E.—4

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by means of the phonograph—especially when one remembers thai bhe same boys would neveT have been able to retain two consecutive words or notes had the same been attempted by means of ordinary school lessons. Our magic lantern also is a source of delight to the children on dark evenings. This form of amusement is always attractive to normal children, bul by means of a lantern entertain meat many of our dullest and most apathetic children are reached, and are seen to be making use of powers of attention and concentration which under ordinary conditions one would deny they possessed. Cricket and football are the favourite outdoor pastimes for the recreation hours of rammer and winter respectively. Additions to Buildings. The kitchen administrative block, with children's dining-room, staff sitting-rooms, stoics, needleroom, &c., is now nearing completion. The completion of this block will add very markedly to the comfort as well as the ease of administering the institution, besides setting free for the use of the children several rooms in the main building now occupied by the stall. Our steam laundry is a great success, while the old laundry in the main building has been converted into a staff sitting-room. Tn the next two or three months our steam cookdng-plant will be in full working-order. Grateful Letters from Parents. 1 have received many grateful letters from the parents of the children, from which T take the following extracts :— " 20th December, 1910.—1 received your most kind letter with profound thankfulness. No doubt it has made my life a little happier to think there is one who takes such an interest in my child and one who is so good to him. 1 may say. Mr. Benstead, that Ido not worry over him, as T feel you do as a father would do for his own child. It has been a meat consolation to me that Mr. as well us myself saw to whom he was going, and felt quite confident that he would be well looked after." " Ist February, 1911.—1 think it says very much for the conduct of you andyourstaff that is quite anxious to return to school. If he showed any reluctance to return, I might think he had nol been well treated, but it takes off a great load from Mother and me to see his readiness to go back to school." " 6th February, 1911. —There was certainly a great improvement in him —he had grown and put on flesh, and the schooling was doing him good. Tarn glad to say our son was quite pleased to know that he is going back to the school again." " 20th December, 1910. —He looks so well and healthy, and we can see such improvement in him. He looks more intelligent and contented, and articulates so much better. We consider the improvement for the past year something wonderful." " sth January, 1911.—1 beg to say that during the few weeks we have had him with us we find him very much improved in manner, and parts of speech are more pronounced, and his sentences are longer. I am also pleased to report that his health is good and his facial expression more pleasing and appreciative." Classification. All our little boys arc now located in a separate villa, where, under the guardianship of a, capable nurse, they are very happy. These children, from six to ten years of age, are mere babies, and are infinitely happier by themselves. Before the end of the year we hope to have at least three other villas erected forjboys, so that w< , can continue our scheme of classification. The initial cost is somewhat heavy, butjthe results achieved more than compensate for the expenditure. While these facilities are necessary for what may be termed the " home life " of the children, it is just as essential that equal Eaoilities for the careful classification of the children in their school-work should be provided. We require sufficient schoolrooms where the children can be classified according to their mental capacity —a school with small schoolrooms for small classes containing a sense-training room, kindergarten rooms, an object-room, a drawing and modelling room where instruction is given to groups of children in rotation, a music-room or central hull, a Sloyd room,and ordinary class-rooms where the high-grade children, who arc capable of more complex mental effort, car be taught the three R's. &c. The sense-training room is necessary for the low-grade oases. The kindergartens will attempt the same kind of work as that done in the schools for normal children, with modifications, but always keeping in mind the principles of Froebel. All the children will go through the kindergarten classes, beyond which classification must take place. The low-grade|boys and girls will go directly to the industrial classes. Both boys and girls are taught by means of object-lessons, so that they may formulate ideas gained in speech. The middle-grade boys would he taught drawing, modelling, and cardboard work, which form an introduction to the Sloyd room. The middle-grade girls will proceed to sewing by hand, knitting, basketry, rug-work. &C. All the high-grade children will go on to ordinary scholastic instruction in the usual school subjects, hut. as in all cases their limitation for this class of work is soon reached, their most prolonged development must come through manual or industrial work. Seaside Camp. This year we tried the experiment of taking to camp, at Hampden, the children who were unable to return home for their holidays. The boys and staff lived in true campers' style for seventeen days. The lads thoroughly enjoyed the change, and came hack fitter both physically and mentally. We lire specially indebted to the Mayor of Hampden (W. Nicholson, Esq.) and several local ladies and visitors for their many acts of kindness, which contributed in no small degree to the success of the undertaking. Next summer we hope to repeal the experiment on a ?nore extended scale.