Class IV.

Class V.

Table E.

Number of teachers employed.

62.2, or over fair, in State schools, and 563, or approaching fair, in Provisional schools. In 1888 these percentages were 618 for State and 557 for Provisional schools.

Children who have worked through the course of study for Class III., and are ready for promotion to Class IV., are regarded as educated up to "the standard of education," and exempt from the operation of the compulsory clauses of the Education Act. They are able to read the Third Reading Book, to write a letter, to do sums in the compound rules (including Bills of Parcels and other practical problems), to parse and analyse an easy sentence, and to answer questions on the general geography of Australia and Europe, and on that of Queensland in detail. They have also had instruction in object lessons, drill, vocal music, and needlework (females), as specified in Schedule V. of the Regulations.

37. In Class IV. the enrolment at the end of the year was 4,715, being 8'64 per cent. of the whole. The average age of the children was 13:42 years. The average proficiency of the pupils in this class, expressed as a percentage, was 633, or above fair, in State schools, and 584, or nearly fair, in Provisional schools. In 1888 these percentages were 624 for State and 56·1 for Provisional schools.

38. In Class V. the enrolment at the end of the year was 598, being 109 per cent. of the whole. The average age of the children was 149 years. The average proficiency of the pupils in this class, expressed as a percentage, was 68·1, or nearly very fair, in State schools, and 72.7, or over very fair, in one Provisional school. In 1858 the average proficiency of the pupils in the Fifth Class in State schools was 67.9. 39. Particulars of the classification of the pupils for each of the fourteen years during which the Department has existed will be found in Table E, appended to this Report.

TEACHERS EMPLOYED.

40. The total number of teachers of all classes and ranks employed at the end of the year was 1,492. This is an increase of 12 on the corresponding number for the preceding year. Of classified teachers there was an increase of 66 and of unclassified an increase of 10; but of pupil teachers there was a decrease of 64. Of male teachers, including all ranks, there was an increase of 7, and of female teachers an increase of 5. The numbers are shown in detail in the following tabular summary, in which the minus sign (-), where prefixed, indicates a decrease :

Status of teachers.

to teachers.

By taking the mean of the totals 1,180 and 1,492 given above, we get 1,486 as the average number of teachers employed during the whole year.

In

41. Of the entire teaching staff the classified teachers amounted to 49-3 per cent., the unclassified to 20-9 per cent., and the pupil teachers to 29.7 per cent. 1888 the corresponding percentages stood thus:-Classified, 45.2; unclassified, 20.5; pupil teachers, 343. The percentage of pupil-teachers was at its maximum in 1886, when it stood at 39, and the percentage of classified teachers at 39-3. Notwithstanding the steady increase in the number of Provisional schools-which are mostly taught by untrained teachers-the proportion of unclassified teachers in the service has been about the same for some years past. This has arisen because in the State schools, since the year 1886, the proportion of unclassified adult teachers has steadily diminished, and that of pupil teachers has also decreased. Thus the intellectual value of the teaching staff generally has improved.

42. Dividing the average daily attendance of pupils, 40,472 (par. 27), by Ratio of pupils the total number of teachers employed towards the end of the year, 1,492 (par. 40), we get 27.13 as the average number of pupils to each teacher. The corresponding numbers in the five preceding years, obtained in the same way, were-26.3 in 1888,

24.01

24.01 in 1887, 23.9 in 1886, 23.9 in 1885, and 24-2 in 1884. But a more accurate estimate is obtained if we divide the average daily attendance by the average number of teachers employed during the year. This gives 40,472 1,486 = 27.24 as the average number of pupils to each teacher.

Taking the State schools only, we find the average number of pupils to each teacher to be 28.9. In the Provisional schools it was 19.4.

If we divide the net annual enrolment-that is, the total number of distinct pupils under instruction during the year-by the total number of teachers employed, we get 62,347 1,497 416 as the average number of pupils for each teacher employed.

=

43. The following is a comparative view of the number of teachers who were Teachers in employed in State and in Provisional schools respectively during the year 1889:

State and in Provisional schools.

Pupil-teachers were employed in the following exceptional Provisional schools, which are in charge of classified teachers:-1 male and 3 females at Thompson Estate (average attendance, 181); 1 female at Lake's Creek (average attendance, 74); 1 female at Black Jack (average attendance, 50).

CLASSIFICATION AND PROMOTION OF TEACHERS.

Classification

44. The number of classified teachers in each rank, and the number of pupilteachers in each year of the pupil teacher's course, are shown in the condensed of teachers. statement below:

teachers.

45. The total number of teachers and pupil-teachers promoted during the Promotion of year was 550,-206 males and 344 females. This is a decrease of 32 on the number of promotions in 1888,-9 males and 23 females. Of these 550 promotions 409 were to a higher class after passing a successful examination, 114 were promotions of classified teachers to a higher division in the same class in recognition of meritorious work in school, and 27 were promotions from a state of probation. Comparing these numbers with the corresponding numbers for the previous year we find in the class promotions a decrease of 72, in the divisional promotions an increase of 28, and in the promotions from a state of probation an increase of 12. Particulars respecting the promotions made in 1889 appear in the following table:

Left the service in 1889.

The decrease in the number of class promotions is entirely in the ranks of the pupil-teachers. There was a decrease of 70 in the number of pupil-teachers who sat for examination, and a decrease of 86 in the number who passed the examinations.

46. The number of teachers who left the service during the year 1889 was 167,-82 males and 85 females. This is an increase of 3 on the corresponding number in 1888. The tabular statement following gives the status and sex of the teachers who left during the year :

Reasons for leaving the service.

Of these teachers 11 were re-admitted during the year-6 males and 5 females.
47. An analysis of the reasons given for leaving the service gives the following
results:-

Annual examination.

Passes.

EXAMINATION OF TEACHERS.

48. The annual general examination of teachers throughout the colony was held in December, 1889. There were 43 examining centres, of which 11 were in charge of the District Inspectors, and 32 in charge of the local Police Magistrates, assisted by school committees. The candidates for admission and the teachers examined for promotion together amounted to 956, and the number of papers written by them at the examination to 6,338. Compared with the records for 1888 these figures show a decrease of 64 in the number of examinees, and a decrease of 423 in the number of papers. This decrease is due to the smaller numbers of pupil teachers employed in 1889. The results of the examination in 1889 are shown in the following table, from which it may be seen that of all who sat about 64 per cent. passed, the percentage of passes amongst the males being 66, and amongst the females 63.1. Comparing the records with those for the previous year we find a

decrease

STATUS.

decrease of 60 in the number of passes, and that in 1888 the percentage of passes was 65.9, being 62.4 for the males and 67.4 for the females.

Examined.

Passed.

INSPECTION.

49. The extension of the Department's operations rendered it necessary to Inspectors. increase the inspecting staff, and accordingly in the beginning of the year Mr. J. A. Canny, Head Master of the State school at Townsville, was promoted to an inspectorship. Later in the year the withdrawal of the Senior District Inspector from the field to take up duty in the General Inspector's Office rendered it necessary to make another appointment, and Mr. F. C. Papi, Head Master of the Albert school, Maryborough, was added to the staff. After a trial of his new duties, Mr. Papi resigned at the end of the year, preferring the charge of a school. He has been appointed Head Master of the Boys' School at Woolloongabba, relieving Mr. W. L. Gripp, who has been appointed inspector in his stead. These gentlemen had distinguished themselves by successful work in their respective schools, and it was confidently believed that they would make good inspectors.

50. There were 10 inspectors in the field during the year. The number of Inspections. detailed inspections of separate schools was 514, being 20 more than the number accomplished in the previous year. Nine schools were examined in detail a second time, and 26 second inspections were made. Fifty-four schools,-15 State and 39 Provisional-received no inspection. Of these, 31,-11 State and 20 Provisionalwere in the district inspected by Mr. Kennedy, who, on the 24th October, met with an accident while on duty, which rendered him unfit for field work for some weeks. In the other districts the work of inspection was accomplished, with the exception of 4 State and 19 Provisional schools. It is hoped that by the shortening of the papers to be written at the annual examination of teachers, and by the carrying out of proposals to curtail the form of report of inspection, these officers will, for the future, be able to get earlier into the field, and to expend less time in reporting, and thus give more time to inspection.

51. In addition to the inspections recorded in the preceding paragraph, 31 Roman Catholic schools were examined once in detail, copies of the reports in full being sent to the head of the Diocese. One school not under the DepartmentBowen House, Ann street, Brisbane-was similarly examined, and a copy of the report sent to the head of the school.

52. The annual general reports of the inspectors are appended.

EXPENDITURE.

Secondary, and

53. The expenditure on Primary Education during the year 1889 was Primary, £208,747 8s. 2d. The expenditure on Grammar School and University Education Technical was £12,412. The expenditure on Technical Education and the Museum was £3,816 1s. 3d. The details of the expenditure are given in Table K.

Education,

54. The

Examined.

INCREASE OR DECREASE ON
RECORD FOR 1888.

Decrease.

Passed.

Examined.

Passed.

Compared with that of 1888.

54. The tabular statement following exhibits the expenditure under four heads, and compares it with that of the year 1888 :---

Increased

expenditure.

3,816 1 3 224,975 9 5 204,306 1 9 Increase 20,669 7 8

55. The increase in the expenditure on Primary Education in 1889 as compared with the expenditure in 1888 is made up of the following items:

Explanation of

increase in expenditure.

Provisional.

On buildings

Local

subscriptions.

Cost of

administration.

Total increase

56. Respecting the increases detailed above, it is necessary to note the following facts:

(1) Six new State schools were opened in 1888 at a cost of £2,738 19s. 10d.; but fifteen such schools were opened in 1889 at a cost of £11,220 14s. 10d. This fact accounts for £8,481 15s. of the difference, and the balance will be found in the large amount spent on additions and repairs, the more important of which were at the schools named in paragraph 19. The total amount spent at the schools named in that paragraph was £14,647 5s.

(2) The increase in the amount of capitation allowance paid in 1889 over that paid in 1888 was £1,758 7s. 11d., and about £1,100 more was paid in increases to salaries consequent on promotion.

(3) The increase in the salaries and requisites in Provisional schools is solely due to the increase in the number of these schools-twenty-one for the year.

(4) Two additional inspectors were appointed.

(5) Fresh appointments of teachers were avoided whenever it was possible to meet requirements by the transfer of teachers, hence an increase in the item "travelling expenses."

(6) The increase in the cost of requisites in State schools is partly due to the supply of some new wall tablets, etc., and partly to the increase in the number of schools-thirty-five for the year.

(7) The expenditure from contingencies was increased by the expense of moving the offices, and by the salary of a junior clerk.

57. Of the cost of Primary Education, £187,662 3s. 7d. must be charged to the State schools, and £21,085 4s. 7d. to the Provisional schools.

58. Of the expenditure on State schools, £37,670 Ss., or a little over 20 per cent. of the whole, is for buildings and furniture.

59. The local subscriptions received towards the erection, extension, or improvement of school buildings amounted to £3,799 9s. 4d., or about one-tenth of the whole expenditure on buildings and furniture.

60. The cost of administration was £5,099 0s. 2d., or nearly 2-3 per cent. of the expenditure for educational purposes.

61. The