Appendix C]

E.—2.

OTAGO. Sin, — Education Office, Dunedin, 31st March, 1912. We have the honour to submit our annual report on the work of the schools of the district for the year 1911. The following table shows the number of pupils on the roll, the number present at tht. annual visit, and the average age of each class for the whole district: —

There has been a slight decrease in the roll-number in Standard VI and Class P, and in the average ages in Standard VI, Standard I, and Class P, and an increase in the average age of Standard V. A comparison of the figures in this table with those of the corresponding table in 1909 reveals the melancholy fact that about 45 per cent, of the Standard IV pupils of 1909 had not reached Standard VI in 1911. This affords matter for very serious consideration. The average age of Standard IV is twelve years and three months, and it is clear that many pupils are being withdrawn without having received the modicum of education laid down by the State as essential. The culture and discipline of Standard V and Standard VI are more valuable than those of all the lower classes. It is just here that the child has mastered the use of the tools —reading, writing, and mathematical accuracy—that will tend to give him a taste for intellectual pursuit in afterlife. This minimum of instruction is one of the child's birthrights, and it behoves those in authority to see that he is not deprived of it. Ihe school buildings throughout the district are in good condition, and are, in the main, well oared for. We think more attention should be paid to the planting of shelter-belts and ornamental shrubs. In future, in schools where gardening is taken up, we hope to find a plot devoted to the propagation of plants for this purpose, so that Arbor Day may be made a day of real interest and practical value. In compiling schemes of work teachers should keep the celebration of Arbor Day steadily in view, so that their work in nature-study, recitation, and music may have some direct bearing on the ceremony to be carried out. The local interest shown by School Committees is very marked throughout the district; but there is one matter to which we wish to direct special attention —the necessity for annually increasing the number of books in the school library. The matter has been referred to repeatedly, but its vital importance on the present and future well-being of the pupils compels us to emphasize it again. If Committees could be made to realize the possibilities of the school library, we feel sure they would allocate annually a pound or two from the prize and picnic funds for the purchase of additional books. Every pound so spent carries a subsidy of 10s. from the Board, and we urge teachers to keep the matter persistently before their committees. At the close of the year eighty-three teachers were returned as uncertificated. Of these, thirtyfour had no recognized educational status and forty-nine had some success towards Class D or Class C. Of the latter group, seventeen have now completed the examination entitling them to their certificates, while the remaining, thirty-two have considerably improved their positions. This result is in i large measure due to the grant made by the Department last year for the tuition of uncertificated teachers. Owing to the fact that the grant was not notified until towards the latter part of the year, the full benefits to be derived from the concession were not obtained; but it is to be hoped that the measure of success achieved will induce the Department to renew the grant for the incoming year. It is a concession warmly appreciated by all interested in the advancement of our teachers. So far as the training and tuition of pupil-teachers and probationers are concerned, we have again to direct attention to the fact that some head teachers are not rising to their responsibility in this connection. We have had applications from head teachers for permission to allow pupilteachers and probationers to undertake study under private tutors. Such applications are capable of only two explanations. Ihe tuition is part of the emolument of these young people, and must be provided by the staff of the school. By arranging, where possible, to group pupil-teachers and probationers for instruction, the Board has relieved the head teachers of part of the work, and it is not unreasonable to expect that the remaining subjects shall be adequately taught by those responsible for them. In future appointments of probationers we shall be guided in making our recommendations by the practical training given by head teachers. During the year the Board, after consultation with the Committees and head teachers of five of our district high schools, decided to introduce into these schools a course of instruction that will have some definite relation to the future occupations of the pupils attending them. In this viii—E. 2 (App. C).

LI

Classes. I Number on I at the Roll Annual Examination. Average Age of Pupils in Eacn Class. Standard VII VI V IV III II I 'reparatory 344 1,157 1,823 2,222 2,417 2,404 2,736 7,595 313 1,102 1,780 2,172 2,365 2,362 2,672 7,099 Yrs. mos. 15 1 13 IH 13 2 12 3 11 3 10 2 9 0 6 10 Totals 20,698 19,865 9 8