Appendix A..]

E.—2.

attenders, and took proceedings in the case of one hundred well-seasoned irregulars. In eighty-two cases convictions were recorded, and in the remaining eighteen proceedings were discontinued owing to improved attendance or other sufficient reason. It is suggested that the law as it relates to compulsory attendance may with advantage be amended in the following respects : (a.) The tradesman who employs a child of school age during school hours (e.g., on a delivery-cart) should, equally with the parents, be liable to prosecution and fine, (b.) The parent who neglects to enrol his child should, by reason of his neglect, be immediately liable to action, just as the parent of an irregular child now is. (c.) The case of the uncontrollable or neglected child presents a real difficulty. At present, commitment to a training institution follows misdemeanour. The Board is of opinion that, on proper evidence that the child is uncontrollable or neglected, the Magistrate should be empowered to commit him to a training institution, even although he may not have been guilty of a breach of the law.* It can hardly be doubted that the sound discipline thus imposed at an earlier age would result not only in immediate moral and physical gain to the child, but also in ultima;.• gain in tin- Stale moral, economic, and monetary. Teaching Staff. —The following are the number of teachers, pupil-teachers, and probationers who were in the Board's service at the end of the year : Wen. Women. Total. Heads of schools .. .. .. .. ..66 II 77 Sole teachers .. .. .. .. ..28 62 90 Assistants .. .. .. ..58- 204 262 Total adults .. .. ..152 277 429 Pupil-teachers .. .. .. .. ..17 38 55 169 315 484 Probationers . . . . . . . . . . 3 24 27 Totals, including pupil-teachers and probationers 172 339 511 Of the adult teachers. 131 men and ->.'> I women, total 362. possess certificates: seventy-Seven are uncertificated, of whom ten are Holders of a license v, teach. Tin- percentage of fully certificated teachers is stationary at 84-4. Instruction <>l Teachers. —The following courses of instruction were held during the year, on Saturdays: Wellington—Art and handwork, the Technical staff: singing. Mr. R.Parker: physical measurements. Mr. Stuckev, M.A., B.Sc, Mr. D. Bedingfield, MA.; cookery, Miss Macintosh, with a course of lectures on the theory of cookery by Miss F. C. Kilroe, B.Sc. : woodwork and cardboard modelling. Mr. B. Howe. A Thursday class was also held in drawing for probationers. Masterton — Woodwork, drawing, and cardboard modelling, Mr. D. Grant; singing, Mr. R. Parker; physiology and hygiene, Miss Lazarus. Besides these there were given two very successful courses of continuous instruction : (1.) A spring school in agriculture, extending over a fortnight, was held in September at the District High School, Masterton, by Mr. C. dimming. It was attended by twenty teachers, who evinced the keenest working-interest in the course. The course embraced a wdde and useful variety of subjects relating to soil, plant-life, and fertilizers, treated in lecture and laboratory : microscopic work ; and propagation by grafting, budding, cuttings. Mr. A. H. Cockayne, of the Agricultural Department, gave an interesting lecture on testing seeds and seed-impurities. Messrs. Howe and Grant gave useful lessons in woodwork as an aid to agricultural and nature study. (2.) For the assistance of twenty uncertificated and untrained teachers, selected half from Hawke's Bay and half from Wellington district, a course of lessons, lasting for four weeks, was held at the Training College during February. The instruction was designed to direct their studies in preparation for the certificate. The instruction was given by Messrs. Webb, Lomas, Pitkethley, and Parker, Misses Fitch, Kilroe, and Mcßae. Any difficulties that may arise will be dealt with by correspondence. Here again the reports indicate that excellent work was done, which should greatly assist these teachers to attain the efficiency they are striving for. Training College. —There were enrolled ninety-seven students, three of whom withdrew before the end of the year. Of the ninety-four there were —Of first year, 10 men, 36 women ;of second year, 15 men, 33 women. Of these, ninety were of A Division, two of B, and two graduates. The districts were thus represented : Wellington, 38 ; Hawke's Bay, 24 ; Wanganui, 15 ; Taranaki, 6 ; Nelson, 7 ; Marlborough, 3 ; Westland, 1. Mr. J. S. Tennant, M.A., B.Sc, the new Principal, assumed control at the beginning of the year. Full details of the year's work and an interesting discussion of the chief problems of the institution will be found in his report.f Largely owing to the friendly co-operation of the teachers, the plan, since embodied in regulations, of sending the students to selected schools in the city for increased teaching-practice under ordinary school conations proved successful beyond expectation, and will be continued during the current year. It is the earnest desire of the Board to send out from the institution young teachers capable of taking charge of a small school; and, in order to devote sufficient time to necessary practical training, it is most desirable that the students should be relieved of much of the work devoted to preparation for certificate and university examinations. This relief should come about not so much by curtailing the hours of study as by large modifications of the present requirements for diplomas, and more especially by much-needed reform in university-work. As things are at present, students are face to face with the necessity of obtaining a high classification by examination, yvithout which good appointments wi'l not come their way. If the training college served no

* Note.—Under the Industrial Schools Aot, 1908. the Magistrate already has this power.—Education Department. t See Appendix D.

ii E 2. (App. A.)

IX