E.—2.

Visual Education. A number of schools have experimented in the use of the film as an educational aid. A few schools have individually purchased projectors and, through the courtesy of industrial firms and the New Zealand representatives of foreign countries, have contrived to accumulate a modest library of films. This form of education is to be the subject of special inquiry. A very large number of projectors for both silent and sound pictures are on the world's market, and the supply of 16-millimetre films, as distinct from the 35-millimetre films of the ordinary " trade " theatre, is rapidly increasing. Any proposal for introducing visual education into the curriculum will necessitate the simultaneous supply of projectors and the establishment of a film circulating library. Neither of these can precede the other. There is no doubt that we could produce numbers of films depicting all aspects of nature and life in New Zealand, thus enabling our young people to know at least their own country. Any introduction of visual education on a general scale will necessitate some slight alteration in the design of school buildings so as to secure a room suitable for screening pictures, a room that can be promptly darkened without impeding ventilation. Safety-first Instruction. A considerable advance has been made in the instruction of the pupils in the principles of safe conduct on the streets and roads, and the effects of such training are plainly evident, though accidents are still too common. Instruction in fire-prevention has also been a feature of the schemes. Inspectors of Schools, reporting on the teaching of temperance, have found it varying from fair to very good in the schools of their districts. Swimming and life-saving have generally been enthusiastically undertaken wherever facilities are available. The occurrence of the epidemic of infantile paralysis unfortunately necessitated the abandonment of the Learn to Swim Week which had been planned for February, 1937. It is proposed to hold it next summer. As practically every teacher who leaves the Training College is efficient in swimming and life-saving, it should not be difficult to raise considerably the proportion of proficient swimmers if facilities were either provided at the schools or placed at the disposal of the schools. Environment. The internal and the external enviroment of the schools is generally very satisfactory. There are now throughout the Dominion a very large number of excellently planned and very attractive school-grounds. It is pleasing to see attention given to such matters, since the modern conception of art includes not only the training given with brush, pencil, and paper, but also the training which comes through the creation by the pupils themselves of a beautiful environment. Exchange of Teachers. During the year fifteen teachers went abroad, four of whom were men. Of these exchanges eight were effected with England and seven with Australia. I have, &c., Jas. W. Mcllraitii, The Director of Education, Wellington. Chief Inspector of Primary Schools.

2. REPORT OF THE ACTING CHIEF INSPECTOR OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS. Sir, — I have the honour to present the report for the year 1936 : — Staff. Until the end of the year the staff remained the same as in 1935. In November, however, Miss Hetherington left New Zealand on leave of absence for the purpose of visiting Europe and India, and Miss M. W. May, M.A., of the staff of the Otago Girls' High School, was appointed temporarily to carry on her work during 1937. As the inspection work of the year had been completed when Miss Hetherington left it was not necessary for Miss May actually to take over her duties in 1936. Routine Work. During the first half of the year full inspections were made of eighteen secondary and combined schools as well as of the secondary departments of the thirty district high schools in the Auckland Education District and of the three district high schools in the Taranaki Education District. In addition, twenty-one registered private secondary schools were inspected and reported upon at various times during the year. During the second half of the year the usual visits were paid to all departmental secondary and combined schools in connection with the award of senior free places and of higher-leaving certificates by recommendation and with the annual classification of assistant teachers.

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