E.—l.

During the year special consideration has been given to the replacement of school buildings that were found to have outlived their usefulness and the erection of new schools to replace more or less unsatisfactory rented accommodation. In the most urgent cases where teachers in charge were unable to secure satisfactory accommodation new residences have been provided. Consideration has also been given to the remodelling of out-of-date school biddings in order that more satisfactory conditions could be provided for the children attending. In certain localities it has been found possible to close a number of small country schools and accommodate the children in new and up-to-date buildings situated at some convenient centre. The size of class-rooms has been under consideration during the year, and it was decided to increase the size of the standard class-room as from the beginning of the year 1938 from 24 ft. by 22 ft. to 26 ft. by 24 ft. The extent of the activity in school-building work generally may be gauged from the fact that the Public Works Fund item for Education buildings for the financial year ] 937-38 totalled £552,000 and the expenditure for that period exceeded the sum mentioned. At the end of the year 1937 there were in service 41 school buses owned by the Education Department. Of that number, no fewer than 14 were placed in service during the year in the districts as follows : Ruawai, 4; Hunterville and Otorohanga, 2 each ; K atikati, Mangorei, Urenui, Marton, Mokau, and Raurimu, 1 each. In addition, 3 school buses were under construction to the order of the Department. The total number of children actually committed under the provisions of the Child Welfare Act to the care of the Child Welfare Brance of the Education Department during the year shows an increase as compared with the previous year. An important part of the work of Child Welfare Officers is concerned with the readjustment of conditions in homes and families in order to prevent the committal of children or the need for their appearance before the Children's Courts. For the many cases placed under the supervision of Child Welfare Officers by the Courts the Department utilizes the services of the Big Brother Organizations, both Y.M.C.A. and Catholic. In addition, honary Child Welfare Officers of both sexes are appointed for most country communities and are giving valuable service in the work of the branch. Details of the work of the year are given in a separate paper, E.-4. In the Correspondence School the year has been one of progress in many directions. There has been a continued steady growth in the enrolment in the primary division, and a more rapid increase in the secondary division. The number of pupils enrolled on the ground of physical disability has shown a marked increase, and now exceeds 10 per cent, of the total enrolment. This increase has been met by the appointment of additional teachers for this special work, and has led to considerable development in the teaching of various arts and crafts. Within the Wellington city and suburban area disability pupils have been visited by a member of the staff on enrolment, and subsequently at intervals as often as could be arranged. The subjects of instruction have been increased by the addition of woodwork, shorthand, and typewriting, while greatly increased attention has been given to the teaching of other forms of handwork and the various branches of science. In the third term the Headmaster visited the homes of a number of pupils in the Hawke's Bay Education District. This visit broke new ground and is likely to be the forerunner for a series of district gatherings of pupils and teachers during school vacations, as well as a series of home-to-home visits by selected members of staff. The Parents' Association and Ex-Pupils' Association have continued to work actively in the interests of the school.

7