Appendix B.]

E.—2.

probably suffered more this year than in any previous one from the prevalence of a variety of epidemics. Measles, scarlatina, whooping-cough, diphtheria, and infantile paralysis, the two latter having each made their appearance in two school districts, have all laid toll upon the attendance, and necessitated the temporary closing of many of the schools. In all, forty-five schools have been closed for some weeks on account of sickness, one school being so unfortunate as to be closed for a term in each of three quarters, and in others epidemics have clung to school districts for almost the whole of the year. In consequence the attendance has suffered severely (one of our larger schools making a return of only 71 per cent, for one quarter, during two weeks of which less than half the roll were present), and the school year has in. many cases been materially shortened. The quarterly attendance returns show that only eighty-two schools have been working for a full forty-weeks period throughout the year, and only thirty-seven have been kept at work for 420 half-days. This, a reasonable term of school service even after due allowance has been made for legitimate and recognized holidays, would in normal times be expected from every school. We are satisfied that many intellectual shortcomings are due to insufficient schooling, and throughout this trying year the effects have been often exemplified. In regard to regularity of attendance but few schools escaped disaster, yet some of these maintained excellent attendance. Among them were five Grade 0, mostly household schools, with 100 per cent.; Umere, 96 per cent.; Karamea, 95 per cent.; Nelson Boys', 94 per cent.; and Fairdown, Pakawau, Scddonville, and Upper Takaka, each 93 per cent. At fifteen schools, on the contrary, the attendance was below 80 per cent. —that is to say, the children on those occasions when the schools were open (fewer than usual this year) were not present four days out of five. Little change is to be noted in the status of the teaching staff. On the 31st December 204 teachers were employed by the Board, and classified as follows : — Certificated. Uncertificated. Total. Head teachers ... ... ... ... 39 1 40 Assistants ... ... ... ... ... 64 29 93 Sole teachers ... ... ... ... 22 49 71 125 79 204 For 1915 ... ... ... ... ... 126 88 214 Among the year's appointees are two returned soldiers who after active service have resumed school duty, and have now received appointments as head teachers. In addition twenty-two pupil-teachers and eighteen probationers were in the employment of the Board. Classes of instruction for the training of teachers were held at Nelson in drawing, botany, and elementary chemistry, and at Westport in drawing and elementary hygiene. A few teachers remote from a training centre took lessons by correspondence, and six availed themselves of the opportunity kindly afforded by the Wellington Training College to attend a short summer session. The following details of classes throughout the district are supplied in the Inspectors' annual return :— Number Present at on Roll. Examination. Standard VII ... ... ... ... 138 122 VI ... ... ... ... 483 465 V ... ... ... ... 676 644 IV ... ... ... ... 772 731 111 ... ... ... ... 818 785 II ... ... ... ... 824 781 I ... ... ... ... 832 788 Preparatory ... ... ... ... 2,338 2,121 Totals for 1916... ... ... 6,881 6,437 Totals for 1915... ... ... 6,811 6,611 Included in Standard VII are the roll numbers of the secondary classes of the district high schools, which have increased to a sum total of 120. Standard V shows an increase of eighty-three, and the preparatory a decrease of sixty-four, the proportion which the number in the preparatory class now bears to the whole roll having fallen to 339 per cent. Last year the Dominion percentage was 359, " the lowest that has obtained for some years." Variations in other class totals are less noticeable, but there is a persistent drop from class to class in going from SI to S6, indicating that nearly half the children never reach the Sixth Standard. The decreases are greatest in the higher standards, so that in many cases the period of school life terminates too abruptly, or the passing from S4 to S5, and from S5 to S6 is beyond the capacity of a large proportion of our children. Last year S4 presented the main difficulty, and this time it is SB. In spite of the increased roll number the number present at the annual examinations was much less than in 1915, probably a result of the continuance of epidemics to the close of the school year. Similar arrangements to those previously existing were made for the examination of Sixth Standard candidates for certificates. All children within easy reach were centralized at one or other of the following schools—Westport, Granity, Motueka, Richmond, - Wakefield, Reef ton, Nelson Boys', and Nelson Girls'—at which 321 pupils from the primary schools were assembled. Those who could not be easily contralized for examination under the supervision of an Inspector were examined at their own schools at the time of the announced visits, and numbered in all 140. The pupils from private schools were assembled with the others at the centres mentioned above. In addition fifty-six candidates sat for the examination, some being pupils of secondary schools, some who had left the public school, some who had during the year

iii—E. 2 App. B.)

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