E.—l

19

The number of pupils per teacher in the several grades or groups of schools is shown below, two pupil-teachers being counted as equivalent to one adult teacher, and probationers not being included on the staff. Average Number of Children per Teacher. Grades 0 and I (1-15 in average attendance, one teacher) .. .. 10 - 0 Grades II and 111 (16-35, one teacher).. .. .. .. 23-2 Grades IV-X (over 35, two or more teachers) .. .. .. .. 38-7 Grades VII-X (over 200, six or more teachers) .. .. .. .. 46 - 9 All schools .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 33T Grades 11-X (over 15) .. .. .. .. .. .. 35-9 The staffing of schools in countries considered to be advanced in educational progress, as compared with that of New Zealand schools with an average attendance of over 200, is shown in the figures below, and apparently there is still room for improvement in the staffing of the larger schools of the Dominion. The Education Act of 1914 provides for an immediate small improvement" and an ultimate considerable improvement in the staffing of schools. The scale of staffing under the former Acts (1908 and 1913) was one teacher for each 40 or part of 40 children up to 200 in average attendance, then one additional teacher for each 50 or part of 50. The scale in the new Act will give one teacher for each 40 or part of 40 up to 400 in average attendance, and then one additional teacher for each 50 or part of 50. Average Number op Children per Adult Teacher (counting Two Pupil-teachers as One Adult). London (County Council schools) .. .. .. .. 36-1 England (Board of Education schools) .. .. .. .. .. 32-8 Scotland .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 36-6 New York State .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 264 United States .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 25-2 Switzerland .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 44-0 „ (Canton of Geneva) .. .. .. .. .. 24"0 New Zealand (schools over 200) .. .. ... .. ..46-9 (all schools) .. .. .. .. .. .. 33-1 » The following figures show the ratio of males to females, adult teachers and pupil-teachers being considered separately. For purposes of comparison the figures for the previous years are also given. 1912. 1913. 1914. M. F. M. F. M. F. Ratio of adult male to adult female teachers, schools with Ito 15 scholars 100 : 356 100 : 349 100 : 385 Ratio of adult male to adult female teachers, schools with more than 15 scholars.. .. .. .. 100:151* 100:152 100:159* Ratio of adult male to adult female teachers, all schools .. .. 100 : 164* 100 : 166 100 : 173* Ratio of male pupil-teachers to female pupil-teachers .. .. .. 100 : 293 100 : 334 100 : 338 Ratio of male to female teachers, all schools .. .. .. .. 100 : 177* 100 : 180 100 : 186* * The increase is due to the appointment of additional assistant teaohers in lieu of pupil-teachers in Grades V and Vla in 1912, and in Grades Vlb and VIIIb in 1914. Very few of the assistants so appointed were males. The proportion of female teachers to male teachers shows a small increase in each section on the previous year. In the case of small sole-teacher schools and pupil-teachers the proportion of female teachers is high. This circumstance is readily explained by the fact that the maximum salary in such schools is too small