9

E.—l

greatly interfered with the regularity of attendance. The percentage of regularity (89-8) does not fall far short of the highest figure yet attained —namely, 903, in the year 1919. Every education district shows an improvement in this respect, the percentages ranging from 88*4 to 92-2, the latter high figure of attainment being reached in the Otago District. Compared with the results achieved in other countries, the regularity of attendance in New Zealand is distinctly good, and it is felt that the improved attitude of parents towards this matter is largely -responsible for the high standard reached during recent years. The following figures represent the total number of children (of whom the average weekly roll number was given above) in average attendance at registered schools giving primary instruction : — Public .schools (excluding secondary departments of dis- '920. 1921. trict high .schools) .. .. .. .. 168,8.16 179,866 Native village and mission schools .. .. .. 4,861 5,198 Registered private primary schools .. .. .. 19,162 20,941 Lower departments of secondary schools .. .. 688 710 Totals .. .. .. ..193,527 206,715 Classification, Age, and Examination of Pupils. Classification and Age of Pupils. The classification of pupils is reported by the Inspectors of Schools to be carried out intelligently by the teachers as a whole. In small country schools where previously there was weakness in this respect the assistance given by the organizing teacher has resulted in a considerable improvement. The seriousness of undue retardation of pupils has been previously emphasized in this report, and teachers as a, whole now realize the importance of, as far as possible, allowing the pupil to progress at his natural rate. The following table shows the classification of pupils of primary schools, the numbers between the heavy horizontal lines representing children regarded as of normal classification, those above the upper lines children brighter than the average, and those below the lower lines children below normal classification : —

Classified Return of the Numbers on the Rolls of Public Schools at the end of 1921, excluding Secondary Departments of District High Schools.

2—E. 1.

greatly interfered with the regularity of attendance. The percentage of regularity (89-8) does not fall far short of the highest figure yet attained- —namely, 90'3, in the year 1919. Every education district shows an improvement in this respect, the percentages ranging from 88*4 to 92 - 2, the latter high figure of attainment being reached in the Otago District. Compared with the results achieved in other countries, the regularity of attendance in New Zealand is distinctly good, and it is felt that the improved attitude of parents towards this matter is largely -responsible for the high standard reached during recent years. The following figures represent the total number of children (of whom the average weekly roll number was given above) in average attendance at registered schools giving primary instruction : — Public schools (excluding secondary departments of dis- 1920. 1921. trict liig.li schools) .. .. .. .. 168,816 179,866 Native village and mission schools .. .. .. 4,861 5,198 Registered private primary schools .. .. .. 19,162 20,941 Lower departments of secondary schools .. .. 688 710 Totals .. .. .. ..193,527 206,715 Classification, Age, and Examination op Pupils. Classification and Age of Pupils. The classification of pupils is reported by the Inspectors of Schools to be carried out intelligently by the teachers as a whole. In small country schools where previously there was weakness in this respect the assistance given by the organizing teacher has resulted in a considerable improvement. The seriousness of undue retardation of pupils has been previously emphasized in this report, and teachers as a whole now realize the importance of, as far as possible, allowing the pupil to progress at his natural rate. The following table shows the classification of pupils of primary schools, the numbers between the heavy horizontal lines representing children regarded as of normal classification, those above the upper lines children brighter than the average, and those below the lower lines children below normal classification : — Ilassified Return op the Numbers on the Rolls op Public Schools at the end op 1921, excluding Secondary Departments op District High Schools. Class P. Standard I. Standi ird II. Standard III. Standard IV. Standard V. Standard VI. Standard VII. Totals. Ages. Girls. Boys. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. 5 and under 6 .. 7,901 7,415 i 1 104 3 7,902 7,416 6 „ 7 .. 10,860 9,967. 91 3 10,954 10,074 7 „ 8 .. 10,459 9,604 1,688 1,689J 127 121 5 2 12,279 11,416 8 „ 9 .. 9 „ 10 .. 5,491 1,762 4,423| 1,341 4,306 5,0201 4,8101,429 3,710j4,712 1,643 4,668 11.333 106 113 1,412 2 5 85 114 1,3071,348 3,617|3,827 3 4 1 .. 77 3 12,048 12,201 10,994 11,249 .0 „ 11 .. [1 „ 12 .. 492 177 351 132 1,723 651 1,2843,938 4071,790 112 692 3,464. 1,410 4,165 4,183 3,8903,506 84 1,117 90 1,235 6 86 11.715 11,331 10,721 10,594 12 „ 13 .. 71 60 214 459 2,1391,731 973 679 3,6503,454 3,504 3,528 1,030 1,045 6 6 11,306 10,395 13 „ 14 . . 33 22 78 39 1 261 189 2,0811,952 3,450 3,363 2,996 2,987 29 48 9,901 9,279 14 ., 15 .. 5 ' „ 16 .. ,6 „ 17 .. 10 5 1 4 2 25 3 11 61 2. 11 .. I 1 36 12 2 245 180 37 17 6 2 735 5491,786 1,420 142 89 465 320 20 12 58 37 118 4 11640113511047 10001 I jwn in Table C2 in E.-2 f 2,838^2,446 28 1,1841 801 16 173; 117 3 13 6 5 8,326 7,480| 90 58 32 12 5,728 1,863 261 4,704 1,275 183 3ver 17 1 11 27 23 l Totals, 1921 37,261 33,322 I3,800 | 12169 13025 12007 12899 11826 11826 167 107516 98,322 Note. —The n work of S6 but lefl lumber t before of S6 p s the em upils in d of the this table di ; year are im iffers fi eluded rom that she . in this tabh lat she is tabh ! or the reason that pupili who di id the e. 2—E. 1.