E.—l

14

welcomed by the children, and that its influence tends to the very desirable end of fostering the habit and love of reading not in the school only, but also in the home. It is gratifying to note also that the Journal is meeting with appreciation beyond New Zealand, and particularly in Canada, where Earl Grey, late Governor- . General, has succeeded in inducing the educational authorities of some of the provinces to undertake the publication of school-papers similar to the New Zealand School Journal. In addition to containing well-defined series of articles on geography, history, nature-knowledge, &c, the Journal gives due attention to current topics of more than local importance, to striking events in current history, to important developments in modern discovery and invention, as well as to the recurrent topics of Arbor Day, Empire Day, &c. The Journal is regularly illustrated; but, in addition to the illustrations appearing in its pages, pictures and prints illustrating geography, history, and naturestudy are being issued separately on cards as aids to oral instruction on modern lines in these subjects. Up to the present time the following series have appeared : Twenty-four pictures illustrating great British battles ; forty illustrations of New Zealand flora ; twenty-four of New Zealand geography ; eight dealing with the lives of Captain Cook and Lord Nelson ; twenty-eight of the geography of the British Isles ; twenty illustrating life on H.M.S. " New Zealand " ; twenty-four dealing geographically, historically, and ethnologically with South Africa ; seventytwo which form part of a comprehensive series dealing with British history ; fiftysix illustrating the countries of Europe geographically and historically ; and also a coloured wall-sheet illustrating the lives of Lord Nelson and Captain Cook. During the year the Department has issued to schools a chart showing a method of -estoring animation to the apparently drowned (prepared by the Health Department), and published a special report on the teaching of English in secondary schools (a reprint of a circular issued by the Board of Education, England) and also a pamphlet entitled "An account of the education system of the Dominion." Among the publications of general interest that will be issued shortly are " A Manual of New Zealand Mollusca," by H. Suter ; " Geology of New Zealand," by Dr. P. Marshall; and plates of New Zealand flora, published in connection with Cheeseman's " Manual of New Zealand Flora." The departmental library contains a large number of educational books and papers, most of which are available on loan to Inspectors, teachers of primary or secondary schools, and others interested in education. Staffs of Public Schools. (E.-2.—Table El and F3.) The number of the teachers in the public schools, exclusive of those employed in the secondary departments of district high schools, in December, 1910, and December, 1911, respectively, was as follows :— Table E. —Number of Teachers employed. Adults— 1910. 1911. Men .. .. ' .. .. .. .. 1,456 1,493 Women .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,252 2,351 Total .. .. .. .. .. 3,708 3,844 Pupil-teachers— Male .. .. .. .. .. ..174 179 Female 526 528 Total .. .. .. .. .. 700* 707f All teachers — Male 1,630 1,672 Female .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,778 2,879 Total 4,408 4,551

* Exclusive of 32 male and 151 female probationers. t Exclusive of 41 male and 178 female probationers.