EDUCATION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 117, 19 May 1910, Page 8

EDUCATION.

SECOXDARY SCHOOLS' CONFERENCE. TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS. The Biennial Conference of the Secondaiy Schools resumed to-day. Mr. J. P. Firth (president) occupied the chair. Mr. G. Hogben (Inspector-General), and Dr. Audei'son (Absistant-Inspector-General) weie present. Mr. H. J. D. Mahon (Auckland) read a paper entitled "Secondary Education in New Zealand and Elsewhere." Thi paper was ditcuFsed at considerable length, and the author was. tendered the thanki of delegates. At the conclusion of the paper Mr. Mahon moved the following motions based on hia contentions in tlie paper — '■That in the opinion of the coniVi-enee (a) One oi two questions on the t-yllabua (as> lor the Junior Schoiaiship Examination), for elementary physical measurements should be included in the unhei-tity-examinatzon papeis in chemistiy and all physical subjects ; (b) In the junior university science papers it should not be possible to obtain more than 35 per cent, of full marks by working numerical examples, and several questions should be set requiring such knowledge as can be obtained only by individual work in the laboratory; and (c) The amount available per head for hetondary education in New Zealand .schools is inadequate for rational and efficient secondaiy ■education." In regard to the second part of the motion the Inspector-General, suggested that a satisfactory method of assessing the qualifications of the candidates in science subjects would be to obtain certificates iiom the secondary teachers and heacimasteis as proof that practical as well as theoretical work has been covered. The president agreed, and this resolution, as well as the others (a and c) were carried. CLASS NAMING. The committee appointed to report on class-naming in secondary schools recommended :—(1): — (1) That tha Forms of the lower department be indicated by the numbers 1. and 11. ; that the Forms comprising pupils of the standard of holders of junior free places in their first y«'?r be denominated by the nuineial 111. : in their second year by IV. ; in their third year and in their subsequent, years VI. (2) That subdivisional Forms be indicated by letters of the alphabet — A standing for thf highest division — or by significant names. (3) That the term "remove," if used, denote a class of lower grade than that denoted by the number associated with it. The report was adopted. A SERIES OF RESOLUTIONS. Mr. R. M. Laing (Chrislehurch) moved — "That it bo a recommendation to the Senate oi the New Zealand University to revise lli« programmes of work in physical and chemical science for the pr.trance examinations, in tho direction ot making ihe higher work of the secondary schools m these subject s> continuous with the work of the first two years, as prescribed by the examination fosenior free places. "' The motion wai adopted. Mr. W. J. Morrell (Otago) moved — "That in the English History syllabus for matriculation the period 1485-1688 should, in the opinion of this conference, be allowed as an alternative for the period 1688-183 V, whether, by way of option or in alternative." After some slight discussion, the motion was car ried . Miss M'Lean (Wellington) moved as follows :— "(a) ' That it be a lecommendation to the Boaids of Education that it is advisable that holders of Education Board scholarships should attsn I the recognised school boardingliousiM when such exist, or at houses approved by the ptincipals oi secondary schools; and (b) that it is advisable that tho scholarships where boarding is necpfasarv. should be of full boarding value — SAO." These were adopted by the conference. Mr. T. D. Pearce (Southland) moved — "That thu time for the arithmetic paper, botn in the senior free place and in the Junior Civil Service examination, is 100 short, and should be raised from two to three hours." Mr. Morrell moved an amendment, statrig that the paper in question is too long for the time, and should be shortenpd. The amtndment was carried. (Proceedmg.) THE CHILDREN'S SERVICE. 4 The tchool children who are attending the memoiial seivice to-morrow morning are to meet in the roadway on the ei.'-t side of the Basin Reserve, and will be m.tichcd by thei.- teachcis through the gate on that side, so as to take up po'ilinn on the south side of the platform which has been erected. Sun-day-school Pcholai's will meet in the places appointed by their superintendents on 'Sunday, and w ill be inarched by tl Y eir teachers, so as to take up the po«itian oil the north side of the platform. The cadets, scouts, and bauds w ill be mai-secl around tlio platform, and the scholars will be asi-embled a.s close as possible to them. Copies of the oider of proceedings will be distiibuted by members of the Boys' Institute. No adults will be admitted on to the turf, but will be accommodated in front of the grandstajid. Only children and teachers will be admitted by the gate on the east side of the reset ye; adults must enter by any of the three large gates. The Government is supplying a very large number of taipaulins to prevent the chil.Uen having to stand on the wet grass. Sunday-school scholars are ye-qu'.-ied to note that the service begins half an hour later than was announced on Sundtiy, and they will not need to be in the place appointed before 10 o'clock. The Governor ha.s expressed a vi-ii that church bells throughout New Zealand to-morrow shall 101 lat iiiinute interval? between 12 o'clock and 12.1t>, muffled peals between 12.15 and xtf.2o, and minute tolling between 12.20 and 12 30. Sir Joseph and Lady Ward will be present at the children's memorial service on the Basin Reserve to-morrow morning. A chess club was formed at Kilbirnie last night, Dr. Delatour was elected chairman, and Mr. H. A. Ward hon. sec. and treasurer. Dr. Henry, in a communication to Mr. H. N. Holmes, his Wellington representative, speaks oi the '•wonderful success" of the Auckland mission. Hundieds are turned away nightly. The business, men'? meetings at noon are attended by 800 men daily, and 600 people are at the afternoon Bible study. l)i. Henry pleached at Onehunga on Sunday morning, and theie were forty confessions. The- mission r onrludes nexi Wednesday, when the party come south to commence tho. Chrislehurch mission. Misrf Muriel Pringle nolificn that i-hc will rcfimic teaching on Monday. 23vcl in^t. Sen ic-" I*.1 *. will bp held "in St. Thoma&'s Church, Newt own, at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. oja JTridav.