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EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
DIRECTOR'S REPORT FOR! 1013.
IMO GRES.S DURING THE YEAR I!.
The annual report of the Director of
Education (W. T." McCoy) for the your
1915 has been conducted. in the cure
of it the Director says:
The new scheme of State secondarily education
providing for courses of study extending
over four years' came into operation
in January, 243, and High Schools
won«.established at Hobart and at Launceston.
Some the children who had passed
the junior public examination, or who
had been enrolled in the several classes
of State-schools, were given second year
status.
The nrrniigeiiioiits for housing this large
number- of (children are satisfactory so
far as Hobart,- is concerned. The old
Trinity Hill school has been remodelled,
and, with the addition of another storey
to provide for the increase expected in
ISIS and 111 Ki, should adequately meet all
requirements for some years' scale, except
in so far- lia reasonable playing space
is concerned. 'But the arrangements in
Launceston, where the pupils are taught in
the Charles-street clnsMooms, are of a
much less satisfactory character. The
conditions 'are the beat that can be as
singed, but they are such us impair the
efficiency not only of the High School,
but also of the Charles-street State-school,
and at best. they can only be regarded as
temporary. The teaching of science can
scarcely be attempted even in its crude
form, the classrooms are not sufficiently
numerous, and the pupils are obliged to
share the playground with the juniors in
His .SlKlt-scliuol.ii plan which is detrimental
to the best interests of both. If is
hoped that a new and properly equipped
Hall. unions "said he (needed before the
close of the present year.
The Director next deals with secondary
education for country children, as report
u 1 I'lscvvhere. ;
? . THE PHILIP SMITH TRAINING
. college-:.
The, attached report of the Principal
shows that during the year there were
100, in attendances' at late 'naming College,
comprising 35 junior teachers, Childe 1.; 10
junior teachers, Grade li.-, and 25 students,
inclusive of lilies trainees, for the
infant teacher's certificate. This course of
training has been entirely remodelled
Mills a result I'lisuiing that students shall
have received a sound secondary education
up to the standard of the senior public
examination before entering the college.
Commencing in January, Hilo,
junior teachers Grades I and li. will
continue their education in the State
High Schools for two yealVinstriul«ol' 'in'
the college as heretofore. Aller negotiat-
ing the MEILLON public examination allies,
will pass into selected schools for twelve
mullins (the former period was two years)
in order to gain such experience as will
enable them to understand the difficulties
he has met with in the work of teaching,
and to appreciate the lectures in method
and management to be given in the Train-
ing College or University during their
term as students. At the present time
there are 72 pupils (28 boys and 14 girls
in the State High schools preparing to
compete for places as junior teachers-In
January next. The percentage of male
cnntlielittch is larger than heretofore, and
may be regarded as a sign that service
under the department is, more popular
than formerly. The bond already existing
between the College and the University
has been considerably strengthened by
the appointment of the Principal to the
position of Lecturer in Education.
MANUAL TRAINING.
In addition to needlework for girls, in
course of instruction provides for- various
forms of manual work, such as garden-
ing modelling, paper folding, card bon find
work, chip-carving, and, at various centres,'
for the teaching of woodwork and iron-
work to boys, and cookery and household
management to girls. The marked improvement
in needlework and the increase
of interest in the subject noted during
the past two years have been well main-,
tunnel. The Superintendent of Needlework
(Miss Hughes; successfully organised
the work in the largest schools of the
north-west, and is now engaged on a semi
its task on the West Coast.
. At the Hobart woodwork school, 271
boys completed a portion of the course in
wood and 19 the universe in iron work. AT
the Launceston school 271 lads were enrolled
and completed a portion of the
course in" winter. Of these 23 received
neil i li cal es" showing that they had completed
the full course. Instruction in
woodwork was also given in lo boys at
the Beaconsfield State-school.
Cookery schools were in operation at Hobart
(293 pupils). Launceston (118 pupils,
Burnie (33 pupils), Devonport (the pupils.;.
Queenstown (90 pupils), and Beaconsfield
(25 pupils). Ninety-one of these pupils
received exert inch less in snow that they
had attended regularly and had completed
the prescribed course of institute
tion in a satisfactory manner. in the
case of pupils who desire to become
teachers for certificates exempt the holders
from the Training College courses in
these subjects.
SUMMER SCIlOOIvS.
In order to afford teachers an opportunity
for enriching their experience and
observing he methods of instruction and
management employed by the teachers in
Hit practising school, at summer school
was conducted by the Principal of the
Training College- and the inspectorial
! staff, in September last, in the Liuabotli
I street practising school. v
SUBSIDISED SCHOOLS.
The granting of subsidies on the education
of children resident in sparsely
populated parts, or in places too far removed
from a State School, was continued
during 1913. The number of such
schools increased from 13 in 1912 to 40
in 1913. The conditions under which a
subsidy is granted are that two or more
families must combine to engage a teacher
er, who upon being recognised by the
department, receives a subsidy at the
rate of £5 per pupil per annum, calcu
lated upon the monthly attendance up to
a maximum of 15 pupils. Four hundred
and eighty-three children in various
parts of the State, who would otherwise
have been without schooling, benefited by
this scheme. The number last year was
138. The inspectors unanimously speak
of the scheme as a boon to the children
of settlers in the backblocks. During the
year the department paid for the conveyance
of 238 children to school by
boat, vehicle, or train. In all such cases
there were not sufficient children to war-
rant the establishment of a provisional
school in the locality.
SUPPLY OF TEACHERS.
The question of supplying, an adequate
number of teachers to meet the require
ments of the department was less acute
than in former yeo is, notwithstanding the
fact that the average attendance for the
schools of the State increased by ,],(i!)!l.
The establishment of subsidised schools
in isolated localities The larger output of
the Training College, and the increased
number of candidates for the office of
provisional teacher, all contributed to
solve what in past years has been a difficult
problem. Of the 68 candidates who
were examined in 1913 for the office of
provisional teacher, 37 (-J males and 35
females), were accepted, and after three
months training in the East Launceston
Practising School were admitted into small
schools.
In order to make provisional teachers
familiar with the special difficulties and
problems of a one-teacher school], the
model small schools., referred to in last,
year's report, were established in connection
with the PractisJiHr Schools in Hobart
and Launceston. These schools have
proved a very efficient aid in the to call-
ing of small school teachers.
The following table shows the number
of schools in operation and the net enrol-
ment of pupils for the past five years,
together with the number of teachers of
all ranks in the employ of the department
at the close of the year 1913: A
1909«...'. 350 26,7 791
MIO . 3911 27,8 361
1011 . 350 28,821 SIB
191-3 59 29,206 817
lily. . HS «0,218 899
Increase in 5 years 6S ,'',102 105
Separate figures are not available for
1901).
TEACHERS' EXAMINATIONS.
Pleasing evidence of the activity
amongst teachers is to be found in the
large number who presented themselves
for examination with a view to improve-
ing their qualifications and increasing
their usefulness in the sense of The department,
Every cmoui.igcmeiit is given
to teachers to get over the literary c.
aminations at an early stage in their
career. But if is again necessary telling
attention to the fact that promotion can
not be gained by passing literary ex
aminations along. fractured skill as a
teacher is also a eh'leinuning Licor.
SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND FULLER
TURE.
During the year a set ii ml.- to be
observed in planning new schools was,
issued by the department. Ni w little
ings were erected in certain rally will
Hii'sn ntl.-, did hand-rail and the the'".?.
buildings were remodelling lo muk.«.tin-ill
ace end will familiar it'inuieini'iils in regard
to lighting and ventilation.
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.
The further improvement made in the
matter of school attendance If'' the year
1913 is a matter for congratulation. The
efforts of the most efficient teachers, ably
seconded by certain Boards of Advice-,
and, in. Hobart and Launceston, by the
regular visitations of the school uttered
nine officers, have, met with success. Bill
a careful perusal of the figures shows that
there are many! localities where the lack
of interest on His part of the teachers
and the apathy of the local Board of Ad-
vice are most marked. The total sum
Iior of children enrolled for the year was
3.95. but of thee 3,731, through removal
and other causes, attended 1910-11
than one State-school, so that the number
of individual children on the rolls
was 30,218. an increase of 1,012 over the
figures for 1912. The total average at
tendance for the year was 21,171, ""'in-
crease of' 1,613 over the average for 1942.
Although the net enrolment toil the year-
has 30,218, many of these children were
not. on the books for the whole year;
some young children, commenced school
late, whilst many of the obelisk left early
in the year for work..'
5 The- practice of obtaining a percentage
by comparing the attendance at school
with a periodic enrolment obtains in
most States. But the result is useless for
the purposes of comparison, since it
varies according as the figures are taken
from a yearly. quarterly, monthly, weekly
or daily roll"; the longer the interval
of compiling the roll, (be smaller the
percentage. The method adopted in this
State is to compare the daily attendance
with the average monthly enrolment.
The average monthly enrolment for the
year- was ¡¿3,919, and the average daily
attendance 21,171, so that the percentage
is 73 as against 77 per cent, less last year'.
It is to he noted that some at the
highest percentages! were made in new
schools, or in schools that were opened
for part of the year only, or in places
where the parents were struggling to
keep over the required minimum for fear
of having their school closed; and these,
for comparative purposes, should be ignored.
In a few localities the loss- per-
centages are due to epidemics. Nevertheless,
after allowing for- these exceptional
circumstances the variation is great, and
it not infrequently'indicates the difference
in the efficiency of the schools.
Twenty-seven schools reached 94 per cent,
or more, and 111 obtained between 80 and
90 per cent. Considering all the circumstances,
the following schools deserve special
mention for their good record : -Hut-
ton Point, Chu insist reel, Inverway,
Well'iigloii-squtire, East Launceston,
Goulburn-street, West Devonport. Vi est
Zeehan, Burnie, Beaiousfielil, Queens
town, Glen Dhu, Waratah, Mathinna,
South 'i'uodistottii, Urniixholin, Stratum,
Bellerive, East Devonport. Lefroy, Campbell
Town, Dundas, Castle Forbes Bay,
Claude-road, Montagu, Balfour, Stanley,
Geeveston. Piper's (River. Mount Sox
iiKiut-, irish Town, Braeside, Mangana,
Rocky Cape. Excellent work in the matter
of school attendance, was apparently
done by the Circular Head, George Town,
Zeehan, _ Waratah, Hamilton, Emu Bay,
HcnrKiisfield, and Ringarooma, boards.
FINANCIAL.
The expenditure on primary education
for 1913 was £90,772 s. 161., against
.i'85,838 12,. 3d. in mia. The large increase
in expenditure is accounted for by
increased and increments to teachers' salaries,
the increase in the number of subsidised
schools, the establishment of State
high schools, and the large increase in
enrolment, which necessitated the employment
of additional lonelier. The cost per
child, reckoned on, the gross enrolment,
was £2 13s. 4d., which is Is. 2d. more
Until for 1912. The cost per child, tce
ironed on the average attendance, was 61
5s 8d., being 2s. 4d. less than for 1912.
Medical inspection cost £710 17s. 11d.; and
the education of deaf mutes, £683 15s. 7d.
' ' GENERAL..
In consequence of the improved means
of transit provided, I was enabled to visit
210 schools during the' year. The in
formation gained during these visits in
respect to the nature of the localities, the
condition of the buildings, the personality
of the teachers, the character of their
work, and the general conditions under
which they labour, have proved of the
greatest advantage in the administration
of the affairs of the department. It is
again a great pleasure to report that the
teachers have worked zealously to improve
their schools. With very few exceptions,
they are earnest and faithful servants of
the State, exercising a healthy personal
influence over the children, and come
annulling the respect and sometimes the
admira line of the people amongst whom
they reside. In Hobart, r,oinieo.«l(iii, and
other centres, teachers' meetings and inspectors'
meetings did much to stimulate
interest, improve methods, and spread
abroad a spirit of activity. The inspectors
have performed their onerous duties
in a eomiiii'iidablo minister, and the vari-
ous members of the office staff have worked
earnestly to the discharge of their,
duties. I i
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