434 



EEPORT — 1898. 



1896, and August 31, 1897, but the full effect cannot appear until tlic 

 next year's return, the whole of which will be within the obligatory period. 



The number of departments in ' schools for older scholars ' for the year 

 1896-97 was 23,080, all but 10 of which took one or more class subjects. 

 But History was taken in 5,133 departments, and needlework (as a class 

 subject for girls) in 7,397 departments, and sundry minor subjects in 

 1,056, making, with the other four subjects of the table, a total of 55,456. 

 This shows an average of more than 2^ class subjects to each depart- 

 ment ; but it must be borne in mind that the same subject is not always 

 taken in all the standards, in which case three class subjects will appear 

 in the return. 



It was remarked in the , last report that ' the increased teaching of 

 scientific specific subjects in the higher standards is the natural con- 

 sequence of the greater attention paid to natural science in the lower part 

 of the schools.' The following table shows the correctness of this 

 inference : — 



It appears that the mathematical subjects still command the most 

 favour on the part of the teacher.s, Algebra having taken a very remark- 

 able lead. All the physical sciences have increased even more than might 

 have been expected from the increase of scholars. The Principles of 

 Agriculture is the only subject that shows an actual decrease. 



Estimating the number of scholars in Standards V., VI., and VII. at 

 615,000, the percentage of the number examined in these specific subjects, 

 as compared with the number of children qualified to take them, is 26-6 ; 

 but it should be remembered that many of the children take more than 

 one subject for examination. The following table gives thepercenta^'e fur 



