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Text-books. —As an outcome of recommendations made by a committee set up to revise the syllabus in reading in infant classes, it was decided to issue a new series of infant readers. The Department purchased seven readers based on the texts of a series published in England but specially adapted for New Zealand children. A teachers' mannal prepared in the Education Department is to accompany the series. The readers are to be supplied free to schools, and the first group of books will reach the Dominion early in 1950. I feel sure that these new readers, which are attractively produced and scientifically prepared, will do much to help the teachers and pupils in the vital early stages of reading. The text-book in English for Form I—one of the' series written expressly to cover the revised syllabus- —was put into the schools during the year. Distribution of the Form II English text will begin early in 1950. Reprints of arithmetic text-books for Standards 3 and 4 were also issued to schools. Revision of the whole series of arithmetic texts, in the light of their use in the schools over the past few years, was begun. To help teachers in working with the revised syllabuses, the publication of primaryschool bulletins was begun. The aim is to provide material, particularly about New Zealand, that is not available, elsewhere in a form suitable for primary-school children. The three bulletins issued during the year were entitled " Houses to Live In," " Towns to Live In," and " The Dairy Farm." Other Aids—As an aid to teachers and pupils in covering New Zealand geography topics, the regular distribution of photographs, each 23 in. by 20 in., and reproduced on card, was begun. The photographs show New Zealanders at work and characteristic features of the New Zealand landscape. Seventy of these photographs were issued during the year. Demands on the services of the National Film Library have greatly increased. Over six hundred schools are registered with the Library, and the number will increase as more schools obtain projectors, the purchase of which is subsidized. Ten new film strips on New Zealand topics were produced during the year, and a steady supply is being received from overseas. Art and Crafts.—The art and crafts scheme was introduced through special courses to schools in the following areas : Featherston, Carterton, Martinborough, Ward, Murchison, Inangahua Junction, Reefton, Westport, Granity, Dannevirke, Waipukurau, and Havelock. Considerable progress has been made by the two specialist teachers working in the Maori schools on the East Coast, and a firm basis has been established on which the Department is now building a scheme of work suitable for Maori schools. During the year exhibitions of children's art and crafts work were held in city and country centres. An Auckland exhibition drew the record attendance of 22,000 people during a three-week period, and other exhibitions at Hamilton, Stratford, Wellington, and Blenheim were all well patronized. The New Zealand Child Art Exhibition was shown this year in the Wanganui Education Board area. It was exhibited at Wanganui, Palmerston North, and Feilding, and was enthusiastically received by pupils, teachers, and the general public alike. These exhibitions are evidence of the rapid growth and the quality of art and crafts in the primary schools throughout New Zealand. Physical Education. —Under the present plan to have all primary and district high schools equipped by the end of 1950, further issues of balls, mats, benches, vaultingstools, and boxes were made. This will permit a fuller application of the syllabus. The third-year specialist course was resumed at Dunedin Training College with twelve students. These students, along with Diploma students from the Otago School of Physical Education, will help to meet the shortage of specialist staff which the service suffered last year. The Department's film, " Learn to Swim," was remade completely during the year, and was used extensively in the " Learn to Swim " campaigns conducted in schools throughout the country during the summer months. Two teachers of physical education attended the Gymnastic Festival in Stockholm (The Lingiad) and the Congress

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