E.—2.

[Appendix B.

present. The Board is in accord with the Minister that the limited funds at his disposal r should be devoted to the provision of school accommodation for children in districts where none now exists. In certain cases the Board has taken advantage "of the Department's scheme for the erection of portable buildings in order to provide accommodation where such was urgently required. The question of accommodation for teachers in rural districts is still acute, and constitutes one of the most difficult problems the Board has to deal with. It is important that the residents of rural areas should realize this difficulty, and should do their utmost to co-oporate with the school authorities in providing suitable accommodation for teachers, otherwise the Board will have no recourse but reluctantly to close the schools. Finance. —The income for the year ended 31st December, 1921, totalled £813,940 Is. sd, and the expenditure £818,701 3s. sd. Maintenance Fund. —During the year the Board has found the Maintenance Fund inadequate, and has made application to the Department for an increase sufficient to put the fund upon a proper footing. Training College. —During 1921 the number of students at the Auckland Training College was 270 —viz, 66 men and 204 women. During the year 1922 it is probable that the students will number at least 350. The Board is continuing the, use of the building known as the " annexe " for the purpose of providing additional accommodation for the training of students. The Board is pleased to record the fact that during the year a large area of land situated in the Epsom district, to the south of Mount Eden, has by legislative action been vested in the Board as a site for a new training college. The Board considers that no time should be lost in the erection of a new building upon this property as soon as the financial stringency lightens. For the purpose of affording extra facilities for the Training College students, the Board has determined that the Kowhai and Curran Street schools, which are to be opened early in 1922, will be special schools associated with the Training College. Training College Hostel. —For some time past the question of accommodation for students of the Auckland Training College has been under the serious consideration of the Board. The. Board is now pleased to report that arrangements are now almost completed for the establishment of a Training College hostel for women students at " Willesden," a property situated in Epsom and eminently suited for the purpose. District High Schools. —The Inspectors' reports upon the work done in the secondary departments of district high schools gives cause for much satisfaction. Only a few years ago the work of these departments was not, in general, of high quality. According to the last reports received from, the Inspectors the work has very materially improved, owing largely, in the Board s opinion, to the special attention given to these departments during recent years by the Inspectors. The Board is also pleased, to note that the attendance in the secondary departments of district high schools is increasing. Applications have been received for the establishment of district high schools at Kaitaia, Rawene, Te Aroha, and Opotiki, and it is expected that a sufficient number of pupils will be forthcoming to warrant their establishment early in the year 1922. Pukekohe Technical High School. —At the beginning of 1921 the Pukekohe, District High School merged into the Pukekohe Technical High School, under a separate Board of Managers, with the Education Board as controlling authority. During the year the number of pupils enrolled exceeded all expectations. The school has already done good work, and gives evidence of becoming one of the foremost educational institutions in the Auckland District. The school is held in a new and commodious building situated in extensive grounds donated mainly by the local authorities of the district in which it has been established. Organizing Teachers. —The organizing teachers in the Board's employ still continue to do good work in rural centres. A report recently received from the Senior Inspector indicates that the teaching in rural schools supervised by an organizing teacher is greatly improving. Ehm School of Art. —During the year the Elam School of Art came by special legislation under the jurisdiction of the Board, as controlling authority. School for Crippled Children. —During the year a school for crippled children was established at the Rotorua Hospital, and has given much satisfaction. The school is ably conducted, and has filled a great want among the afflicted children. The children take a very keen interest in their work, and, notwithstanding their disability, are making sound progress in their school-work. Auckland Hospital School. —Tho special school in the Auckland Hospital is continuing to give great satisfaction. It is ably conducted, and provides pleasant and useful occupation for children unable from their disability to attend an ordinary school. School for Deaf Children, &c. —In the early part of the year, in a room in Myers Kindergarten, Auckland, a school was established for the benefit of partially deaf and dumb children and children suffering from defective speech, under a special teacher'sent from the Sumner school. Very gratifying results have already been achieved. Medical Inspection of Schools. —The Medical Officers working in the Auckland Education District continue to render very valuable service to parents by the medical inspection of children throughout the various schools. Those officers advise parents of defects in their children. They frequently address meetings of parents. Owing to their efforts several Hospital Boards throughout the AucTdand Education District have granted free medical treatment to children who have been recommended to their institutions by a School Medical Officer. This is a great concession on the part of the Hospital authorities, and the Board records its thanks for their action. The Board feels, however, that medical inspection is but the beginning of a work of making healthy and virile people, and looks forward to the time when the number of Medical Officers will be so increased that they will be able to supply remedial treatment.

II