[Appendix B.

_6.-*2.

Twelve schools have been constituted " weather-observation stations," and these are supplied with a maximum and minimum thermometer in addition to the ordinary apparatus supplied. Monthly reports are received from these schools and published in the Leaflet, with such details as altitude of station, situation with respect to land and water masses, to enable all schools throughout the district to compare weather records and deal with the teaching of climate in the most practical manner. The scheme of manual artd technical instruction in the primary schools aims at providing continuous courses of manual occupations associated on the one side with instrumental drawing and on the other with free drawing. In the junior classes plane geometry is taught through the medium of paper-folding, but in the larger schools carton-modelling may be substituted in S2. In the senior division scale drawing and geometry (plane and solid) are associated with carton or cardboard modelling, or, where facilities are available, with woodwork. The boys alone follow up instrumental drawing along these lines in the senior division. In the case of girls the instrumental drawing is associated with brush design, and scale drawing is not as a rule taken. In addition to the above course in instrumental drawing with the associated handwork, most schools provide a course in plasticine-modelling associated with free drawing (object drawing and design). Unfortunately this course is interrupted, usually at the end of the S2 period, and we do not at present see our way to urge the continuance of the instruction in the senior division. We have, &c, T. B. Strong,-) James Milne I Inspectors. D. Stewart, ) The Director of Education, Wellington.

HAWKE'S BAY. Sir, Napier, 22nd February, 1918. We have the honour to present the following report on the state of primary education in Hawke's Bay for the year 1917 : — In December there were in operation 145 public schools, ten Roman Catholic schools, and nine private registered schools. As in the preceding year, the primary classes of the local high schools and the Native schools in the district were subject to our inspection. Two new schools were opened during the year and fourteen were closed. All of these were small household schools. The following table shows the number on the roll and the number present at the teachers' annual examination in December, 1917 : — Public Schools. Number on Present at Roll. Examination. Standard VII ... ... •■■ ••• HI 137 VI ... ... ... 919 898 V ... ... ... 1,318 1,28,8 IV ... ... ... 1,473 1,442 111 ... ... ... 1,684 1,637 II ... ... 1,668 1,623 I .. ... ... 1,657 1,606 Preparatory 4,375 4,098 Totals 13,235 12,729 Roman Catholic Schools. Number on Present at Roll. Examination. Standard VII ... ... ... 34 21 VI ... •■• 82 76 V ... ... H3 104 IV ... ■•• 126 126 HI 131 125 II ... ... 126 120 I ... ... ... ... 178 164 Preparatory ... ... ... 40!) 382 Totals U199 1,118 "Registered Schools (other than Roman Catholic Schools). —In the case of some of these schools information as to enrolment and classification is not given in terms similar to those used in the public schools and some have forwarded no statement. We recommend that these schools be required to keep records in the registers provided by the Department. The total number on the rolls of these schools was 685; number present at examination, 645. School Buildings.— As a rule the teachers bestow reasonable care on the buildings. Ihe use of schoolrooms for social gatherings is a matter which should receive attention. We have again had complaints concerning the condition in which the premises are left. The new buildings now in course of erection are of a much better type as regards lighting and ventilation. Nothing has yet been done in the matter of open-air class-rooms, although a good deal of open-air teaching is practised.

IV