xxviii

BOARD OF EDUCATION,

Quarter Ending December, 1866.

SUMMARY REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS.

To the Honourable H. J. Tancred, Chairman.

Sir,—I have the honour, in obedience to your instructions, to submit a tabular summary of the Quarterly Returns as to attendance and payment, and a Schedule as to the efficiency of the Schools examined.

I have also annexed a Return showing the number of scholars with reference to their ages and attainments, and adapted to the requirements of the General Government. The averages as to the different sexes, in this return, have mostly been estimated by myself, the registers in most of the schools, mixed schools, not having hitherto been so kept as to distinguish these statistics; they can only, therefore, be regarded as an approximation; but the totals, from which they have been estimated, are much more reliable.

The Return requested by the Colonial Secretary does not state whether or not the daily average of attendance is required. "The average attendance for the quarter" will often be understood to mean the average number of attendants on each weekly list. But the average daily attendance for each quarter is a much more net and exact average. It affords, however, a seemingly lower result than the weekly average for the quarter will afford.

Averages do not stand in correct ratio with one another, unless they are based upon a uniform or a similar registration.

Surprise is often expressed at the different results of different provinces or countries, by those who do not understand that these results are obtained either from different modes of registration, or from different readings of what is required.

The totals in the last-named return are as yet incomplete, spaces having been left for the insertion of information from several schools, so soon as it shall have arrived.

An abstract of the teachers’ annual returns as to attendance and school-fees, is also annexed.

It will be seen from the tabular summary of quarterly returns that during the quarter the number of attendants has been 2372, an increase of 292 upon the corresponding quarter of 1865.

The average daily attendance 1632; an increase of 233.

The amount of school-fees £831 3d.; an increase of £95 8s. 5d.

The abstract of annual returns shows forty schools at work at the end of 1866, six more than 1865; of the new schools—

• Oxford (new) School, commenced in the March quarter.
• Lower Heathcote (new) School, commenced in the March quarter.
• Eyretown School, commenced in the September quarter.
• Fernside School, commenced in the September quarter.
• Rangiora Girls’ School, commenced in the September quarter.
• Little Akaloa (new) School, commenced in the September quarter.

The gross total of attendants during 1866, 3251; is an increase of 467 upon 1865:

The net average of daily attendance 1549; is an increase of 232.

The gross amount of school-fees £3077 17s.; is an increase of £645 4s.

These statistics show a steady increase at a somewhat greater rate than for 1865.

It will be seen from the Schedule as to the efficiency of the Schools, that the number examined during the quarter has been 31, including 1390 children present at these examinations.

The schools more highly commended for steady efficiency throughout the year are the—

• Pigeon Bay Academy.
• Christchurch Wesleyan School.
• Okain Bay School.
• St. Paul’s Papanui School.
• Kaiapoi Church School.
• Rangiora Boys’ School.
• St. Luke’s School.
• St. Andrew’s School.
• Timaru School.
• Alford School.