Appendix C]

E.—2.

While leaving certificates are granted by myself, the examination for promotion is in the hands of the head teacher. Except in a few remote schools Standard VI was examined in December : 174 pupils were presented in Standard VI, 171 were present, ninety-seven gained proficiency certificates, and twenty-eight gained competency. In. view of the discussion initiated by the Inspector-General of Schools as to the average age of pupils of the Dominion, the following table is interesting [summary only printed| : — Standard V. Standard VI. Yrs. mos. Yrs. mos. Average for the schools .. ... ... ... 13 2 13 11 Average for the Dominion... ... ... ... 13 1 14 0 Only three of the larger schools show fourteen years of average age in Standard VI.

Classification of Teachers.

Two of the " uncertificated " teachers above have passed the examination for a certificate, and are acquiring the necessary practical experience. There were forty certificated teachers on the staff in 1910. The number of schools is steadily increasing, but the number of certificated teachers is practically stationary; therefore the percentage of qualified teachers is steadily decreasing. 1 wish particularly to call the attention of the Board to this fact; if our standards are to be maintained it cannot be ignored. Nor is the prevalence of small schools the sole cause, for thirty-seven uncertificated teachers held positions carrying salaries ranging from .£9O up to £150 a year. Let me put this matter in a different way : Under the departmental regulations each of these teachers pays a penalty of 5 per cent, to 10 per cent, for not having a certificate; unless the salary would thereby drop below £90. Since a number of these teachers have held their positions for several years, and have apparently made no attempt to qualify, the matter may be stated thus : For the privilege of not working for a certificate (only- four attempted the examination in January last) the teacher is willing to pay a penalty as under : — One to pay a penalty of £15 a year, one to pay a penalty of £14 10s. a year, two to pay a penalty of £14 a year, four to pay a penalty of £12 10s. a year, two to pay a penalty of £12 a year, nine to pay a penalty of £10 10s. a year, two to pay a penalty of £10 a year, one to pay a penalty of £7 10s. a year, eight to pay a penalty of £5 a year; seven suffer no deduction, but will not be able to get any annual increment for two years : total, 37. Surely self-interest should cause these to strive for qualification. Meanwhile three teachers from this district, trained at the Wellington Training College, are unable to get suitable situations, and are left to seek places in other districts. Several of the thirty-seven are g"ood teachers, and do work as good as the fully qualified; but most of them do not, and the children suffer. Unless the holder of a good situation is rendering work of merit equal to that of an average certificated teacher, or is known to be definitely studying for a certificate, the positions should be offered to the young trained teachers that have been in the Board's service. In any case the tenure of an uncertificated teacher is precarious, for under the Act the arrangement is purely temporary, and holds only until the Board can obtain a certificated teacher. One has no wish to be hard on the uncertificated teacher who, in many cases, fills what would otherwise be an awkward gap, but the interests of the children should come first. Teachers' Certificate Classes. —The Department now offers a grant to assist the promotion of classes for teaching the unqualified, with a view to their gaining a certificate. Twenty-five teachers have signified their desire to join correspondence classes and fourteen to join Saturday classes in order to take advantage of the grant. This movement deserves success. The classes will begin to operate immediately the form is agreed upon with the Department. A summer school for teachers was held at the Marlborough High School, Blenheim, from 22nd January to 2nd February, 1912, but it really belongs to the period under review, for all arrangements were made during 1911. This was the third such school held in Blenheim since 1905. The teachers were requested to give up one week of their holidays to these classes, and the Board closed the schools for one week of the school year so that a fortnight might be available.

XXIX

Certificated, i Licensed. Uncertificated. Total. Head teachers Sole teachers Assistants 13 14 12 i 61 11 13 76 23 Totals 39 l 72 112 Pupil-teachers Probationers Cookery and woodwork instructors Part-time instructors (agricultural, physical measurements) •• :: I 2 2 Grand totals 39 1 72 122