We look forward hopefully to the time when this part of the training of our young folk will be considered as essential as. if not more essential than, that which is provided for them up to the age of fourteen. In the early part of the year the Hoard took advantage of the departmental grant to provide free books for the use of pupils in the classes below Standard IV. In our opinion the grant lias not been beneficial to the educational well-being of the pupils, nor has it afforded much pecuniary relief to parents, for upwards of 90 pet cent, of the pupils have obtained books for themselves. When the system was first introduced we suggested that the grant would be most advantageously employed in tin , purchase of stationery, drawing and copy books, and continuous Readers, and it is gratifying to note that teachers throughout the Dominion are now advocating the same procedure. Where the pupils are not allowed to take home the books, especially tin . Readers, there is distinct educational loss. The personal interest of ownership is not felt by the pupil, and parents are unable fully to co-operate in tin child's education. [n all tin large and in a considerable number of the small schools arc- to be found children requiring special treatment. Such pupils may nut come under the category of defectives, but are unable to keep pace with their brighter and more fully developed fellows. In the primary schools teachers cannot afford the time, even if they were I petent, to give the individual attention requisite for the efficient training of these pupils, for whose education specially staffed schools should lie established in the large centres. We recognize the good work done in the Otekaike Home for defective boys, ami note with pleasure the intention of the Department to make similar provision for defective girls ; but it is imperative that steps should' 'v taken to secure efficient training for the class of pupils here referred to. In this district considerable advantage lias been taken of the Department's provision for the conveyance of school-children, and in most instances with success: but the rigidity of the

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