8.—2.

contends against obtaining the best results in respect of attendance ; nevertheless, the regularity of attendance in New Zealand appears to compare very favourably with that obtaining in other English-speaking countries. The following figures represent the total number of children (of whom the average weekly roll number was given above) in average attendance at registered schools giving primary instruction : — Public schools (excluding secondary departments of district 1918. 1919. high schools) .. .. .. .. .. 167,601 '172,610 Native village and mission schools .. .. .. 4,492 4,632 Registered private primary schools .. .. .. 17,441 18,472 Lower departments of secondary schools .. .. 573 608 Special schools .. .. .. .. .. 248 Totals .. .. .. .. .. 190,355 196,322 Classification, Age, and Examination oe Pupils. (Tables Cl-07.) Classification and Age of Pupils. The classification of pupils takes place usually at the end of the school year, the teachers carrying out the work, in which, when necessary, they may be guided or assisted by the Inspectors of Schools. Although, an annual reclassification is the general rule, pupils may be promoted more than once during a year, and in the case of brighter pupils more frequent promotions are encouraged. In the lower classes especially, rapid promotion is often possible. Educationists in other countries are giving their attention to the matter of shortening the period spent in the primary schools, and so avoiding a waste of time, which in later years becomes a serious matter to the child. The amount of retardation, according to the recognized normal classification, has been ascertained in many cases, and is generally found to reach, a high percentage. \n New South Wales it has been ascertained that 42 per cent, of the children in all classes, and 66 per cent, of the pupils of the Sixth Class, are retarded ; in San Francisco 44 per cent. of the children are retarded. The following table shows the position in New Zealand. The normal age for Si pupils at the end of the year is taken as between eight and nine years, and so on through the classes ; this is one year younger than has been regarded as normal in previous reports on the subject, but in view of the fact that a child entering school at the age of five should be eight at the end of a year in Si, it appears justifiable to regard children over nine at that stage and over fourteen at the end of a year in S6 as retarded. The difficulty of arriving at a true norm in this matter is acknowledged; in New South Wales a still lower age is taken as being normal.

Classified Return of the Numbers on the Rolls of Public Schools at the end of 1919, excluding Secondary Departments of District High Schools.

5

contends against obtaining the best results in respect of attendance ; nevertheless, the regularity of attendance in New Zealand appears to compare very favourably with that obtaining in other English-speaking countries. The following figures represent the total number of children (of whom the average weekly roll number was given above) in average attendance at registered schools giving primary instruction : — Public schools (excluding secondary departments of district 1918. 1919. high schools) .. .. .. .. .. 167,601 172,610 Native village and mission schools .. .. .. 4,492 4,632 Registered private primary schools .. .. .. 17,441 18,472 Lower departments of secondary schools .. .. 573 608 Special schools .. .. .. .. .. 248 Totals .. .. .. .. .. 190,355 196,322 Classification, Age, and Examination of Pupils. (Tables Cl-07.) Classification and Age of Pupils. The classification of pupils takes place usually at the end of the school year, the teachers carrying out the work, in which, when necessary, they may be guided or assisted by the Inspectors of Schools. Although an annual reclassification is the general rule, pupils may be promoted more than once during a year, and in the case of brighter pupils more frequent promotions are encouraged. In the lower classes especially, rapid promotion is often possible. Educationists in other countries are giving their attention to the matter of shortening the period spent in the primary schools, and so avoiding a waste of time, which in later years becomes a serious matter to the child. The amount of retardation, according to the recognized normal classification, has been ascertained in many cases, and is generally found to reach, a high percentage. \n New South Wales it has been, ascertained that 42 per cent, of the children in all classes, and 66 per cent, of the pupils of the Sixth Class, are retarded ; in San Francisco 44 per cent, of the children are retarded. The following table shows the position in New Zealand. The normal age for Si pupils at the end of the year is taken as between eight and nine years, and so on through the classes ; this is one year younger than has been regarded as normal in previous reports on the subject, but in view of the fact that a child entering school at the age of five should be eight at the end of a year in Si, it appears justifiable to regard children over nine at that stage and over fourteen at the end of a year in S6 as retarded. The difficulty of arriving at a true norm in this matter is acknowledged; in New South Wales a still lower age is taken as being normal. Classified Return of the Numbers on the Rolls of Public Schools at the end of 1919, excluding Secondary Departments of District High Schools. Class P. Standard I. Standard II. Standard III. Standard IV. Standard V. Standard VI. Standard VII. Totals. Ages. — r- - , Boys. Girls. Boys. I Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. 5 and undor 6.. 7,860 7,193 3 7,863 7,193 i 6 „ 7.. 10,581 9,744 132 155 8 8 i .. .. 10,721 9,907 7 „ 8.. 9,936 8,911 1,6031,613 113 160 8 5 .. .. 11,66010,689 8 „ 9 .. 5,154 4,222 4,6784,6741,5681,583 127 153 5 3 1 11,53310,635 9 „ 10.. 1,724 1,283 3,8143,3314,2744,3331,4081,559 114 132 8 5.. 1 .. .. 11,34210,644 Girls. Boys. Girls. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. 7,863 10,721 8 5 11,660 5,154 4,222 4,678 4,674 127 153 5 3 11,533 1,724 1,283 I 3,814 3,331 3,814 1,408 1,559 114 .132 5 1 .. 11,342 10 „ II .. 519 369 1,615.1,2113,7273,4563,9744,1121,2551,338 145 136 6 6 .. .. 11,24110,628 519 369 I 1,015 1,211 1,615 3,727 3,456 3,9744,11 1,255 1,338 130 0 6 .. 11,241 11 „ 12.. 175 1.35 573 3891,7801,4613,7043,367 3,6283,6031,1941,180 92 91. .. 111,146 10,227 175 1.35 i 573 389 573 1,780 1,461 3,704 3,367 2,0301,704 817 684 3,628 3,603 1,180 92 91 .. 1 11,146 12 „ 13.. 01 48 173 135 673 5232,0301,7043,4413,1693,173 3,185 972 904: 19 10 10,542 9,678 61 48 I 173 135 173 673 523 3,4413,169 3,173 3,18i 972 904, 19 10 10,542 13 „ 14.. 25 23 59 41 232 138 817 6841,9631,6743,2543,0472,054 2,592 35 43 9,039 8,242 25 23 i 59 41 59 232 138 1,9631,674 3,254 3,047 2,654 2,592 2,592 35 43 9,039 14 ., 15.. 6 4 12 13 51 35 191 129 665 5821,5341,2302,2392,029 33 55 4,731 4,077 6 4 12 13 12 51 35 191 129 605 582 1,534 1,230 2,239 2,029 33 55 4,731 15 „ 16 .. 4 3 3 4 6 22 17 111 87 301 291 806 657 22 37 1,329 1,102 10 „ 17 3 .. .. 3 17 10 34 29 95 80 6 12 155 134 4 3 3 3 4 6 22 17 3 111 87 17 10 301 34 291 29 806 657 95 80 10 1 22 0 37 12 1,329 155 3 Over 17 1 3 I 1 1 10 1 I 3 10 0 1 3 I 11202 10599 1 1 I 3 10 Totals, 1919 .. 36,04131.93012,665 11565 12434 11703 1228111733 11202 10599 9,7059,1046,8746,36l| 116 101101318 93,102 36,041 31.930 112,665 11565 12434 11703 1228111733 11733 9,705 9,104 0,874 6,301 j 110 101 101318 Note. —The number of S6 pupils in this table differs from that shown in Table C2 in E.-2 for the reason that pupils who did the work of Sfl but left before the end of the year are included in this table. lumber t left bt of SO j efore th pupils in this le end of the \ table /ear ai differs 'e inch from that si uded in this that si n this hown i n Tal table. ile Ci> in 15.--2 for the rei ison tl hat pu pils whi