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The recent improvements in many school buildings may keep up a better attendance than formerly during the winter weather.

It is worth notice that in the Christchurch Wesleyan School, where the staff of teachers has been reduced, the numbers and payments have decreased accordingly.

A comparison of the June quarter of 1864 with the same quarter of 1863, shows an increase of about 200 in the total attendance, and of about £500 in the payments.

From the schedule, as to efficiency, it will be seen that the number of schools examined during the quarter has been 28. Those omitted having been the Leithfield, Ashley, Templeton, Timaru and Arowhenua, for examination early in the ensuing quarter.

The number of children examined amounted to 1138. The attendance was in several instances reduced by unfavourable weather.

The number of teachers present at these examinations amounted to 38, comprising, with the five teachers of the schools not examined, the staff of 48, exclusive of those employed in Christ’s College and the Grammar School.

I have assigned the letters A, B, C, respectively to indicate different degrees of efficiency as follows:

A. Satisfactory

B. Moderately so

C. Deficient or defective.

Sites.

I need not comment much upon the sites, they are well-known to the Board as mostly central and convenient. Those at Governor’s Bay, Lower Heathcote (or Ferry Road), and Arowhenua are those in which a change seems both desirable and practicable.

Buildings.

The buildings have, in many instances, been repaired and improved; but there are few so well planned and built as to be considered models, exclusive of those recently built under the directions of the Board.

The aspect of a school is, I think, important; and that of the Lyttelton Wesleyan School seems to be a warning against a south-westerly one. The north-east seems to me more desirable, because the building facing in that direction has the advantage of all the early warmth in fine winter weather, and is not too constantly exposed to the heat in summer.

Premises.

The buildings and premises in only a few instances comprise a suitable dwelling house for the teacher and a sufficient area for a play ground.

Several schools require to be enlarged.

Books and Apparatus.

The supplies of books and apparatus in the several schools have been much improved by the facilities afforded by the Board. The children are mostly able to secure books of their own at a very moderate price. The diffusion of knowledge is thus extended to the homes of many.

Organization.

The organization, as well as the teaching power employed, and the distribution of it is very satisfactory in a large proportion of the schools; but the addition of a few pupil teachers (or other assistants), to the staff employed, is essential to the general efficiency.

The efficiency is sometimes impaired by the peculiar methods of teachers, and by the unsuitable character of the buildings and furniture.

In such as the St. Luke’s and St. Andrew’s schools the progress of the pupils is impeded by the very mixed character of the schools; of as it were two schools in each of them, an infants’ and also a juvenile school under one teacher. Subjects higher than those of an infants’ school cannot be taught with effect without neglecting the very little children, who cause a continual interruption unless they receive constant attention.

The worst organization of a school has been where the teacher has had any other more lucrative or more honorable employment. A bright gleam of temporary success has in such cases been usually followed by unusual dulness and total failure. The gradual disappearance of this phase is being followed by the more steady efficiency of such schools.

The use of monitors, even by the most judicious teachers, is but an imperfect organization, whereby the monitors themselves are defrauded of their instruction, and their pupils are badly taught.

The sub-division into many little classes is very undesirable, especially so when there are not competent teachers for each.