E.—s

60

Extract from the Report of the Inspector of Schools. Seventy-one schools taught some form of handwork, 44 exhibiting two or more varieties, hardening was taught at 49 public and 3 private schools. A few of the gardens are" libels on the productive capacity of the district; others are busy little laboratories where science is brought to the tes of practice, the concrete study of cause and effect being a valuable part of school activity. Here -th~e otherwise dull boy sometimes gains a new self-respect, and physical powers that would run truant are disciplined to the purposes of citizenship. In several schools the notes turn chiefly on a part of botany in which plants are viewed as inanimate objects to be described. The study of plants tends to become more scientific when they are better understood as living things needing air, food, and water, affected by heat and light. The teacher may also find other interesting regions in soil-study, and in the observation of plant and insect pests. Science and good practical gardening do not always run together. Occasionally where there is a good garden a remarkably small amount of scientific information appears in the essay. Children should be encouraged to keep a note of all the operations, and the reason for each. Farming is now generally recognized as a branch of science, with a call for the educated man ; it is full of interest for the research student. It is also increasingly attractive to the pupils. Some critics affect to despise the big carrot and the big potato ; but in so far as these are the result of premeditated preparation and attention to the ground and time of planting they are criteria of good educative work that deserve to be taken into account. Horticultural societies and the agricultural and pastoral associations, by offering special prizes, continue to show an interest in the labours of the pupils. At most schools the tools are carefully housed and protected ; in a few they tell a tale of weak discipline and poor management. Blenheim Technical School: Woodwork and cookery, 9 classes each ; advanced needlework, 7 classes. Pupils are centralized in these subjects from Picton (by rail, eighteen miles), Waitohi (by rail, fourteen miles), Tuamarina (by rail, six miles), Grovetown (by coach, two miles), Blenheim Borough School, Fairhall (four miles), Renwick (by coach, seven miles), Springlands (two miles), the Convent (Blenheim), and Marlborough High School (Blenheim). In the teaching of cookery the gas-oven and the range are both used. At least four classes in dairy-work are expected to come into operation during 1912. Arrangements have been made for teaching swimming and life-saving to the pupils of the upper classes at the Blenheim School. Technical and continuation classes : It may be noted that in Marlborough, of those successful in gaining proficiency certificates, the proportion that proceed to Marlborough High School seems to be above the average of corresponding places in the Dominion ; and, as the High School has modernized its programme by the formation of classes in woodwork, cookery, physical measurements, dairy-work, and agriculture, not to mention other classes in pure science, mathematics, and modern languages, it appears that this school also serves the purposes of a technical high school. Further, the technical education thus supplied appears to be quite as sound and extensive as that supplied in any other similar centre of the Dominion. The high school apparently supplies the local need in this respect, which is indicated by the poor support given to evening technical and continuation classes. Teachers' classes for physical measurements (Miss Ross, M.A.), cookery (Miss Grace), instrumental drawing (Mr. H. Oldham), nature-study and design (Mrs. S. Jones) were held at Blenheim. A summer school for teachers was held at the Marlborough High School, Blenheim, from the 22nd January to the 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. In all, 93 students were enrolled. Of these, 53 were enabled to have twenty hours' practical work in dairying, the programme for the D certificate being covered.

Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1911, in respect of Special Classes conducted at Blenheim and Canvastown.

NELSON. Extract from the Report of the Education Board. An advance has to be recorded in the number of manual and technical classes held during the year, and in the number of pupils attending classes. A new branch of manual instruction was taken up during the year —viz., dairy-work—and equipment was provided and classes started at 7 primary schools and 2 district high schools. This work is under the control of the instructor in agriculture. The work carried on in other manual-training subjects—cookery, woodwork, ironwork, agriculture, &c. ■ —is reported on favourably. Plasticine-modelling continues to be the chief handwork subject in the primary schools, but brushwork and freearm drawing are being freely taken up. It is to be regretted that there is a decrease in the number of classes for swimming and life-saving. Instruction in needlework was given in 7 schools in charge of male teachers, the special instructors receiving a payment at the rate of 10s. for each child taught during the year. In regard to technical instruction continued progress

Receipts. Training of teachers Capitation on special classes Fees Balance at end of year £ s. d. I Expenditure. £ a. d. 120 0 0 Balance at beginning of year .. .. 173 11 8 29 8 5 J Salaries of instructors .. .. .. 152 10 6 .. ' 2 0 0 Office expenses (including salaries, stationerv, .. 201 14 8 &c.) .. .. .. .. .". 14 18 10 Lighting and heating and material for class use 12 2 1 £353 3 1 £853 3 1 E. Hylton, Secretary.