E.—l

14

to warrant the forming of corrective classes, and in another district in four big city schools the same state of things existed. There is no doubt that in these schools the subject is well taught, the teachers taking a keen interest in the physical welfare of the children. In some districts one hour a week extra time is, with good results, given to games. Since 1913, when regular provision was first made for physical training, there has been noticed a gradual improvement in the physique of the girls. Sir George Newman, Chief Medical Officer of the Board, of Education, London, remarks that " Physical education properly conceived and employed is one of the most powerful instruments of preventive medicine." Manual Instruction. Staffing. The following table shows the classification of full-time teachers of manualtraining classes at the end of 1923, Class VI being the highest class, and Division I including those teachers who are classified as having academic or professional qualifications equivalent at least to a University diploma involving three years' preparation of University standard.

Full-time Classified Teachers in Manual Training Classes, December, 1923.

The table shows a total, of 132 teachers, as compared with 138 for the previous year. Thirteen teachers of manual training were transferred with their classes from the control of Education Boards to that of Technical School Boards during the year, so that the total number—l4s—shows an increase of seven as compared with the previous year, an increase due mainly to the opening of several new centres for manual training during the year. Incidentals and Materials. Capitation payments on account of incidental expenses were made under the Regulations for Manual Training at the rate of ljd. per pupil-hour for cookery and Id. per hour for other subjects of manual instruction. The capitation payments amounted for the year 1923 to £19,826, as compared with £20,657 for the previous year. The reduction is due for the most part to the fact that payments in respect of pupils in Standard IV for subjects other than agriculture and dairy-work were discontinued in 1923, while the subject of swimming was removed from the list of subjects for which capitation on account of .incidental expenses was payable. There was also a slight reduction in the rate of capitation payable for domestic subjects other than cookery. As in 1922, handwork supplies were obtained through the High Commissioner in London, and. forwarded, to the Boards for distribution to the schools. Owing to unforeseen delays after the order was dispatched from the Dominion in the previous year supplies came to hand some two or three months after the beginning of the school year, thus causing considerable inconvenience to the schools. The 1924 shipment, however, was received in November and December of 1.923, with the result that nearly the whole cost of both shipments is included in the expenditure for the year ending 31st March, 1924. There is little doubt that this method of

Division I. Oivisi ion 11. Class. Men. Women. 'totals. Men. Women. VI V IV III II I 5 6 1 1 2 I 2 3 8 21 II 12 6 7 10 12 3 20 38 26 27 18 6 9 8 1 Totals, 1923 15 18 61 38 132 3; 9!