2494

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

[No. 82

10. When no school work has been done on an ordinary half-day, the teacher shall give a circumstantial and satisfactory statement in the log-book, showing that the total absence of pupils has not been owing to any act or default of his. The opportunity to attend must be offered in good faith twice a day.

11. The teacher shall post his quarterly returns within three days after the last school day in each quarter. No salary shall be paid to any teacher if, and so long as, his returns are more than one month in arrear. Returns are to be considered as in arrear until they have reached the office in a perfectly correct form.

12. Fraudulent entries in any register or return may lead to summary dismissal.

In connection with the marking and keeping of the registers the following offences shall be regarded as inexcusable:—

(a.) Not providing in the time-table a fixed time in the morning and another in the afternoon for the marking of the roll.

(b.) Not marking the roll at the time fixed by the time-table.

(c.) Marking an absent pupil as present.

(d.) Not entering the total of the morning’s marks as soon as the marking for the morning is done, and similarly with respect to the afternoon.

(e.) Marking the register otherwise than in ink.

VI. GOOD-ATTENDANCE CERTIFICATES.

1. At every Native school certificates shall be obtainable, to be called “good-attendance certificates,” and such certificates shall be of two classes,—

(a.) For any child of school age attending the school who for a period of twelve months has been present every time the school was open, both in the morning and afternoon.

(b.) For any such child who for a like period has not been absent from such school more than five times in all.

2. Such certificates shall be signed and issued by the Inspector-General of Schools, or by the Secretary for Education, or by the Inspector of Native Schools.

3. With the quarterly return for December, lists of children qualified for certificates shall be sent to the Department, the total number of attendances each has made during the year being shown in each case.

VII. SCHOOL PREMISES.

1. The schoolroom shall be used as a schoolroom only, and the teacher shall not allow it to be put to any other purpose whatsoever, except as hereinafter provided. Under no circumstances shall the use of the schoolroom for dancing be permitted.

2. If the people in the district wish religious services to be held in the schoolroom they shall make an application to the Minister and obtain his sanction. In cases in which this has been obtained and service has been held in the school, the room shall be properly cleaned and set in order for the school work of the following day at the cost of the persons that have had the use of the school.

3. The schoolroom shall be available for use as a polling-place for the election of a member of the General Assembly if so required by the Returning Officer.

4. The head teacher shall make arrangements for the regular cleaning of the schoolroom, the offices, and all other buildings.

5. The premises, including the outbuildings, shall be swept and dusted daily, and washed with sufficient frequency to keep them thoroughly clean.

6. The head teacher is responsible for the safe custody of the school buildings and furniture.

VIII. DISCIPLINE.

1. Teachers shall do all in their power to secure the good behaviour of their pupils, and to train them in the formation of good habits, both in the school and the playground, and when proceeding to or returning from school.

2. All degrading and injurious punishments shall be avoided. In particular no teacher shall strike any child upon the head. A violation of this rule may subject the offending teacher to dismissal.

3. Corporal punishment may as a last resort be inflicted by the head teacher only, and on the responsibility of the head teacher, who shall at once enter the particulars in the log-book.

4. Corporal punishment may be inflicted for offences against morality, for gross impertinence, or for wilful and persistent dis-