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E.—6

WANGANUI. Extract from the Report of Inspectors of Schools. The secondary departments in district high schools have languished somewhat during the war. Shortage of farm labour lessened the attendance, and, in addition, much difficulty was experienced by the Board in securing qualified, teachers. When one views the great variety of subjects secondary teachers, particularly in the smaller district high schools, are called upon to teach, it is little wonder teachers are difficult to find. The, teacher with qualifications in science is rare, and we are forced to conclude that the high school and University courses of most young people who aim at teaching as a vocation are still modelled on the academic and literary demands of the old style of secondary school. It is a pity this is so, since the district high school lias, and rightly in our opinion, little need to provide the purely literary type of instruction. Our organization of the district high school secondary work has been outlined on previous occasions and need not be, repeated here. Suffice to say the main aim we have had in view is the bringing of the post-primary work into closer touch with the vocational needs of the pupils. We acknowledge there are still pupils who, through the prejudice or want of knowledge, of parents or teachers, or both, are misfits in the courses of instruction chosen ; but, in tho main, there is little waste of effort. We, are sure still fewer mistakes would be made in placing pupils if these brought with them from their primary teacher a report showing their special aptitudes. Those pupils who have shown little bias this way or that would enter the district high school " general course " —a course planned specially as a kind of trying-out course, during which the secondary teacher would be expected to find out and report to the parents the special aptitudes shown by each pupil. Under such a system teachers would work with increased confidence in the usefulness of their work, and parents would have greater confidence in the value of secondary education. At present the parent, with, his own school-days in mind, views with a good deal of suspicion any sort of secondary education that has not in view the passing of examinations. So far, we do not appear to have much that is definite to substitute, for this aim. More definitely vocational training would, we feel sure, supply this want. Extract from the Report of the Director of Manual and Technical Instruction. The rural course was continued at each of the six district high, schools, the average attendance being 155, as compared with 189 in 1917. The work in agriculture in the secondary departments of the district high schools proceeded on the lines followed in previous years. It is felt, however, that too much time is taken up in digging and other preparatory work in order to arrive at what is required in a secondary course. This preparatory work has probably been well taught in the primary school, and if it were possible to relieve the secondary-course boys of it be employing outside labour, much more valuable work could be attempted. Field work, principally in relation to wheat-growing and the treatment of pastures, was undertaken, but the early success which attended, it was marred by the compulsory closing of the schools on account of the influenza epidemic just when the respective fields were ready for an intensive study. The annual stock camp was held at Mr. E. Short's " Parorangi " Farm in March, sixty boys being in attendance from the Wanganui Technical College and Bull's, Feilding, Marton, and Patea District High Schools. Mr. Short, as in previous years, spent a considerable amount of time in demonstrating the leading characteristics of the Romney. Mr. C. Swift undertook the instruction of the boys on Herefords, and Mr. J. Knight placed his stud at the boys' disposal and devoted some time to teaching the characteristics of the Southdown. Mr. C. G. Dernier gave a lesson on the Jersey. The, opportunities the boys had of studying were unique, in that the, animals were the best in the possession of the above gentlemen, and it is doubtful if there is another place in the Dominion where such facilities are available. Owing to the influenza epidemic, the shearing-camp, which is usually held about November, was abandoned. HAWKE'S BAY. Extract from the Report of the Education Board. As in previous years, the first- and second-year pupils of the district high schools took the rural course. The pupils in the first two years covered the programme of work: in science subjects for the Public Service Entrance Examination. In the third and fourth years natural science was taken up to Matriculation standard. The, following table shows the average yearly attendance at the rural course classes and Matriculation science classes : — .. i ~ Matriculation ~, , Rural Course. v • , Grand .lunior. Senior. ° clenoe Total. Course. Hastings .. .. .. ..29 19 5 53 Waipawa .. .. .. .. 24 II 4 39 Woodville .. .. .. ..18 9 3 30 Totals .. 71 39 12 122 It will be noticed that twenty-six pupils left during the year. Of these, fourteen were last-year pupils, ten second-year pupils, and two third- and fourth-year pupils. When compared with the previous year, the roll number and average attendance, at Waipawa show considerable decrease, due to the establishment of a Standard VII at Waipukurau. The attendance of pupils was fairly satisfactory, any irregularity being due to sickness and inclement weather.