he efforts of the Department to improve their position in this respect are being ppreciated :-- (1) "This family lost their all in the drought, and are gradually getting their flock together in this wild desolate country, having started afresh with only a few pet sheep. The children have to shepherd the sheep all day long, and it is only at night that they can get their lessons. I went out with them in the day, and we had lessons while minding the flocks. They are a grand, self-reliant family, and deserve all help that can be given them." (2) "This is a pitiful case, as the husband and wife are unable to help the children on account of neither being able to write or cipher. The father says that he will see that they carry out instructions left.' (3) "The parents take no interest whatever in this work. I regret having to report no progress since last visit." (4) "This was an exceptionally pleasant visit. These two families meet at usual school hour every day. The work is carried on on same lines as in Provisional schools.' (5) "The parents are particularly pleased that they have received a visit of an Itinerant Teacher. It has made the mother now feel quite content in her isolated home." (6) "These people intend to grasp the opportunity of educating their children, and feel very grateful.' (7) "I am indeed agreeably surprised to find such progress has been made by children who have no one to instruct them." (8) "These children, unfortunately, have no instructor; their father is unable to assist them as he is almost blind. They were at one time given a little instruction by their mother, but she has now been dead for some time. A neighbour, five miles away, has promised to look at their work about once each week." ATTENDANCE OF CHILDREN. 23. For 1908 the gross enrolment was 84,787 in State schools, and 20,649 Enrolment. in Provisional schools, making a total of 105,436 (Table C). 24. The net enrolment, or number of distinct children, was 75,730 in State schools, and 18,463 in Provisional schools; total, 94,193 (Table C), showing a decrease of 1,228 on the net enrolment for 1907 in State schools, and an increase Increase. of 1,270 in Provisional schools, or a total increase of 42. attendance. 25. The average daily attendance was 54,290 at State schools, and 13,019 Average daily at Provisional schools; total, 67,309; showing an increase of 460 on the average daily attendance for 1907. The average daily attendance was 714 per cent. of the net enrolment, an increase of 4 per cent. on the return for 1907. Increase was 26. The slight increase in the attendance for 1908 confirms the forecast which I made in my Annual Report for 1906. In that report I stated that the forecast. attendance for 1908 might be expected to be slightly better than the attendance for 1907. I reported, further, that in 1909 there would be a serious decrease of nearly 1,800, due principally to the low birth rate of 1903, and that this year of low birth rate would continue to affect the enrolment until 1912, unless there were an influx of children through immigration. COMPULSORY EDUCATION. Notifications 27. The police have continued to act as attendance officers, and they have shown commendable zeal, diligence, and tact in the discharge of their duties. and warnings. Notifications and urgent notifications were served upon defaulting parents by the police in 822 cases reported to them by teachers. In 148 bad cases special letters of warning were sent direct from the Department to defaulting parents. #9. At the end of 190% the total number of teachers un ploved was 2 415. an increase of 19 for the year. The tabular statement below gives the numbers in 31. It will be observed that the number of pupil-teachers has increased, and that the number of classified and of unclassified teachers has decreased. The xplanation is that classified teachers are now sent from State schools to take harge of schools which were formerly placed under unclassified teachers, and hat the places of classified teachers so transferred have been filled, when necesary, by the appointment of pupil-teachers. The places of classified teachers who have left the service have also been filled, when necessary, by the appointment of pupil-teachers. and Provisional. 32. The following is a comparative view of the number of teachers Teachers-State employed in State and Provisional schools respectively at the end of 1908 pupils to each 33. Dividing the average daily attendance by the number of teachers Number of employed, it is shown that in 1908 the average number of pupils taught by each teacher. teacher was 31 in State schools, 197 in Provisional schools, 279 for all schools. These averages for the year 1907 were, respectively, 309, 209, and 279 teachers, 34. From Table D it appears that of the entire teaching staff at the end status of of 1908, 1,422 adults were classified, 590 were unclassified, and 403 were pupilteachers. The number of classified teachers in each rank, and the number of pupil-teachers in each class at the end of the year, are shown in the following condensed statement: teachers and 35. Of the 1,422 classified teachers, 44 are ex-pupil-teachers admitted into Classified Class III., Division 3, from 1st January, 1908. Of the 403 pupil-teachers, 219 pupil-teachers. received promotion in the ordinary course of their apprenticeship; and 103 pupilteachers on probation qualified by examination for promotion from 1st January, 1909. 36. Particulars respecting promotions made in 1908 appear in the follow- Promotion of ing table : pupil-teachers. Summons cases. Conference. Resolutions passed. 28. Summonses were issued in 80 of the worst cases, and convictions were obtained in most of them. Summary proceedings are not taken unless it seems certain, after careful investigation by the police, that the absence of the child from school has been due to carelessness or neglect on the part of the parents. 29. On several occasions I have written at length regarding the desirableness of amending the compulsory clauses of the Education Act. The subject was considered at the last Departmental Conference, and the following resolutions were passed: (1) That the compulsory school age of children be from 6 to 14, unless there be a valid excuse within the meaning of Section 28 of "The State Education Act of 1875." (2) That the distances for the purposes of compulsory school attendance be two miles in the case of children who are under 10, and three miles in the case of children who are 10 or over. (3) That the minimum attendance be four-fifths of the days on which the school is open, unless there be a valid excuse within the meaning of Section 28 of "The State Education Act of 1875." (4) That teachers be required to prepare at the end of each quarter, and forward direct to the Police Attendance Officer, a list in prescribed form of the defaulters during that quarter; and that a copy of the list be forwarded at the same time to the Education Department. (5) That the Police Attendance Officer make immediate inquiries into each case and recommend to the Minister, through the Commissioner of Police, such action as he thinks should be taken in each case. (6) That such action, as may be approved by the Minister, follow as soon as possible after the recommendations are received from the Commissioner of Police. (7) That the Police, whether Police Attendance Officers or not, be empowered to accost children of school age who are in the streets or other public places during school hours, and to obtain the names and addresses of such children. The Police thereafter to make such further inquiries and take such further action as may be found necessary. (8) That as one of the valid excuses, which is defined in Section 28 of the Principal Act, is "that the child has been educated up to the standard of education," and as the term "standard of education is not clearly defined, the term be taken to mean "that the child has at least completed the work prescribed for the Fifith Class in Schedule XII. to the Regulations." Number of teachers. TEACHERS EMPLOYED. 30. At the end of 1908 the total number of teachers employed was 2,415, an increase of 19 for the year. The tabular statement below gives the numbers in detail: Causes of decrease. 31. It will be observed that the number of pupil-teachers has increased, and that the number of classified and of unclassified teachers has decreased. The explanation is that classified teachers are now sent from State schools to take charge of schools which were formerly placed under unclassified teachers, and that the places of classified teachers so transferred have been filled, when necessary, by the appointment of pupil-teachers. The places of classified teachers who have left the service have also been filled, when necessary, by the appointment of pupil-teachers. and Provisional. 32. The following is a comparative view of the number of teachers Teachers-State employed in State and Provisional schools respectively at the end of 1908:— pupils to each 33. Dividing the average daily attendance by the number of teachers Number of employed, it is shown that in 1908 the average number of pupils taught by each teacher. teacher was 31 in State schools, 197 in Provisional schools, 279 for all schools. These averages for the year 1907 were, respectively, 30'9, 209, and 27'9 teachers. 34. From Table D it appears that of the entire teaching staff at the end status of of 1908, 1,422 adults were classified, 590 were unclassified, and 403 were pupilteachers. The number of classified teachers in each rank, and the number of pupil-teachers in each class at the end of the year, are shown in the following condensed statement: teachers and 35. Of the 1,422 classified teachers, 44 are ex-pupil-teachers admitted into Classified Class III., Division 3, from 1st January, 1908. Of the 403 pupil-teachers, 219 pupil-teachers. received promotion in the ordinary course of their apprenticeship; and 103 pupilteachers on probation qualified by examination for promotion from 1st January, 1909. 36. Particulars respecting promotions made in 1908 appear in the follow- Promotion of ing table: pupil-teachers. |