E.—2,

26

Junior High Schools.- The junior high schools at Kowhai, Matamata, and Northcote are, according to the authorities who have visited them, doing good work. The Board desires that in connection with junior high schools in rural centres the representation of the main district should be fuller than it is at present, and to this end has advocated that the parents of the junior-high-school pupils should have three representatives upon the governing body. Consolidation of Schools. —The parents of children attending the Piopio Consolidated School are still highly appreciative of the general principle of consolidation. They are satisfied that the quality of the education given to their children is much better than that given in the small schools which were discontinued when consolidation took place, and that the corporate spirit engendered among the children will make for their benefit as citizens in the future. During the year a consolidated school was established at Warkworth, the Dome Valley School having been closed and the pupils conveyed to Warkworth. Subsidies. —The Committees of the Auckland Education District continue to show keen interest in the schools under their authority. During the year they raised approximately £6,C00 for the improvement of the school grounds and surroundings, and for the establishment of libraries and other school requirements. The contribution of so large a sum is an evidence that the parents in general are impressed with the importance of a suitable environment during the school life of their children. Staffing Conditions.—A steady improvement has taken place during recent years in the staffing of the schools. Certificated teachers are gradually replacing uncertificated teachers, and the number of the latter in the Board's employ is now very small. The teaching profession still continues to prove attractive to young people who have had a secondary education. The number of applicants for positions as probationers at the beginning of 1926 was considerably in excess of the number appointed. The Board considers that in order to facilitate the proper staffing of schools at the beginning of each school year the school year should for the purpose of grading schools end on the 30th September. The Board would then have definite information as to the grading of its schools for the ensuing year, and would be in a better position to assess the staff of each and to make the necessary appointments in conformity with the grading of the school. Appointment of Teachers.—ln connection with the appointment of probationers it is desirable that an opportunity should be afforded to pupils of district high schools to obtain entrance to the teaching profession. They are acquainted with rural conditions, and would doubtless make satisfactory teachers. The Board has asked that attendance at a district high school be considered as a special qualification in the appointment of probationers. Married Women Teachers.—ln view of the number of certificated teachers for whom permanent employment has not been available, the Board has been much exercised over the question of the employment of married women teachers whose husbands are in a position to adequately support them. The Board considers that the employment of married women teachers should not be unconditional, but that the Board should have discretion in the matter. The interests of all married women teachers who find themselves in difficult circumstances would not be in any sense prejudiced by the granting to Boards of discretionary power. The Board obtained the opinion of other Boards throughout New Zealand upon the matter, and found that the great majority of them were in full accord with the Board's view. Swimming in Schools.—The Board again desires to impress upon your Department the desirability of reinstating swimming capitation in order to encourage the teaching of ttat important subject to pupils of primary schools. Indeed, the Board goes further, and advocates that the teaching of swimming be a compulsory subject in districts where facilities for such instruction exist. Medical and Dental Inspection of Schools. —The Board acknowledges the good work being done by the Medical and Dental Officers of the Health Department in the primary schools of this district. The number of such officers should, however, in the Board's judgment, be materially increased. The parents of children attending rural schools desire particularly that dental attention should be available for their children. The Board hopes that in the near future the Department will be able to increase the number of dental caravans. Adopted Schools.—During the year the scheme of adopted schools inaugurated by the Senior Inspector has continued to prove a great benefit to teachers in outlying districts. The underlying principle —that a highly efficient school shall adopt one or more small schools and direct to some extent the work of the latter —has proved quite sound and beneficial. Board's Offices. —During the year the Board removed its offices to the old Training College, in Wellesley Street East. The building was extensively renovated and remodelled, and has been converted into a very suitable office for the Board's work. The building has already proved a great convenience to Board members and the office staff, and is superior in every way to the old premises. School Banks. —During the year, after consultation with officers of the Post Office Savings-bank and the Auckland Savings-bank, the Board authorized the establishment of savings-banks in connection with the schools of this district. They have been found to be highly successful in their operations. Already the pupils of our schools have accumulated quite a large amount of savings. Conveyance. —In the Board's judgment, the allowance for conveyance should be materially increased. The cost of living has gone up in every respect during the past fifteen years, yet the scale of allowance has remained stationary. It is well known that cost of transit has materially increased since the scale was formulated. Minister of Education. —During the year Sir James Parr retired from the high office of Minister of Education, and the Board placed on record its appreciation of the valuable services he had rendered during his term of office. To the Hon, R. A. Wright, who succeeded Sir James Parr, the Board