A.—3

13

The'jDental Officer's report on the work carried on in Mangaia from December, 1927, to May, 1928, showed that 360 children, being the total number on the school rolls, received all the dental treatment they required. It was found that the teeth of the Mangaian people were excellent in comparison with Rarotonga, due probably to their greater reliance on native foods. In Rarotonga, work at the main school at Avarua has been almost completed, and at the present time treatment is being given simultaneously to the pupils of the Takitumu, Arorangi, Titikaveka, and Catholic Mission schools. Returns for the year show that the number of patients totalled 1,485, and the attendances were 3,175. The following operations were performed : Fillings, 2,264 ; extractions 638 ; cleaning and scaling, 890 ; miscellaneous, 1,053 : making a total of 4,845. Education. Good progress is being made in educational matters, and the policy set out in the 1927 annual report is being adhered to. Acting on medical advice, the late Superintendent of Schools was compelled to relinquish his position. During the past two years the more important work undertaken was : — (1) The construction of new courses of study for the pupils, in keeping with the conclusions arrived at by the conference of educational experts from New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, and Cook Islands, held in Wellington in January, 1926 (see annual report for 1926). (2) Classes for the instruction of Native teachers were established, and the European staff of teachers increased and concentrated on this work, with the result that all Native teachers are now receiving regular instruction and training. The work carried out in this direction has already considerably improved the academic status of the Native teachers in all schools. (3) The establishment in 1927 of a training college and normal school for Native teachers. The policy of thoroughly training Native teachers is sound, and when developed will give a regular supply of good reliable teachers capable of taking up work in any part of the Group, 'this will be of particular benefit to the outlying islands of the Northern and Southern Groups. It has been the' aim of the Administration to evolve a sound scheme of education of practical use, and suited to the needs, ability, and future prospects of our Native community. While it is not the aim of the Administration to educate the Cook-Islanders above their ordinary station in life, opportunities are being given to those of outstanding ability and character to be trained for positions in the islands, such as teachers, nurses, dental nurses, wireless operators, clerks in Administration offices and stores, store assistants, &c. Two of our promising young Maoris have been sent to the Suva Medical School to train as Native medical practitioners, and encouraging reports have been received in regard to their ability and work. New class-rooms were erected at Avarua, Titikaveka, Atiu, and Aitutaki during the year. School attendances increased by 103, the number of pupils on the rolls of the Southern Group schools being now 1,659, whilst there are 368 pupils in the subsidized Mission schools in the Northern Group. In addition, 182 pupils are receiving instruction at the Catholic mission school at Rarotonga. Parents are keen, often at a considerable sacrifice, to send their children to a Maori college in New Zealand. As the standard of ordinary education given in our schools goes only to about the Fourth Standard of a New Zealand primary school, it usually takes pupils sent to New Zealand at least two years to reach the proficiency stage. This year at the Avarua School a special class is being formed of the brightest pupils from each of the schools in both the Northern and Southern Groups. This will give them an opportunity to reach proficiency standard without undue burden on the parents, and the most promising pupils can then be drafted into the Training College for Teachers, or into training for suitable occupations, whilst no doubt a few will go on to New Zealand equipped to take up a secondary course. It is also proposed this year to go into the question of reviving the scholarship system by which, up to 1925, scholarships were granted each year to a few of the best pupils. As only a small number would find suitable employment available for them on their return from New Zealand, scholarships would have to be limited to, say, two boys and one girl each year. With the work now being carried on at the Avarua Normal School and Training College for Teachers it is hoped that in the near future it may be possible to reduce the staff of European teachers, and thus to lessen the heavy grants for educational purposes which New Zealand has been good enough to make to us in the past. During last year Mr. A. F. Scherer, headmaster of the Avarua Normal School, carried on most efficiently the Superintendent's work, and his report is attached : — " Eighteen schools are now under the control of the local Administration. Eleven of these are in the Lower Group of the islands of Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Atiu, Mitiaro, Mauke, and Mangaia, the remainder being in the more remote islands of the Northern Group. " Staffing. —At the end of the year the staff in the Southern Group consisted of eighteen European teachers and thirty-seven Native teachers ; in the Northern Group were nine Native teachers. From the standpoint of staffing, the year has been an unusual one, and no supervisory or inspection visits were made to the outer islands, owing to the absence of the Superintendent, and no visiting Inspector from New Zealand because of lack of communication with islands at suitable periods.