EDUCATIONAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4869, 7 February 1894, Page 1

EDUCATIONAL.

THE CONFERENCE OF INSPECTORS. [Pkb Pbxss Association.] WELLINGTON, Fib. 6. The School Inspectors' Conference to-day resolved that examination in history as a class subject be discontinued; history books to be used only as supplementary books ; the language of which, however] will have to be explained by the teacher. It was resolved that the inspectors would welcome with great pleasure any attempt on the part of the Legislature in the direction of substituting a decimal system of money, weights and measures for the present anomalous but time-honoured variety, which unnecessarily obstructs the progress of our children, makes the work of I producing good calculators needlessly tedious, and stands in the way of improving the course of school instruction in other directions. The conference passed a resolution to the effect that it is desirable that some knowledge of ambulance work and tbe method of restoring the apparently drowned should, if possible, be taught with the science and object lessons. It was decided that children who fail to pass a standard, and who have made less than 250 attendances in the year be excepted. The conference Btrongly recommended the establishment in all echool libraries of books interesting to children as a means of fostering a taste for reading. The following resolution was passed :—" That arrangements be made for revising the classification of teachers on some such bas's as follows, viz.— That; if for three years in succession the local inspector asßignß t) a teacher lower marks for efficiency than he has before received, the Inspector-General of Schools, or another inspector, acting as his deputy, shall see the teacher's work and decide whether his marks are to be lowered or left unchanged, and if the marks are lowered by the Inspector-General or his deputy, the teacher's classification shall also be lowered." A detailed scheme of instruction in grammar was recommended tor the Minister's consideration. With respect to drawing, the folio ving recommendations were adopted: — "That the course ol geometrical drawing in Standard IV. be reduced, and that in Standard VI. solid geometry be omitted." With respect to arithmetic, it was decided that the arithmetic of the higher classes be reduced by limiting the treatment of compouud practice, compound interest, present worth of discount, and 6tocka to simple cases, and that simple cases of mensuration of solids be added to the course of instruction, In Standard VI., it was resolved that the Government be recommended to prepare for use in the public schools the following maps and diagrams: — A map of New Zealand to illustrate the geography required under standard regulations, large wall maps of the North and Soutr Islands of New Zealand, and picture: to illustrate the native flora and fauna. The j,: f^reaco will probably close or Thursday.