EDUCATION: CONFERENCE OF INSPECTORS OF SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS' REPRESENTATIVES, 1904.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1904 Session I, E-01c

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1904. NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION: CONFERENCE OF INSPECTORS OF SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS' REPRESENTATIVES, 1904.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of B.is Excellency.

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS.

Wednesday, 3rd Febbuaby, 1904. The Conference met at the Parliamentary Buildings, Wellington, at 11 a.m. Present : Mr. G. Hogben, Inspector-General (Chairman), Dr. W. J. Anderson (North Canterbury), Messrs. F. H. Bakewell (Wellington), W. A. Ballantyne (Taranaki), A. Bell (South Canterbury), W. W. Bird (Native Schools), C. E. Bossence (Otago), G. D. Braik (Southland), M. H. Browne (Wellington), K. Crowe (Auckland), W. S. Fitzgerald (Otago), T. R. Fleming (Wellington), J. G. Gow (South Canterbury), P. Goyen (Otago), W. Gray (Wanganui), J. Grierson (Auckland), G. A. Harkness (Nelson), J. Hendry (Southland), H. Hill (Napier), E. C. Isaac (Wellington), J. Milne (Wanganui), A. J. Morton (Westland), E. K. Mulgan (Auckland), D. Petrie (Auckland), J. H. Pope (Native Schools), E. C. Purdie (Auckland), C. E. D. Richardson (Otago), T. Eitchie (North Canterbury), W. E. Spencer (Taranaki), D. A. Strachan (Nelson), H. Smith (Grey), J. Smith (Marlborough), and L. B. Wood (North Canterbury). Mr. Frank Tate, Director of Primary and Technical Education, Victoria, was also present by the invitation of the Conference. The Chairman addressed the Conference as follows :— Gentlemen, —Again I have the honour and the pleasure, after an interval of three years, of welcoming you to Wellington to take part in a Conference, which has now, I am glad to say, •become established as one of the recognised institutions of our educational system. Ido not propose at the present moment to make any remarks on the subjects that will be brought before you for consideration, because I think it is well that we should settle some of the formal business first. Allow me, however, to express on behalf of the Minister of Education, who is not able to be present to-day, a hearty welcome to you all, and the hope that your labours may be as mutually helpful on this occasion as they were three years ago, and as full of benefit to the educational system of the colony. I have taken the liberty of expressing on your behalf the desire of the Conference to see Mr. Tate, Director of Education, Victoria, present with us at our opening, and I believe you will be equally desirous of seeing him at all our meetings. He informs me that he has come here to learn something from us in New Zealand. It is not for me to say how much he may be able to learn from us, but I am quite sure that if he will give us the benefit of some of his ideas we shall have a great deal to learn from him. I have now a sad duty to perform—namely, to express our regret that the Minister who was in charge of the Department when we last met, after a useful life, has ceased to be in the land with those that work. Possibly some member of the Conference may be moved to propose a resolution with regard to that, but I feel deeply the death of one with whom I have been associated so long, and whose unfailing courtesy and silent work for more than eight years in the post of Minister of Education —work marked by an intelligent and keen appreciation of the important issues involved —have not always perhaps been so fully appreciated as they deserved. Mr. Crowe moved, " That the meetings of the Conference be open to the representatives of the Press." On a division being taken, the motion was carried by 17 votes to 15. It was agreed, " That the Conference sit from 9.30 a.m. till 12.30 p.m., and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. daily." Mr. Bakewell was appointed Secretary. It was agreed, on the motion of Mr. Petrie, " That the proposer of a motion be allowed to speak twenty minutes, and any subsequent speaker on the motion ten minutes." Mr. Spencer proposed, and. Mr. Richardson seconded, " That this Conference place on record its appreciation of the great services rendered to the cause of education by the late Minister for Education, the Hon. W. C. Walker, and its keen regret at the loss of one who always displayed the strongest sympathy with any movement tending to the educational advancement of the colony." The motion was carried unanimously. On the motion of Mr. Richardson, it was agreed, " That Messrs. Petrie, Goyen, Hill, Fleming, Bakewell, and Dr. Anderson be the Standing Orders Committee,"

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Mr. Goyen moved, " That the Conference hopes to have the honour of the attendance of the Minister for Education (Et. Hon. E. J. Seddon) during its sittings." Agreed to. On the motion of Mr. Bakewell, seconded by Mr. Spencer, it was agreed, " That Mr. Lee, late Inspector of Schools, Wellington, be invited to attend the Conference " ; and on the motion of Mr. Hill, seconded by Mr. Spencer, it was agreed, " That the Eev. Mr. Evans, Chairman of the Victoria College Council, be also invited, to attend the Conference. On the motion of Mr. Strachan, seconded by Mr. Petrie, it was agreed, " That when a division is called for it be decided by a show of hands." The Chairman announced that he had received a letter from Mr. J. S. Goodwin, Inspector of Schools, Auckland, stating that he had been ill for some weeks, and had not yet recovered sufficiently to undertake the necessary journey to Wellington to attend the Conference. The Chairman then delivered the following address : — Gentlemen : Although it was felt when we last met that it would hardly be practicable to hold these general conferences at more frequent intervals than three years, yet I am not at all sure that there would not be some advantage if a smaller body--consisting, say, of six individuals named by yourselves from among yourselves—were to meet oftener, either annually, or from time to time when special need arose, to consult with and advise the Department on questions of general interest and importance. This, I suggest, could be arranged without in any way preventing an expression of opinion from any or all of the rest of the Inspectors on any important matter. I trust that the present Conference may result in as much mutual stimulus to ourselves and in as much benefit to the educational system of the colony as the last Conference held here. The changes that have taken place since 1901, not only in our own system, but in almost all the educational systems of the Empire —it may even be said of the whole civilised world—are very great indeed. Causes that were in operation then, and had already begun to affect us in New Zealand, have been operating more and more rapidly. The new syllabus, which is one of the most important of the subjects appearing on the order-paper, is only one among many signs of the fundamental change that is taking place in the realm of education. The British mind is thought to be a pre-eminently practical mind, and accordingly when education began to be organized by the State the British public and the statesmen who carried out its will sought to insure efficiency in education by the testing of the product by means of examinations, even paying the teacher directly by the results of the examination ; or, what was almost equally vicious, making his promotion depend indirectly upon such results. Such a belief in the possibility of measuring educational values by examination took possession of the AngloSaxon mind that, acting in conjunction with other influences, it tended to confine the attention of teachers and examiners to those subjects and those parts of subjects that could be most easily tested by examination, and syllabuses and programmes and methods were more and more perfected as instruments for a system that concerned only some of the powers of the mind and neglected others of the highest importance, and thereby became more and more detached from the facts of life and the true nature of the child. If instruction alone were the aim of education, then it would be no exaggeration to say that in the hand of its most skilful exponents the system accepted in almost every British land not many years ago was not far from perfect. Doubts had, however, existed in the minds of some of the most thoughtful from the very first, and the failure of the perfected scheme to produce really educated men and women gave weight to those doubts. I need not trace the gradual process by which I suppose we have all passed from the mental position in which we regarded, or, at all events, acted as if we regarded, education as the imparting of so much information, useful or otherwise, to the present position, in which we concentrate our attention upon the careful development and direction of the child's natural activities and powers, and to the building-up of the character. You, gentlemen, are familiar with that change in our educational outlook. All the best teachers have, step by step, been led to change their point of view, and have been altering their methods accordingly. To you, therefore, the change, though rapid, has been an evolution in educational ideas and methods. To others who have followed it less closely, or have allowed themselves to fall behind, the change appears as a sudden and complete revolution. Men do not put new wine into old bottles, and therefore the time had come to cease patching and repairing the old syllabus, into which some part of the new ideas had been inserted in previous amendments, and to recast the syllabus entirely. The change was inevitable unless New Zealand was to be content to be left behind in the educational contest, and I am glad to see that the objection to the new syllabus, as shown by the resolutions on the order-paper, relate merely to matters of detail. The important pomt —and on this too much stress cannot be laid—is not the amount or number of things that are taught, but the spirit, character, and method of the teaching in relation to its purpose of developing the child's powers. Personally, I do not care one straw how many or how few subjects you include in the syllabus, provided you include enough to enable you to develop these powers in the right way. We now believe with Probel, and others of the most enlightened of the world's educators, that the child will learn best, not so much by reading about things in books as by doing—that is, exercising his natural activities—by making things, by observing and testing things for himself; and then, afterwards, by reasoning about them and expressing his thoughts about them. We believe that the "new education," as it is called, will make not only better workmen and better scholars, but better men and better citizens than the old education ever could produce. With the change in the method of teaching, and the relegation of examinations to their proper subordinate place (when they are for the most part conducted by the teacher), there comes a corresponding change in the work of the Inspector. You will pardon me if I call especial attention to two clauses of the new regulations—viz., clause 9 and clause 11. Clause 9 : Please observe that clause 9 relates to his annual visit, not merely to his inspection visit; that then it is "to this end " —namely, to investigate the character of the teaching and of the degree to which the intelli-

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gence of the pupils has been developed —that he is to examine. This clause does not direct the Inspector to test the quantity of information each child has acquired. Clause 11 : The Inspector may, but only if the circumstances seem co call for such exceptional action, examine all the pupils of the school or of any class. The classification must be weak or the school in an unsatisfactory condition before the Inspector takes such an extreme step. lam glad to think that you have already pronounced decisively your opinion in favour of this ; and, indeed, I think in a general way of nearly everything else in the syllabus. I need not weary you further by going over all the points on which we are agreed. The points of disagreement, if I may say so without appearing to cast any reflection upon the intelligence of the critics of the syllabus, appear to have arisen almost entirely from reading suggestions as if they were mandatory regulations. I confess that I should not find any difficulty in making in any school a time-table to comply with the syllabus as I understand it, and as a very large number of persons (highly experienced teachers among the number) have informed me that they understand it. I think that, if the altered attitude of the Inspector and the teacher be taken into account, no difficulties need arise except such as belong to a period of transition, when some teachers are slower than others in accommodating themselves to the new conditions, and some perhaps rather reluctant to think out again questions as to methods of teaching that they fondly hoped had been settled for them once for all. But once more I would repeat that it is not a question of quantity, but of spirit and quality ; and if the syllabus does not appear to allow sufficient freedom for the purpose for which it has been framed, by all means let us carefully consider the best way in which it can be reduced in bulk. The motions standing in the name of Mr. Fleming I would commend to your earnest consideration as meeting this view. I suggest that there be a general discussion in due order on the several points raised by the resolutions that have been tabled on this subject, and then if necessary the matter may be remitted to a committee to prepare and bring up a report. I think I should remind you, without going into very great detail, of some of the other changes that have taken place within the last three years. ■ Since we last met the Public-school Teachers' Salaries Act has placed the staff and the salaries of our school-teachers, in spite of possible imperfections that may have shown themselves in the working, in a much better position than they have ever been placed in before. One or two of the resolutions on the order paper may be the means of elucidating the opinions of this Conference on some points. The other changes that have taken place are in the extension of the system of district high schools, and more recently in the institution of free secondary education for those who gain certificates of proficiency and qualify themselves in other ways that are named. There has also been instituted a system of scholarships giving free technical education to those who, instead of attending a secondary school, wish to take such a course, and have qualified themselves for it by gaining a certificate of proficiency. I do not suppose that any of you are ignorant of the existence of these scholarships, but only one or two of the Boards, so far, have instituted them. I thought it desirable that I should call attention to this fact. I do not think it necessary to go into all the details, but I will ask your attention to the ideas that underlie the privileges that have been granted. I know you will sympathize with me in this fact: that we who are Inspectors—l feel it myself as InspectorGeneral sometimes —while we are perfectly willing to get an expression of opinion on the part of the Press, do sometimes feel that we are handicapped in not always having an opportunity of explaining certain points upon which I am sure the Press would welcome an explanation if we were able to give it. It has been said by certain critics that a numberof detached things, free secondary education, technical scholarships, district high schools, Board scholarships, national scholarships, and so on, have been, so to speak, foisted upon the public-school system of New Zealand without any plan or co-ordination. As that has been said, I would ask you just for a moment to consider that these things are not detached, but that they belong to a consistent system, of which, it may be true, all the parts are not yet perfectly co-ordinated, but which, at all events, has reached a certain degree of co-ordination —and with your co-operation I hope a further degree of co-ordination will be reached very soon. For instance, let us consider the boy (or girl) of ability somewhat above the average. If he is living in a town within reach of a secondary school proper, he may, on showing proper qualification, obtain free secondary education — first for two years, and then, if he proves himself fit to go further, for another two years or even three years. He may do that simply by obtaining a certificate of proficiency, or by qualifying in one of the ways provided in the secondary-school regulations. If he is in a place in which there is not a secondary school proper, he may obtain a degree of free secondary education in a district high school. These two means of providing free secondary education will leave out those who are too far away from either a secondary school or a district high school, and they will also leave out those who are compelled to go to work immediately after finishing their primary course. But the granting of these free places in secondary schools and district high schools would set free—if the Boards' regulations with regard to scholarships were adjusted accordingly—nearly all the funds, £8,000 in all, granted for scholarships. If that £8,000 were nearly all granted for scholarships to country pupils otherwise out of the reach of secondary schools or district high schools, at £35 to £40 a year, it would give, say, 200 scholarships. The National and Queen's Scholarships will provide during the period of school life about another 170 scholarships. And, if you will examine carefully into the number of those who will be qualified in the country districts from the passes of Standard VI. —taking into account those who are not willing t 0 go —you will find that about fifty more scholarships per annum would probably provide for all of those in the country as completely as those in the town are provided for. So that we are not far from having a system that makes complete provision all over the colony for those qualified for free secondary education. For those whose parents are not in a position to send them to the secondary schools without some help for their maintenance, the National Scholarships provide that help, and in this district the Queen's Scholarships, in connection with the Victoria College, provide similar help. If, therefore, we can slightly increase the provision for those in the remote country districts who are' fitted for secondary education, the system will not be far from being complete.

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Of course, the benefits derived will depend very largely upon the proper carrying-out of the system. We may make our system as good as we can make it, but unless it is properly carried out all our efforts will be in vain. I have not touched on all the points of the general scheme, but you will see that there is some kind of order in what may have seemed to some minds detached measures. The question of scholarships and examinations for scholarships you have been asked to consider, and it is obviously desirable that all the Boards should endeavour to have uniform regulations —except so far as the local conditions are different—to work in with the general system. I believe that in this respect you are prepared to make practical suggestions to this Conference and also to your own Boards, for whom you act as expert advisers. " The technical scholarships to which I have already referred provide, for those who have left the day-schools, a continuation of their education on general and technical lines free of cost. We have moved on a great deal in relation to manual instruction in the schools. The amount of manual instruction being given now is something like six times as much as it was three years ago. The extent of technical education has also increased. Some people are rather—l was going to say impatient—that it has not increased more rapidly ; but, unless we can get qualified instructors, it is not well that we should hurry. Progress must be gradual if it is to be sound. But technical education has made substantial progress in some parts of the colony, and the money voted by Parliament, I venture to say, has been very usefully and profitably employed. I hope we shall make the system thoroughly sound in the future. People sometimes speak of a need for technical education in primary schools. Evidently they are not clear as to the distinction between manual instruction and technical education. We all want the hand and eye developed in connection with the brain of the pupils, and we want them developed in such a way that the pupils are made ready for the pursuits they will be engaged in afterwards, especially those that belong to their own particular districts; and that fact will determine the science-teaching and the handwork in our primary schools. But children of tender years in our primary schools are hardly in a position to receive what in the real sense is called "technical education." That, I think, we all'recognise ; but it is our business to make ready for their technical education at a later stage by a suitable scheme of manual instruction. The Department has worked very hard to make such regulations as will render it easy for manual instruction to be taken up in the schools, and we may safely say we have in some degree succeeded, because the amount of manual instruction is at least six times as much as it was three years ago. I think you will agree that that is a remakable advance to have made in three years. There is one point in connection with the subject I shall touch upon namely, this: Sir Norman Lockyer—and his opinion is entitled to the highest consideration in view of his position as President of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, and his long connection with various branches of science — has expressed the opinion that the commercial supremacy of the British Empire depends very largely on the scientific education that its citizens receive. He has laid great stress on the higher branches of that education. I think it is equally important that we should lay stress on the beginnings of that scientific instruction. You will never have the material for the higher instruction if you do not give attention to the lower stages of instruction. We cannot pretend I speak as one who for many years taught science to children of all ages—to give what a scientific man would call " scientific instruction " in the primary school; but we can give the child the beginnings of scientific method in the primary school. In fact, the child begins it himself—the spontaneous exercise of his own activities and powers, his own curiosity and his own desire to observe are the beginning of it, and we have to direct these in such a way that he really begins to acquire what may be truly—though in a very humble way—called the beginning of the scientific method. I think we should keep that aim before us, in order not only to develop the mind of the individual child, but also to lay the foundation of that scientific knowledge that will enable the citizens of the Empire to maintain the supremacy that their own genius and their own industry, and perhaps their natural advantages, have given them in the past. But all our labour will be in vain unless we train our teachers. When 1 say we must train our teachers, I do not mean train them only to enable them to pass certain examinations and gain certain certificates; but we must inspire our teachers with the spirit of the new education, and of the best in the old education—inspire them with the true spirit of the new education in such a way that they will carry out their duties willingly, heartily, and intelligently. lam glad to see that the resolutions you passed at your last Conference are now in the process of bearing fruit; that the training institutions that already exist will be put into such a position that they will be able to do their work more efficiently than they could possibly do it in the past; and that training colleges are to be established in the two other chief centres, so that in future pupil-teachers and all others who are willing to enter the teaching profession, whether in the primary or in the secondary schools, will have an opportunity of being properly trained in the science and art of education. Message pbom the Minister of Education. The Chairman read the following telegram :— " Hawera, 3rd February, 1904. ' Gr. Hogben, Esq., Inspector-General of Schools, President of Inspectors' Conference Wellington. ' " Please convey the following message from the Minister of Education to the Conference : " I regret very much that I am unable personally to welcome you on this the occasion of the first Conference of Inspectors held during my term of office as Minister of Education. I may assure you that it is only to urgent public business, which admits of no postponement, that my absence from Wellington is due. During your session, however, I hope to have the pleasure of conferring with you on some of the most important matters that will come under your attention and consideration.

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Among these the foremost, and one fraught with great and important results for the further successful working of our educational system, is the question of the new syllabus, which I feel certain will receive that earnest and serious consideration at your hands that so important a subject merits. It is not going too far to say that the new regulations will constitute an epoch in the development of our educational progress. As you are no doubt aware, it is the intention of the Government, after the new regulations have been reviewed by your Conference, to submit them again to a joint Conference comprised of representatives of Inspectors of Schools and of representatives of the teachers of the public schools of the colony. The Government hopes that the result of this joint Conference will be the issuing of a sound and rational syllabus that will redound to the credit of the colony and of those connected with its educational development. Other matters that may commend themselves to your attention are those connected with manual and technical education, secondary schools, and the National Scholarships, to all of which the Government have ever endeavoured to give their earnest and favourable consideration. I may again express my regret that circumstances prevent my being able to be present in person at the opening of your Conference; but as head of the Government and as Minister of Education I may take this opportunity of assuring you of the deep interest I am taking in your deliberations, the outcome of which, I feel sure, will tend to benefit the rising generation, and be of great and material assistance in advancing the educational well-being of the Colony of New Zealand. " E. J. Sbddon." Peculations for Inspection and Examination of Schools. The Conference then proceeded, in committee, to consider clauses 1 to 27, inclusive, and clauses 60 and 61, of the regulations for inspection and examination of schools. " 1. Every public school shall, as a general rule, be visited at least twice in every year by a Public-School Inspector. One visit, called hereinafter the ' annual visit,' shall take place as nearly as possible in the same month in every year, at least ten days' notice of the date being given to the head teacher by the Inspector. The date of the annual visit of the Inspector to a school shall also be notified, not more than twenty-eight days and not less than seven days before such annual visit, by at least one advertisement in a newspaper circulating in the district, and in such other manner as may be convenient. As soon as possible after the annual visit to any school the Inspector shall present his ' annual report' on that school. No notice shall be required for any other visit than the annual visit. After one of his visits in each year the Inspector shall present an ' inspection report.' The inspection report may, if the Inspector sees fit, be presented at the same time as the annual report. A special report may be presented after any visit. In these regulations a ' year' means a year beginning with the Ist January." Mr. Richardson moved, " That the words ' by at least one advertisement in a newspaper circulating in the district ' be omitted from Regulation 1." Mr. Braik moved, and Mr. Strachan seconded, as an amendment, to insert the words "to a locality " instead of " to a school," and " circulating therein " instead of " circulating in the district." Amendment negatived, and motion agreed to, and regulation as amended agreed to. "2. For purposes of instruction, the pupils of every public school shall be divided into classes for the several subjects according to the standards defined by the syllabus of subjects, as follows : With regard to any subject, Class I. shall include all the children doing the work prescribed for Standard I. in that subject, and may be called SI : for instance, SI English will include all the children doing the work in English prescribed for Standard I. ; SI arithmetic, those doing the arithmetic of Standard I. ; and so on for the other subjects. Glass 11. shall include all the children doing the work prescribed for Standard 11., and may be called S2 ; and so on to Class VII. The preparatory class shall include all pupils below Class 1., and may be called Class P. Class P may be divided, the lower part being called PI, and the next P2; if necessary, these classes may be subdivided, as, for instance, into PI lower, PI upper, P2 lower, P2 upper." Agreed to. " 3. The classification of a school shall be made by the head teacher, who shall have full discretion to arrange his pupils in different classes for different subjects according to their ability and proficiency with respect to the several subjects, and to group two or more classes for instruction in one subject. This discretion he must exercise to the satisfaction of the Inspector, who will regard as an element of weakness any undue complexity in the classification of pupils. As a general rule, pupils should be classified according to their capacity and attainment in English and arithmetic respectively, classification in English being determined by proficiency in English, and classification in arithmetic by proficiency in arithmetic." Agreed to. " 4. Promotion of pupils from class to class may be made at any time by the head teacher, provided that, as a general rule, in Standards 111., IV., and V. promotion shall not be granted in English unless the pupil satisfies the requirements of the standard in three at least of the four subjects included under that head, two of which shall be reading and composition ; and that, also, as a general rule, in Standards 1.-V., the classification for English and arithmetic shall not in the case of any pupil differ by more than one standard." Mr. Strachan moved, and Mr. Spencer seconded, "That the words 'included under that head' be deleted, and the words ' reading, spelling, writing and composition' be substituted." Motion agreed to, and regulation as amended agreed to. It was resolved that a committee of seven —viz., Messrs. Petrie, Goyen, Fleming, Morton, Hill, Spencer, and Dr. Anderson—be appointed to consider Regulation 5, dealing with the nature of the records to be furnished by the head teacher on the work of the school, in order that the Inspector may have adequate material on which to base his judgment. Regulation 6, dealing with class lists, was also referred to the special committee.

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" 7. The Inspector may require the head teacher to note, in the column for remarks, the reason for more or less rapid promotion in the case of any pupil, or to give an explanation in the case of any pupil whose age is much above the average of the pupils in that class for that school or that education district ; and the Inspector may approve or not of the sufficiency of the reason or explanation given." Agreed to. "8. In general, pupils shall be expected to pass through at least one class in each subject every year, and the head teacher shall indicate subjects in which any pupil is not in a class higher than that in which he was placed at the previous annual visit of the Inspector." Dr. Anderson moved, and Mr. Harkness seconded, after " pupils," to insert "of average ability." Motion negatived. Mr. Spencer moved, and Mr. Bossence seconded, to delete " In general, pupils shall be expected to pass through at least one class in each subject every year, and." Motion negatived. Mr. Goyen moved, and Mr. Gray seconded, " That clause 8 be deleted." The Conference divided on Mr. Spencer's motion. Ayes, 20 ; Noes, 12. Motion agreed to, and the regulation as amended referred to the special committee. " 9. In order to satisfy himself of the general efficiency of the instruction given in the school, the Inspector shall at his annual visit devote the major portion of his time to an investigation of the character of the teaching and of the degree to which the intelligence of the pupils has been developed, and to this end he shall examine a due proportion of the pupils in each class, including Class P and Class S7, in such subjects as he shall choose." Agreed to. " 10. Every pupil examined in any subject by the Inspector shall be examined in the class in which he has been taught during the preceding three months ; but the Inspector or the teacher may exclude from the examination of a class any pupil who has made less than one hundred halfday attendances in such class." Mr. J. Smith moved, and Mr. Hill seconded, " That ' three' be deleted, and the word ' six 'be substituted." Motion negatived, and regulation agreed to. " 11. At the time of his annual visit, or of any other visit, the Inspector may, but only if the circumstances seem to call for such exceptional action, examine all the pupils of the school, or of any class, to ascertain their individual progress, and he may modify the classification of the head teacher by directing that any pupil or pupils shall be placed in any class or classes that he may name. Such modified classification shall thereupon for three months, or such shorter period as the Inspector may prescribe, be substituted for the classification of the head teacher. In such cases the effect of clauses 3 and 4 will be modified accordingly." By invitation, Mr. F. Tate, of the Victorian Education Department, addressed the Conference. Mr. Morton moved, and Mr. Goyen seconded, " That the words ' but only if the circumstances seem to call for such exceptional action' be transposed and inserted between the words ' may ' and ' modify.' " Agreed to. Dr. Anderson moved, and Mr. Petrie seconded, "That in the last sentence '3' be deleted, with the view of substituting therefor ' 6.' " Agreed to, and regulation as amended agreed to. " 12. When a child leaves one school for another the head teacher shall furnish him with a ' certificate of transfer,' showing (1) the class or classes in which he is placed for English and arithmetic; (2) the date of the last annual visit of the Inspector ; (3) the number of half-day attendances he has made since that annual visit; (4) the number of half-day attendances he has made since the date of his last promotion in English and arithmetic respectively ; and (5) the other subjects (including military drill) in which he has been receiving instruction." Agreed to. The consideration of Eegulation 13 was postponed. " 14. In expressing his opinion of the value of the work done in any compulsory subject, the Inspector shall consider whether the subject is taken by all the pupils in all the classes for which it is prescribed, and also whether it is efficiently treated." Agreed to. " 15. In judging the work in the additional subjects in any school, the Inspector shall consider whether the number of subjects taken in the school is in accordance with clauses 29 to 35 of these regulations, and also whether these subjects are efficiently treated." Agreed to. " 16. The inspection report shall relate to such topics as the following: I. List of classes and teachers. 11. Organization, as shown under topic I. 111. Suitability of time-tables ; marking and keeping of registers. IV. Method and quality of the instruction in general or in detail. V. Order and discipline, and the tone of the school with respect to diligence, alacrity, obedience, and honour. VI. Supervision in recess. VII. Manners and general behaviour of the pupils. VIII. State of buildings, ground, and fences. IX. Sufficiency of school accommodation. X. Cleanliness and tidiness of rooms and premises, including outside offices; condition of school material and apparatus ; ventilation and warming. XI. List of class-books used in the school. XII. Special circumstances affecting the work of the school. XIII. Method, quality, and efficiency of the instruction given to pupil-teachers. XIV. Other topics. " The report shall be divided into sections, and the section relating to any topic in the foregoing list shall bear the number assigned to that topic in the list. Section I. shall show what classes within the meaning of clause 2 of these regulations there are in the school, whether the

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classes are grouped for instruction, and, if so, how they are grouped, and by what teacher each class is taught, describing each teacher by his position in the school as ' sole teacher,' ' head teacher, , 'mistress,' 'first assistant,' 'third-year pupil-teacher,' or as the case may be. Any section except Sections I. and XI. may, if the Inspector so choose, consist of the appropriate number and of a single word, such as ' Satisfactory.' " On the motion of Mr. Hill, it was agreed to insert " and sufficiency" before " school material." Mr. Petrie moved, and Mr. Braik seconded, to strike out " XIII. Method, quality and efficiency of the instruction given to pupil-teachers," with the view of inserting " XIII. The instruction and training of pupil-teachers." Agreed to. The Conference adjourned at 5.20 p.m.

Thursday, 4th February, 1904. The Conference resumed at 9.30 a.m. Mr. Eichardson moved, and Mr. Hill seconded, "That this Conference place on record its very high appreciation of the valuable services rendered to the cause of education in this colony by Mr. James H. Pope, for upwards of twenty-four years Inspector of Native Schools; and by Mr. Robert Lee, for twenty-eight years Chief Inspector of Schools in the Wellington District." The resolution was carried unanimously. The Chairman read a telegram from Mr. Lee thanking the Conference for the honour it had done him in inviting him to attend its meetings. Mr. Pope thanked the Conference for the resolution it'had passed. The Chairman announced that he had received a communication from Mr. ,J. Smith stating that a somewhat severe indisposition compelled him to discontinue his attendance at the Conference. Regulations for Inspection and Examination of Schools. The Conference resumed, in committee, its consideration of these regulations. " 16. The inspection report shall relate to such topics as the following : I. List of classes and teachers. 11. Organization, as shown under topic I. 111. Suitability of time-tables; marking and keeping of registers. IV. Method and quality of the instruction in general or in detail. V. Order and discipline, and the tone of the school with respect to diligence, alacrity, obedience, and honour. VI. Supervision in recess. VII. Manners and general behaviour of the pupils. VIII. State of buildings, ground, and fences. IX. Sufficiency of school accommodation. X. Cleanliness and tidiness of rooms and premises, including outside offices; condition of school material and apparatus; ventilation and warming. XI. List of class-books used in the school. XII. Special circumstances affecting the work of the school. XIII. Method, quality, and efficiency of the instruction given to pupil-teachers. XIV. Other topics. "The report shall be divided into sections, and the section relating to any topic in the foregoing list shall bear the number assigned to that topic in the list. Section I. shall show what classes within the meaning of clause 2 of these regulations there are in the school, whether the classes are grouped for instruction, and, if so, how they are grouped, and by what teacher each class is taught, describing each teacher by his position in the school as ' sole teacher,' ' head teacher,' ' mistress,' ' first assistant,' ' third-year pupil-teacher,' or as the case may be. Any section except Sections I. and XL may, if the Inspector so choose, consist of the appropriate number and of a single word, such as ' Satisfactory.' " On the motion of Mr. Braik, it was agreed, " That the matter of attendance be assigned a separate number in the inspection report." On the motion of Dr. Anderson, seconded by Mr. Wood, it was resolved, " That the marking and keeping of registers and other school records be assigned a separate number." On the motion of Mr. Fitzgerald, it was agreed, " That the words ' be omitted, or ' be inserted after the word ' choose.' " It was resolved, " That the regulations be considered clause by clause, and that all amendments on any clause be taken in order until the clause is disposed of." On the motion of Mr. Purdie, seconded by Mr. Strachan, it was agreed, " That the standing orders be suspended in order that clause 16 be again referred to." Dr. Anderson moved, " That the regulation be amended by the omission of all the words ' whether the classes are grouped for instruction, and, if so, how they are grouped.' " Motion negatived. Mr. Hill moved, and Mr. Gray seconded, " That an Inspector may omit a report on a school after his inspection visit if he deems the circumstances warrant such a course." After discussion, the motion was, by leave, withdrawn. Eegulations as amended agreed to. " 13. The annual report shall show the number of pupils in each class, the number present, and the Inspector's judgment of the quality of the work done in the compulsory subjects, the quantity and quality of the work in the additional subjects, and the efficiency of the instruction in Class P; the degree of discretion displayed in the classification of the pupils, in the determining of the promotions from class to class, and the organization of the school in other respects— e.g., in regard to the average number of children present at any one time under the instruction of any teacher or teachers. (Subject to the conditions of classification, and the suitability of the several teachers for the various classes of the school, the average number under the instruction of any

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teacher or teachers should not in general greatly exceed the number indicated by the scale of staffs in 'The Public-School Teachers' Salaries Act, 1901,' which allows not more than sixty children for each adult teacher, and not more than thirty for each pupil-teacher, or on the average not more than forty-five for each member of the staff.)" Mr. Purdie moved, and Mr. Mulgan seconded, " That in line 4 the word 'and' be omitted, and that in line 5, after the words ' Class P,' the words ' and his opinion of the order, the discipline, and the tone of the school with respect to diligence, alacrity, obedience, and honour ' be inserted." Agreed to, and clause 13 as amended agreed to. Mr. Petrie brought up the following report of the committee on Eegulation 5. " The head teacher shall draw up quarterly schemes of work for all the classes in his school, and shall hold thereon not fewer than four periodical examinations of the classes, the last of which shall be held immediately before the Inspector's annual visit, and he shall keep for the information of the Inspectors a record of the nature and results of these examinations. This record shall show for each standard class the head teacher's estimate of the proficiency of each pupil in SI to S7 in the subjects of English and arithmetic, and also a general estimate of the quality of the work done in each of the additional and other subjects. The record shall also show all changes from class to class made as a result of the examination to which it relates. These records, as well as the class registers and the copies of the Inspectors' reports and class lists, shall be kept in the school for not less than five years, and in the case of the closing of a school shall be delivered up to the Education Board, to be kept for a similar period, as the Board shall direct. The questions used at the periodical examinations, and the pupils' written answers thereto, shall be kept in the school for reference till the next annual visit." On the motion of Mr. Gray, seconded by Dr. Anderson, it was resolved, " That the committee's report on Eegulation 5 be postponed, and that typewritten copies be placed in the hands of members as soon as possible." " 6. Before the Inspector's annual visit, the head teacher shall prepare class lists on the forms provided by the Department. The class in which a pupil has been placed for English during the preceding three months shall determine the list on which his name shall appear. The class lists shall contain — (a) the names and ages of all the pupils on the school roll; (b) the number of halfdays on which each pupil has attended the school since the last annual visit of the Inspector; and, where necessary, (c) the number of half-days each pupil has attended the class in which he is placed for English, (d) the classes in which pupils have been placed for other subjects besides English during the preceding three months, and (c) the number of half-days each pupil has attended such classes." "8. The head teacher shall indicate the subjects in which any pupil is not in a class higher than that in which he was placed at the previous annual visit of the Inspector." Mr. Petrie brought up the following report of the committee on these regulations: "In Eegulation 6, to delete ' and 'in the line before last, and add ' (/) an indication of the subjects in which any pupil is not in a class higher than that in which he was placed at the previous annual visit of the Inspector.' " Report agreed to, and regulations as amended agreed to. "17. (i.) A ' certificate of competency ' means a certificate that the holder has fulfilled the requirements of some standard of education, prescribed by these regulations and named on such certificate, in (1) reading, (2) spelling, (3) writing, (4) composition, (5) arithmetic, and has satisfied the Inspector that he has received sufficient instruction in the other compulsory and additional subjects; provided that the Inspector may accept work below the requirements of such standard in one, but not more than one, of the subjects (2) to (5). " (ii.) A person may be a candidate for a certificate of competency on one of the following grounds : — " (a.) That he is seeking employment in the public service or elsewhere ; " (b.) That he wishes to enter a secondary school; " (c.) That he is under fourteen years of age, and that his parent wishes to obtain for him a certificate of exemption as prescribed in section 4 of ' The School Attendance Act, 1901.' " Agreed to. " 18. Immediately on the receipt of the notice of the annual visit of the Inspector referred to in clause 1, the head teacher shall post in a conspicuous place in the school a notice that such visit is about to be made, and shall call the attention of the children thereto. The parent of any child of school age, or on the roll of any school, who wishes such child to obtain a certificate of competency must give notice of his desire in writing to the head teacher at least three days before such annual visit ; this notice must state on which of the grounds named in clause 17 the parent wishes such certificate to be granted. " The head teacher shall, on the day of the annual visit, hand to the Inspector lists in duplicate of those on behalf of whom notice has been given to him of the desire to obtain certificates of competency. These lists shall be written on forms provided by the Department." Dr. Anderson moved," That the clause be amended by the omission of the words 'in the school,' and the substitution therefor of the words ' on the school premises.' " Agreed to, and regulation as amended agreed to. " 19. The Inspector shall, at or about the date of his annual visit, arrange for the examination of such children as are candidates for certificates of competency in whatever way he may deem fit, and may examine them at their own or any other school; provided that for such purpose no child shall be compelled to attend at any school (not being his own school) more than five miles from his place of residence. "The Inspector may, if he see cause, refuse to examine for a certificate of competency any child on the roll of a public school who has not been instructed for at least six months in the work of the standard to which such certificate refers, or in the work of a higher standard; or any

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candidate who has failed to reach the required standard at an examination held during the previous three months ; or any candidate in whose case he is not satisfied of the existence of one of the grounds named in clause 17 hereof. " Nothing in this regulation shall prevent an Inspector from accepting at any time the results of a head teacher's examination or the records of a school as sufficient evidence that a child has reached a certain standard of education, and giving his certificate accordingly, whether such child be still on the school roll or not." Mr. Eichardson moved, and Mr. Harkness seconded, "That in the second paragraph, line 4, the following be inserted after ' or ' : ' may refuse to examine any candidate for a certificate of competency or for a certificate of proficiency.' " Agreed to, and regulation as amended agreed to. "20. The 'standard of exemption' under section 4 of 'The School Attendance Act, 1901,' shall be the Fifth Standard, and the certificate referred to in subsection (c) of section 4 of the said Act shall be a certificate of competency in the work of Standard V. or a higher standard." Agreed to. " 21. The Inspector shall examine all the pupils in the Sixth Standard class, and any other children of school age, whether on the school roll or not, whose parents desire them to be examined in the work of the Sixth Standard, and have given notice of snch desire in writing to the head teacher at least three days before the annual visit, and he shall award ' certificates of competency ' to those who satisfy the conditions for such certificates, or ' certificates of proficiency' to those who fulfil the requirements named in clause 22 hereof." Agreed to. "22. The standard of attainment for a certificate of proficiency shall be the same in all schools. No one shall receive a certificate of proficiency unless he (a) obtains at least 30 per cent, of the possible marks in each of the subjects English and arithmetic ; (b) gains at least 50 per cent, of the possible aggregate marks in the following compulsory subjects —viz., English, arithmetic, geography, drawing ; and (c) satisfies the Inspector that he has received sufficient instruction in the other compulsory subjects, and in at least two of the additional subjects, of which one must be either handwork or elementary science. In the compulsory subjects named in (b) the possible marks shall be in the following proportions, viz.: English, 400 ; arithmetic, 200 ; geography, 100 ; drawing, 100." On the motion of Mr. Eichardson, seconded by Mr. Fitzgerald, it was resolved, " That the consideration of Eegulation 22 be deferred until after the regulations bearing on the syllabus have been considered." " 23. The Inspector may also hold special examinations of candidates, whether of school age or not, for certificates of competency or for certificates of proficiency at any place and time that may seem fit to him, and may require candidates for such special examinations to give fourteen days' notice of their intention to be examined." Agreed to. " 24. By or on behalf of each candidate at such special examinations there shall be paid to the Inspector, or to the Secretary of the Education Board, as the Board may direct, the following fees, viz. :If there be only one candidate, £1; if there be two candidates, 10s. for each candidate ; if there be three candidates, 6s. Bd. for each candidate ; if there be four or more candidates, ss. for each candidate. But no fee shall be payable in the case of any child on the roll of any public school, or of any child of school age, if he be examined, either at his own school or any other school, at the time of the Inspector's annual visit to such school." Mr. Hill moved, and Mr. Purdie seconded, " That the words 'or to the Secretary of the Education Board, as the Board may direct,' be omitted." Motion negatived. On the motion of Mr. H. Smith, it was agreed, " That the last sentence of the regulation be struck out, and the following be substituted : ' But no fee shall be payable in the case of any one examined at a school at the time of the Inspector's annual visit.' " Eegulation as amended agreed to. " 25. All such certificates shall be on forms issued by the Department, and shall be signed by an Inspector of Schools." Mr. Eichardson moved, and Mr. Fitzgerald seconded, " To add the words ' or by the Secretary of an Education Board, in accordance with information furnished by an Inspector. , ' : The Conference divided. Ayes, 16—viz., Messrs. Ballantyne, Bird, Bossence, Braik, Fitzgerald, Fleming, Goyen, Gray, Harkness, Hendry, Morton, Petrie, Pope, Eichardson, Spencer, and Strachan; Noes, 15 —viz., Messrs. Anderson, Bakewell, Bell, Browne, Crowe, Gow, Grierson. Hill, Isaac, Milne, Mulgan, Purdie, Eitchie, H. Smith, and Wood. Motion agreed to, and regulation as amended agreed to. " 26. Notwithstanding clause 21, the Inspector need not, at the time of his annual visit to a school, examine for certificates of proficiency and Standard VI. certificates of competency the pupils of S6 and other candidates who are of school age. He may arrange to hold a central examination for all such pupils and candidates from a town or district, due notice of such examination being given. This examination, being in lieu of the annual examination of S6, is not to be regarded as a special examination within the meaning of clauses 23 and 24. " Nevertheless, at the time of his annual visit to the school, the Inspector shall satisfy himself of the general efficiency of the instruction given in S6, as provided for in clause 9." Agreed to. "27. The Inspector or Inspectors of each district shall make an annual return showing, with respect to each public school subject to their inspection, the number of pupils in the several classes and the number present in each class ati the time of the annual visit. The

2—E lc,

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return shall indicate the degree of attention paid to the several compulsory subjects and to the additional subjects respectively, and state in brief the condition of each school as to order and discipline, and as to the manners of the pupils. The return shall also include a statement of the average age of the pupils in each class." Mr. Petrie moved, " That the average age of Class P be omitted from the return in section 27." Motion agreed to, and regulation as amended agreed to. " 60. The course of instruction may, if the Board of Education think fit, be modified in accordance with these regulations immediately on the publication thereof, or at any time not later than the Ist day of July, 1904 ; but in all other respects these regulations shall come into force on the Ist day of January, 1904." Mr. Fitzgerald moved to strike out " Ist day of July, 1904," and insert in lieu thereof " 31st day of December, 1904." Agreed to, and regulation as amended agreed to. "61. In case of any misunderstanding arising as to the meaning of any part of these regulations the Minister of Education shall declare what is to be taken as the meaning, and his interpretation shall be binding upon all persons to whom it is communicated, and shall, if declared by publication in the Neiv Zealand Gazette, have equal force with these regulations." Agreed to. " 10. Every pupil examined in any subject by the Inspector shall be examined in the 3lass in which he has been taught during the preceding three months; but the Inspector or the teacher may exclude from the examination of a class any pupil who has made less than one hundred halfday attendances in such class." On the motion of Mr. Harkness, this regulation was recommitted. Mr. Harkness moved, and Mr. Petrie seconded, " That the words 'or the teacher' be omitted, and that after the words ' such class ' the following be inserted : ' and the teacher may exclude from examination any pupil who has made less than one hundred half-day attendances. , " Motion agreed to, and regulation as amended agreed to. Beport of committee on Regulations 1 to 27 and 60 and 61 was adopted. Syllabus (General). Mr. Purdie moved, " That in the syllabus of subjects to be taught in the primary schools greater freedom of selection should be given to teachers." Mr. Mulgan seconded. The Conference divided. Ayes, 8 ; Noes, 18 : majority against, 10. Motion negatived. Mr. Bakewell moved, " That a reduction be made in the requirements of the new syllabus in regard to schools below Grade 4." Mr. Ballantyne seconded. Agreed to. Syllabus (Subjects). On the motion of Mr. Fitzgerald, the standing orders were suspended to enable motion No. 1, Syllabus (Subjects), to be moved. Mr. Goyen moved, " That in the new syllabus the work sketched in geography, history, and science (including nature-study and health) is in excess of what can be well done in the circumstances in which our schools have to work." Mr. Petrie seconded. The Chairman vacated the chair in order to discuss this motion more freely. Mr. Pope took the chair. The Conference adjourned at 5 p.m.

Friday, sth Febeuaby, 1904. The Conference resumed at 9.30 a.m. Syllabus (Subjects). The consideration of the following motion, moved by Mr. Goyen, was continued: " That in the new syllabus the work sketched in geography, history, and science (including nature-study and health) is in excess of what can be well done in the circumstances in which our schools have to work." The Chairman (Mr. Hogben, Inspector-General) vacated the chair, which was taken by Mr. Pope, and Mr. Hogben concluded his remarks on the motion, and then resumed the chair. Motion agreed to. Regulations for Inspection and Examination of Schools. On the motion of Mr. Fitzgerald, the standing orders were suspended to enable Mr. Braik to move motion No. 10, Syllabus (General). ' Mr. Braik moved, and Mr. Morton seconded, " That the Conference consider seriatim the remaining regulations relating to the inspection and examination of schools." Agreed to. The Conference resolved itself into committee to consider the remaining regulations. " 28. The following subjects shall be compulsory in all schools for classes P, SI, and S2 : (1) English, (2) arithmetic, (3) drawing, (4) singing, (5) physical instruction, Instruction of the kind indicated in clauses 48, 49, and 50 must also be given."

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Mr. Hill moved, and Mr. Purdie seconded, " That English and arithmetic be the compulsory subjects for all classes P, SI, and 52." Amendment negatived. Mr. Bossence moved, and Dr. Anderson seconded, " That nature-study be added to the list of compulsory subjects in P, 81, and 52." Amendment negatived. Mr. Gray moved, and Mr. Goyen seconded, " That the words ' instruction of the kind indicated in clauses 48, 49, and 50 must also be given ' be deleted." Amendment negatived, and Eegulation 28 agreed to. Mr. Strachan moved, "That the Conference report progress, and that Eegulation 28 be further considered in committee." Motion negatived. " 29. In the same classes the following shall be the additional subjects: Group I.— (1) Lessons on objects, (2) handwork, (3) geography (in S2) ; Group ll.—Needlework." Mr. Gray moved, and Mr. Bossence seconded, "That ' (1) Lessons on objects' be altered to read ' Nature-study or lessons on objects.' " Amendment negatived. Mr. Goyen moved, and Mr. Fitzgerald seconded, "That ' lessons on objects' be omitted." Amendment negatived, and regulation agreed to. " 30. All the additional subjects may be taken in any school. Subject (1) or subject (2) of Group I. must be taken by boys and girls in every school. In schools below Grade 7, two of the subjects of Group I. must be taken by boys, and, where needlework is not taught, by girls also. In schools of Grade 7 and higher grades, all the subjects of Group I. must be taken by boys, and not more than one of them may be omitted by girls." Mr. Eichardson moved, " That ' Grade 9' be substituted for ' Grade 7 ' where it occurs in section 30." Agreed to. Mr. Strachan moved, and Mr. Purdie seconded, " That the following words be inserted in line 1, after the word school: ' In schools below Grade 4 none of the additional subjects need be taken.' " Agreed to. Mr. Eichardson moved, and Mr Purdie seconded, "In schools of Grades 4 to 8 only one additional subject be required." The Conference divided. Ayes, 12 ; Noes, 15 : majority against 3. Amendment negatived. Mr. Harkness moved, " That in Grades 4, 5, and 6 only one additional subject be required." Amendment negatived. Mr. Eichardson moved, and Mr. Fitzgerald seconded, " That only one additional subject be required in schools of Grades 5, 6, and 7." The Conference divided. Ayes, 11; Noes, 17 : majority against, 6. Amendment negatived, and regulation 30 as amended agreed to. " 31. The following subjects shall be compulsory in all schools for classes S3, S4, So, and S6, viz.: (1) English, (2) arithmetic, (3) drawing, (4) singing, (5) physical instruction, (6) geography (courses A and B), (7) history (course A), including civic instruction. Instruction of the kind indicated in clauses 48, 49, and 50 shall also be given." Mr. Eichardson moved, and Mr. Fitzgerald seconded, " That ' geography (courses A and B) and ' history (course A), including civic instruction,' be omitted from clause 31." Amendment negatived. Mr. Eichardson moved the deletion of the words " Instruction of the kind indicated n clauses 48, 49, and 50 shall also be given." Amendment negatived. Mr. Fitzgerald moved the omission of the words " (courses A and B) " and " (course A)." Amendment negatived, and regulation agreed to. On the motion of Dr. Anderson, the standing orders were suspended for the purpose of discussing 40, 41, 43, 51, and 52. Agreed to. Dr. Anderson moved, and Mr. Eichardson seconded, " That some such course as geography course Abe regarded as compulsory in all schools—a programme to be drawn up by the teacher and approved by the Inspector." Agreed to. Dr. Anderson moved, " That geography course C and history course B be deleted." The Conference divided. Ayes, 21; Noes, 6: majority for, 15. Motion agreed to. Dr. Anderson moved, " That some of the more important or most useful features of geography course C be incorporated with geography course B." The Conference divided. Ayes, 14: Noes, 15 : majority against, 1. Motion negatived, and regulation agreed to, subject to the general resolution passed by the Conference. Eegulation 41 agreed to, subject to the general resolution proposed by Dr. Anderson, which had been agreed to. Eegulation 42 agreed to, subject to the general resolution which had been agreed to. Eegulation 43, " Note on Courses B and C (Standards 111.-VI.) " agreed to. Eegulation 51 agreed to. Eegulation 52 as amended agreed to. Mr. F. Propsting wrote asking if the Conference could fix a time when it would be convenient for members to witness a demonstration of the usefulness of certain school desks which were on exhibition in the meeting-room of the Conference. Letter received; the writer to be informed that the Conference could not fix such a time. A letter was received from the Chairman of the General Assembly Library Committee extending to the members of the Conference the privileges of the library during their stay in Wellington.

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Joint Conference of Inspectors and Teachers. the following gentlemen were elected to represent the Conference at the Joint Conference of Inspectors and school-teachers on the subject of the regulations for the examination and inspection of schools: Dr. Anderson, Messrs. Fleming, Petrie, Goyen, Spencer, Harkness, Gow, Morton, Gray, Hill, and Braik. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Petrie, " That it be arranged, if possible, that the Joint Conference be held at 10 o'clock on Monday, the Bth instant." The Conference adjourned at 5 p.m.

Saturday, 6th February. The Conference resumed at 9.30 a.m. Mr. Hill moved, and Mr. Goyen seconded, " That the thanks of che Conference be tendered to the Chairman of the Parliamentary Library Committee for granting the privileges of the Library to members of the Conference during their stay in Wellington." Agreed to. Regulations for Inspection and Examination of Schools. The consideration of Regulation 32 was resumed in committee. " 32. In the same classes, the following shall be the additional subjects, viz. : —Group I.— Elementary science, or lessons on objects; (2) handwork; (3) geography, course C; (4) history j course B. Group ll.—Needlework; (2) military drill." Dr. Anderson moved, and Mr. Eichardson seconded, " That geography and history as additional subjects consist of a more complete study of course B geography and course A history, involving a good knowledge of the matter contained therein." The Conference divided. Ayes, 22; Noes, 7. Majority for, 15, and regulation as amended agreed to. " 33. All the additional subjects may be taken in any school. Subjects (1) or (2) of Group I. must be taken by boys and girls in every school. " In schools below Grade 4, either lessons on objects or handwork must be taken by boys and, where needlework is not taught, by girls also. " In schools of Grades 4, 5, and 6, two of the subjects of Group I. must be taken by boys, and, where needlework is not taught, by girls also. " In schools of Grade 7, and higher grades, at least four and a half hours a week must be given to the subjects of Group I. by boys, and two and a half hours by girls : not more than one subject may be omitted by the former, and not more than two by the latter. " At least two hours a week must be given to needlework by all the girls of S3-6 in every school where there is a mistress ; provided that, in the case of girls who are attending classes in cookery, dairy-work, dressmaking or laundry-work recognised under the regulations of the Manual and Technical Instruction Act, it will be sufficient if one hour a week is given to needlework; and, further, that S6 girls who are attending such classes need not take needlework while they are so attending. " Military drill must be taken by boys in every school in which there are twenty or more boys of twelve years of age or upwards, as provided in the regulations for public-school cadet corps." Mr. Fleming moved, and Mr. Eichardson seconded, " That the first four paragraphs of Eegulation 33 be amended to read as follows : ' All the additional subjects may be taken in any school. In schools below Grade 7 either lessons on objects or handwork must be taken by boys, and, where needlework is not taught, by girls also. In schools of Grade 7 and higher grades at least four hours and a half a week must be given to the subjects of Group I. by boys, and two hours and a half by girls; not more than two subjects may be omitted by the former, and not more than three by the latter; one of the subjects (1) or (2) of Group I. must be taken in either case.'." Agreed to. On the question, That the regulation as amended be agreed to, there was considerable discussion, the regulation being ultimately agreed to as follows : — "33. All the additional subjects may be taken in any school. " In schools below Grade 4 the subjects in Group I. may be omitted. " In schools of Grades 4 to 8, inclusive, either elementary science or handwork must be taken by boys and girls. " In schools of Grade 9 and higher grades at least four hours and a half a week must be given to the subjects of Group I. and geography (A) by boys, and two hours and a half by girls; not more than two subjects may be omitted by the former, and not more than three by the latter; one of the subjects (1) or (2) of Group I. must be taken in either case. " At least two hours a week must be given to needlework by all the girls of S3-6 in every school where there is a mistress ; provided that girls who are attending classes in cookery, dairywork, dressmaking, or laundry-work recognised under the regulations of the Manual and Technical Instruction Act need not take needlework while they are so attending. " Military drill must be taken by boys in every school in which there are twenty or more boys of twelve years of age or upwards, as provided in the regulations for public-school cadet corps." " 34. The following subjects shall be compulsory in all schools for class S7 : (1) English as prescribed in clause 38; (2) arithmetic as prescribed in clause 39 ; (3) drawing of a more advanced character than that required for Standard VI.; (4) civic instruction, beyond what is required for Standards 111.-VI.; (5) military drill, as prescribed in the regulations relating to public-school cadet corps." Mr. Fitzgerald moved the omission of the words from " (3) drawing" to " Standards 111.-VI."

Agreed to.

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Mr. Harkness moved, and Mr. H. Smith seconded, " That the following words be inserted after the word ' schools ': 'in Grade 4, and upwards.' " Motion negatived, and regulation as amended agreed to. Mr. Smith moved, " That in a district high school, and in those schools where the pupils can travel daily to a district high school, the work in S7 shall not be required." Agreed to. The Conference adjourned at 12.45 p.m.

Monday, Bth February, 1904. The Conference resumed at 9.30 a.m. The Chairman said he had received a communication from Mr. Pope stating that owing to ill-health he would be unable to attend further meetings of the Conference. Regulations for Inspection and Examination of Schools. The consideration of the regulations was resumed in committee. " 35. In the same class, the following shall be the additional subjects : (1) Geometry, (2) algebra, (3) *elementary mechanics, (4) (5) *chemistry, (6) *botany, (7) book-keeping as for Civil Service Junior Examination, (8) shorthand, (9) *agriculture, (10) (11) geology, (12) geography as for Civil Service Junior Examination, (13) history as for Civil Service Junior Examination, (14) handwork (one or more branches), (15) mechanical drawing, unless this is included in the drawing taken as a compulsory subject. " In schools situated more than five miles from any secondary school or district high school, and in schools attached to training colleges, but in no other schools, (16) Latin, (17) French, and (18) German may be included in the list of additional subjects from which selection may be made. " In schools below Grade 16, two or more of the additional subjects shall be taken. " In schools of Grade 16 and higher grades, at least three of the additional subjects shall be taken. " Attention should still be given to the kind of instruction that is indicated in clauses, 48, 49, and 50." Mr. Fitzgerald moved, and Mr. Eichardson seconded, "That ' drawing of a more advanced character than that taught in Standard VI. ' and ' civic instruction beyond what is taught in Standards 111.-VI. , be inserted among the additional subjects in section 35." Agreed to. Mr. Fitzgerald moved, and Mr. Petrie seconded, " That the proviso implied in the second paragraph of clause 35 be removed." The Conference divided. Ayes, 14 ; Noes, 15 : majority against, 1. Amendment negatived. Mr. Gray moved, and Mr. Morton seconded, " In schools below Grade 8 all the additional subjects may be omitted; in schools of Grades 8-16 only one additional subject be required; in schools of higher grades only two. Amendment negatived. Dr. Anderson moved, and Mr. Gray seconded, "That paragraphs 3 and 4 of clause 35 be omitted." The Conference divided. Ayes, 16 ; Noes, 12 : majority for, 4. Motion agreed to. Mr. Fitzgerald moved, and Mr. Bossence seconded, " That, subject to the approval of the Inspector, a selection be made by the teacher from the additional subjects." Amendment negatived, and Regulation 35 as amended agreed to. Regulation 36 was passed, subject to consequential amendments. Syllabus. — English. — General. " 37. There shall be at least two reading-books in each class. One of these shall consist mainly or entirely of literary matter suited to the comprehension of the pupils ; the other may contain historical, geographical, or scientific matter, but must not be merely a text-book of history, geography, or science ; it may be a continuous reader. If approved by the Minister, a school journal may be substituted for one of the reading-books. If a historical or geographical reader be selected for the second reader it may, if of adequate scope, be held to satisfy the requirements of such portions of history or geography as are so specified in the syllabus laid down for those subjects. " The chief objects of the instruction in reading shall be to impart to the pupils the power of fluent reading, with clear enunciation, correct pronunciation, tone, and inflexion, and expression based upon intelligent comprehension of the subject-matter; to cultivate a taste for and an appreciation of good literature ; and accordingly to lead the pupils to form the habit of reading good books. The reading of such books might, indeed, well replace all other kind of home-work. " Poetry set for recitation should, while suited to the age of the pupils, be chosen for its literary merit as well as for the interest it arouses. There is such a wealth of simple and beautiful poetry in English literature that there is no reason to select for repetition verse that is not worth the trouble of learning by heart. One of the objects in making children learn verse (or prose) by heart is that they may have stored up in their memory masterpieces that may develop their imagination, and may, whether the children themselves are conscious of the operation or not, mould their taste for good literature. " The children should have an intelligent comprehension of the poetry set for recitation, and be able to answer questions upon the subject-matter of it. In some classes the pupils might be trained to reproduce in their own words the substance of poetry previously committed to memory. These exercises link the recitation to the composition lessons.

* The work id these subjects must show advance beyond what is offered or required in Standard VI.

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" Spelling should be taught by means of systematic lessons on word-building, based on a general phonic scheme, or on the meanings of the words, or on both principles combined. This teaching should be regularly supplemented by transcription from script and print. Dictation is a useful test, but not in itself, it should be remembered, a method of teaching spelling. It is recommended that in the preparatory classes and Standard I. the transcription should be from script only. " The object of the instruction in composition shall be to train the children in the correct and ready use of their mother-tongue, both in speech and in writing. Although in the definition of the work for the several standards many grammatical terms are introduced, these terms are used for the guidance of teachers, and it is not intended that any grammar shall be introduced into the course of primary instruction except for the practical end above mentioned. Technical grammatical terms should be used very sparingly indeed, and the order of instruction should be, first from example to rule, and then from rule to example ; in other words, by induction first, then by deduction. Every lesson, in short, should be a composition lesson, no lesson a grammar lesson." Mr. Morton moved to insert " merely " in the last line, after the words "no lesson." Agreed to. Mr. Petrie moved, and Mr. Kichardson seconded, " That the words ' the language and' be inserted after ' of,' in line 4 of paragraph 2 of section 37. Amendment negatived, and Regulation 37 as amended agreed to. In Regulation 38 Mr. Spencer moved, and Mr. Petrie seconded, " That in S5 ' business and official letters' be included." Amendment negatived. Mr. Fitzgerald moved, and Mr. Morton seconded, "That in Standard 111., composition, the words in brackets in lines 1, 2, and 3 of the paragraph be deleted." Amendment negatived. Regulation 38 agreed to. Training of Teachers. The standing orders were suspended in order that Mr. Prank Tate, Director of Primary and Technical Education, Victoria, should, by invitation of the Conference, deliver an address on the training of teachers in Victoria. Mr. Tate then addressed the Conference. On the motion of Mr. Goyen, seconded by Mr. Gray, a very hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Tate for his presence during the Conference and for his address. Begulations for Inspection and Examination of Schools. In Regulation 39, Mr. Richardson moved, and Mr. Petrie seconded, in line 1, Standard V., " That the words 'by the unitary method' be omitted." The Conference divided. Ayes, 17 ; Noes, 8 : majority for, 9. Amendment agreed to. Mr. Petrie moved, and Mr. Mulgan seconded, " That in Standard VI. the words ' by the unitary method, the steps of which may be curtailed as the children become more and more accustomed to the process,' be deleted." The Conference divided. Ayes, 17; Noes, 9 : majority for, 8. Amendment agreed to. Mr. Petrie moved, " That' £10,000 ' be substituted for ' £200,' arithmetic, Standard III." The Conference divided. Ayes, 10 ; Noes, 18. Amendment negatived. Mr. Gray moved, and Mr. Goyen seconded, " That ' £200 ' be altered to ' £1,000 ' in arithmetic, Standard III." The Conference divided. Ayes, 13 ; Noes, 14 : majority against, 1. Amendment negatived. Mr. Goyen moved, and Mr. Fleming seconded, "That '£200,000' be substituted for ' £1,000,000 'in line 1 of Standard 111., arithmetic." Ayes, 9 ; Noes, 17 ; majority against, 8. Amendment negatived. Dr. Anderson moved, and Mr. Richardson seconded, " That in Standard IV. the following be omitted : ' Numeration and notation up to 1,000 millions.'" The Conference divided. Ayes, 14 ; Noes, 13 : majority for, 1. Amendment agreed to, and Regulation 39 as amended agreed to. Regulation 44 (drawing). —Mr. Strachan moved, and Mr. Gray seconded, " That the work in drawing for Standards V. and VI. be lightened, and allow greater option." Agreed to, and Regulation 44 as amended agreed to. Regulations 45 and 46 (drawing), with qualification already adopted, agreed to. Regulation 47 (physical drill) agreed to. Regulation 48 (moral instruction) agreed to. Regulation 49 (nature-study) : Mr. Fleming moved, " That the last three paragraphs of Regulation 49 be transferred to the Regulations for Elementary Science as a special course of naturestudy." Agreed to, and Regulation 49 as amended agreed to. Health. " 50. Lessons on the structure of the body and on health. " These should include such subjects as the following, treated in a very simple manner : The chief bones of the skeleton, and the way in which they form a framework for the body; tendons and muscles; the skin ; the heart, the blood, and the general system of circulation ; food and drink, digestion, the stomach and intestines ; the lungs ; the liver ; the kidneys ; the nerves; the brain ; the eye; the sense of touch ; the outer ear; the throat and nose. Air, ventilation, and

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respiration; water, washing, and cleaning; the choice of clothing, food, and drinks; the management of health ; exercise; the avoidance of evil and unhealthy habits ; infectious diseases ; vaccination ; methods of dealing with common ailments, colds, and" common accidents. " The lessons on the structure of the body are intended not as a course in physiology but solely to serve the practical purpose of an introduction to such a knowledge of the laws of health as every individual of the community ought to possess : e.g, the study of the eye need not include a knowledge of all its parts, if it be known to act as a lens through which the rays of li<?ht pass and, forming an image on the retina, convey a visual impression to the brain. (The care of the eye should receive some notice.) " The instruction may be given partly in the science lessons, and partly in special oral lessons or m lessons contained in the reading-books of the higher standards. If'this be done, it will not be necessary to allot a separate place for the subject on the time-table." Dr. Anderson moved, and Mr. Mulgan seconded, "That the weightier part of the programme set out in Eegulation 50 be transferred to the heading of ' Science.' " The Conference divided. Ayes, 17 ; Noes, 8 ; majority for, 9. Motion agreed to and regulation as amended agreed to. Eegulation 53 (sewing) agreed to. Eegulation 54 (singing) agreed to. Eegulation 55 agreed to. Eegulation 56 (elementary science).—Mr. Fleming moved, and Mr. Wood seconded " That the first two and the last paragraphs of Eegulation 56 be amended to read as follows :— " 'The course in science for the upper classes should be chosen with regard to the district in which the school is situated. Even with careful attention to individual practical work a course of science for young children will probably fail as an educational instrument if it is too far dissociated from their daily life and experience. Two specimen courses are given below—one (in elementary physics) for town schools or large country schools, the other for country schools lhese courses are intended as suggestions. Any suitable programme of work drawn up to cover the three or four years of S4 to S6 or S7 will be accepted by the Inspector. " ' A course of elementary physics for the upper classes of a town school or of a large country school might include such work as is indicated in the following notes, some of the more elementary portions of which may be attempted even before the pupils reach S4 :— " ' The work thus indicated might be taken up in S5 and S6 as one of the courses of elementary science prescribed by the regulations under the Manual and Technical Instruction Act. Agreed to. The Conference adjourned at 5 p.m. The Conference resumed at 8 p.m. Eegulation 57.—Mr. Fleming moved, and Mr. Gray seconded, " That the words ' the upper classes of be substituted for the words 'a Standard IV. class in, , in the third line of the first paragraph of Eegulation 57." Agreed to, and clause 57 as amended agreed to. Eegulation 58 agreed to, on the understanding that the words "in the upper classes one course of lessons might meet the more definite of the requirements of geography A nature-study health, and elementary science; and this course might even be connected with a handwork course, such as cottage gardening," be recast by the Chairman. Syllabus (General). The resolutions on the order paper other than those already dealt with were discharged as the subjects had been considered during the discussion on the syllabus. Syllabus (Subjects). The notices of motion under this heading were discharged, as the subjects had already been dealt with. J Regulations for Inspection and Examination of Schools. The Conference went into committee to consider certain clauses. "5. A head teacher shall hold periodic examinations of his school, and shall keep for the information of the Inspector a record of the nature and results of each of these examinations The record should also show all changes from class to class made as a result of the examination to which it relates These records, as well as the class registers and the copies of the Inspector's reports and class lists, shall be kept in the school for not less than ten years ; and in the case of the_ closing of the school shall be delivered up to the Education Board, to be kept for a similar period, as the Board shali direct." _ Mr. Petrie moved the adoption of the report of the select committee on this regulation viz.:— t> i "The head teacher shall draw up quarterly schemes of work for all the classes in his school and shall hold thereon not fewer than four periodical examinations of the classes the last of which shall be held immediately before the Inspector's annual visit, and he shall keep for the information of the Inspectors a record of the nature and results of these examinations This record shall show for each standard class the head teacher's estimate of the proficiency of each pupil in SI to S7 in the subjects of English and arithmetic, and also a general estimate of the quality of the work done m each of the additional and other subjects. The record shall also show all changes from class to class made as a result of the examination to which it relates These records, as well as the class registers and the copies of the Inspectors' reports and class lists shall be kept m the school for not less than five years, and in the case of the closing of a school shall be

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delivered up to the Education Board, to be kept for a similar period, as the Board shall direct. The questions used at the periodical examinations and the pupils' written answers thereto shall be kept in the school for reference till the next annual visit." Dr. Anderson seconded. The Chairman announced that he would divide the report into four sections. Subsection I.—" The head teacher shall draw up quarterly schemes of work for all classes in his school." It was resolved to alter the words " quarterly schemes "to "for each term or quarter." Subsection 2.—"And shall hold thereon not fewer thar four periodical examinations of the classes, the last of which shall be held immediately before the Inspector's annual visit." Mr Gray moved, and Mr. Strachan seconded, to substitute " three " for " four." Amendment agreed to, and subclause as amended agreed to. Subsection 3. —" This record shall show for each standard class the head teacher's estimate of the proficiency of each pupil in SI to S7 in the subjects of English and arithmetic, and also a general estimate of the quality of the work done in each of the additional and other subjects. The records shall also show all changes from class to class made as a result of the examination to which it relates." Mr. Spencer moved to add, " That the head teacher of a school be required to keep a workbook in which shall be recorded the work done during stated periods of the year." Amendment agreed to. Subsection 4.—" These records, as well as the class registers and the copies of the Inspectors' reports and class lists, shall be kept in the school for not less than five years, and in the case of the closing of a school shall be delivered up to the Education Board, to be kept for a similar period, as the Board shall direct. The questions used at the periodical examinations and the pupils' written answers thereto shall be kept in the school for reference till the next annual visit." Mr. Eichardson moved, and Mr. Purdie seconded, to strike out " five " and insert " ten." Agreed to, and Eegulation 5 as amended agreed to. " 22. The standard of attainment for a certificate of proficiency shall be the same in all schools. No one shall receive a certificate of proficiency unless he (a) obtains at least 30 per cent, of the possible marks in each of the subjects English and arithmetic ; (b) gains at least 50 per cent, of the possible aggregate marks in the following compulsory subjects —viz., English, arithnietip, geography, drawing ; and (c) satisfies the Inspector that he has received sufficient instruction in the other"compulsory subjects, and in at least two of the additional subjects, of which one must be either handwork or "elementary science. In the compulsory subjects named in (b) the possible marks shall be in the following proportions, viz. : English, 400; arithmetic 200 ; geography, 100 ; drawing, 100." Mr. Strachan moved, and Dr. Anderson seconded, to delete "at least two of, insert after subjects " as prescribed by these regulations," and delete " of which one must be either handwork or elementary science." Agreed to. On the question, That the regulations as passed by the Conference in committee be agreed to by the Conference, it was proposed that the regulations be recommitted for the purpose of reconsidering Eegulations 30, 33, 41, 42, 43, 48, 49, and 51. Agreed to. The Conference resolved itself into committee. " 33. All the additional subjects may be taken in any school. " In schools below Grade 4 the subjects in Group I. may be omitted.. "In schools of Grades 4 to 8, inclusive, either elementary science or handwork must be taken by boys and girls. "In schools of Grade 9 and higher grades at least four hours and a half a week must be given to the subjects of Group I. and geography (A) by boys, and two hours and a half by girls; not more than two subjects may be omitted by the former, and not more than three by the latter; one of the subjects (1) or (2) of Group I. must be taken in either case. " At least two hours a- week must be given to needlework by all the girls of S3-6 m every school where there is a mistress; provided that girls who are attending classes in cookery, dairywork, dressmaking, or laundry-work recognised under the regulations of the Manual and Technical Instruction Act need not take needlework while they are so attending. " Military drill must be taken by boys in every school in which there are twenty or more boys of twelve years of age or upwards, as provided in the regulations for public-school cadet corps." Mr. Mulgan moved, and Dr. Anderson seconded, "That the teaching of a definite course of science be compulsory in all schools above Grade 3." Amendment agreed to. Dr. Anderson moved, and Mr. Eitchie seconded, " That in schools of Grades 4 to 8 two of the subjects of Group I. be taken by boys, and, where needlework is not taught, by girls also." The Conference divided. Aye's, 10—viz., Messrs. Anderson, Bird, Braik, Browne, Hendry, Isaac, Mulgan, Petrie, Eitchie, Spencer; Noes, 14—viz., Messrs. Bakewell, Bossence, Fitzgerald, Fleming, Goyen, Gray, Grierson, Harkness, Hill, Milne, Morton, Eichardson, H. Smith, and Strachan. Amendment negatived, and Eegulation 33 as amended agreed to. Eegulation 41 agreed to. . Eegulation 42 (geography course B).—Mr. Fitzgerald moved, and Mr. Petrie seconded, ' That the following be added to geography course B : ' The topography implied in course B should be dealt with, special stress being laid on that of New Zealand and the British Empire generally.'" Agreed to, and regulation as amended agreed to.

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Eegulation 48 (moral instruction) agreed to. Regulation 49 (nature-study).—Mr. Bossence moved, and Mr. Goyen seconded, "That nature-study appear in the time-table of all classes in which science is not taught," Agreed to, and regulation as amended agreed to. The report of the committee was adopted. The Conference adjourned at 10.45 p.m.

Tuesday, 9th February, 1904. The Conference resumed at 9.30 a.m. Teachers (General). Mr. Goyen moved, " That teachers of country schools, the S7 pupils of which cannot attend either a high school or a district high school, should receive extra payment for the teaching of the S7 subjects." Mr. Fitzgerald seconded. The Conference divided. Ayes, 12 ; Noes, 17 : majority against, 5. Motion negatived. Mr. Goyen moved, " That male assistants below the first are inadequately paid." Mr. Wood seconded. Agreed to. Mr. Gray moved, " That the words ' but no appointment, suspension, or dismissal shall take place until the Committee have first been consulted ' be deleted from clause 45 of the Education Act." Mr. Purdie seconded. The Conference divided. Ayes, 26—Anderson, Bakewell, Ballantyne, Bird, Bossence, Braik, Browne, Crowe, Fitzgerald, Gow, Goyen, Gray, Grierson, Harkness, Hendry, Isaac, Milne, Mulgan, Petrie, Purdie, Eichardson, Bitchie, H. Smith, Spencer, Strachan, Wood ; Noes— Mr. Hill: majoiity for, 25. Motion agreed to. Mr. Petrie moved, " That the Conference affirm the principle that in each education district all appointments of teachers be made by an Appointments Board or Committee consisting of a representative of the Education Board, a representative Inspector, and a representative of the teachers of the education district." Mr. Wood seconded. The Conference divided. Ayes, 11—Anderson, Bakewell, Braik, Fitzgerald, Gray, Harkness, Petrie, Eichardson, Ritchie, Strachan, Wood; Noes, 18—Ballantyne, Bird, Bossence, Browne, Crowe, Fitzgerald, Gow, Goyen, Grierson, Hendry, Hill, Isaac, Milne, Morton, Mulgan, Purdie, H. Smith, Spencer: majority against, 7. Motion negatived. ■ Mr. Gray moved, " That teachers in applying for schools in other districts be placed on an equal footing with teachers in the district to which they are applying." Mr. Morton seconded. The Conference divided. Ayes, 21; Noes, 6 : majority for, 15. Motion agreed to. On the motion of Mr. Purdie, the standing orders were suspended in order to take motion No. 11. Mr. Purdie moved, and Mr. Ballantyne seconded, " That for purposes of promotion the positions in the schools in each district should be classified, and that there should be placed in order of merit the names of all teachers eligible for the several classes of positions, and that, as a rule, the position of teachers within a class should be determined by the Inspector or Inspectors." Motion negatived. Mr. Hill moved, " That the system of classification and certification of teachers calls for amendment, as follows : That there should be only one teacher's certificate issued by the Education Department; that such certificate should indicate one of three grades of efficiency in teaching; and that upon it should be indorsed any extra academic qualification." Mr. Purdie seconded. The Conference divided. Ayes, 12—Bakewell, Bossence, Braik, Fitzgerald, Goyen, Hendry. Hill, Isaac, Morton, Petrie, Purdie, Eichardson ; Noes, 10—Ballantyne, Browne, Gow, Gray, Harkness, Milne, Eitchie, H. Smith, Spencer, Strachan : majority for, 2. Motion agreed to. On the motion of Mr. Purdie, it was agreed, " That in the First Schedule of the Act providing a scale of staff and salaries the word ' mistress ' should be defined." Mr. Hill moved, " That the Conference considers that the establishment of a superannuation scheme for teachers and other officers in the education service would greatly help in promoting the efficiency of schools." Mr. Goyen seconded. Agreed to. Mr. Gray moved, " That the matters referred to in the order paper under the heading ' Pupilteachers and Training Colleges' be remitted to the following committee : Messrs., Wood, Hendry, Purdie, Eichardson, Bossence, Crowe, Ritchie, and Fitzgerald (convener), with power to add to their number. Agreed to. Mr. Gray moved, " That the matters referred to under ' Scholarships' be remitted to the following committee: Messrs. Bakewell, Milne, Strachan (convener), Ballantyne, Grierson, and. Mulgan, with power to add to their number." The Conference adjourned at 12.30 p.m.

3—E lc.

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Wednesday, 10th February, 1904. The Conference met at 9.30 a.m. It was resolved, " That those Inspectors who are not members of the Joint Conference be a committee (Mr. Fitzgerald, convener) to consider the remaining orders on the order paper—viz., those under the headings of ' Manual and Technical Instruction,' and ' Miscellaneous. , " The Conference adjourned at 9.35 a.m.

JOINT CONFERENCE OF SCHOOL INSPECTOES AND TEACHERS.

Tuesday, 9th Febbuaey, 1904. The Joint Conference met at 9.20 a.m. Present Mr. G. Hogben, Inspector-General ; Dr. Anderson ; Messrs. T. R. Fleming, D. Petrie, P. Goyen, W. E. Spencer, G. A. Harkness, J. G. Gow, A. J. Morton, W. Gray, H. Hill, and G. D. Braik, representing Inspectors' Conference: and Miss M. Lorimer, Messrs. J. Jeffery (Anderson's Bay, Dunedin), T. Hughes (Canterbury), L. Watson (Canterbury), G. MacMorran (Wellington), W. Foster (Wellington), A. Erskine (Wellington), J. A. Johnson (South Canterbury), J. K. Law (Wanganui), J. Aitken (Wanganui), and G. W. Murray (Auckland), representing teachers. On the motion of Mr. Jeffery, seconded by Mr. Gow, Mr. Hogben, Inspector-General, was appointed Chairman. Mr. F. H. Bakewell was appointed Secretary. On the motion of Mr. Jeffery, seconded by Dr. Anderson, the Joint Conference adjourned until the Inspectors' Conference finished its deliberations on the syllabus. The Joint Conference adjourned at 9.40 a.m. The Joint Conference met at 2 p.m. It was agreed to adjourn at 5.30 p.m. It was agreed, on the motion of Mr. Petrie, "That the proposer of a motion be allowed ten minutes, and that all subsequent speakers be allowed five minutes." It was agreed, on the motion of Mr. Fleming, seconded by Mr. Gray, " That the Press be not excluded." The New Syllabus. It was resolved, "That the first business to be taken should be the consideration of the resolutions on the new syllabus passed by the New Zealand Educational Institute at Nelson on the 7th January, 1904." The Joint Conference resolved itself into committee, and decided to consider the resolutions seriatim. " 1. That this Institute approves of the general lines of the new syllabus, seeing that it is in conformity with the ideas of modern educationists." Agreed to. " 2. That the Institute is of opinion that the syllabus will prove burdensome to teachers, or otherwise, according to its interpretation by Inspectors and according to the methods of examination, and it respectfully recommends that a very definite code of instructions be drawn up for the guidance of Inspectors and examiners." Mr. Hughes moved, as an amendment, " That a very definite code of instructions similar to those issued by the English Education Department be drawn up for the guidance of Inspectors and teachers. The Joint Conference divided on the question, " That the words of the amendment be substituted for those of resolution 2." Ayes, 14—Miss Lorimer, Messrs. Spencer, Harkness, Gray, Jeffery, Hughes, Watson, MacMorran, Foster, Brskine, Johnson, Law, Aitken, and Murray; Noes, 8 — Dr. Anderson, Messrs. Fleming, Petrie, Goyen, Gow, Morton, Hill, and Braik : majority for, 6. Amendment agreed to and resolution negatived. Mr. Fleming moved, and Mr. Gray seconded, " That the words ' very definite ' be omitted." Agreed to. On the question, " That the resolution as amended be agreed to," Mr. Gray moved, and Mr. Jeffery seconded, " That the words ' similar to those issued by the English Education Department' be deleted." Agreed to, and resolution as amended agreed to —viz., " That a code of instructions be drawn up for the guidance of Inspectors and teachers." " 3. That certain instructions in regard to method should be omitted, teachers being given freedom in this respect subject only to the guidance and advice of the Inspectors ; for example, the method of teaching, spelling, composition, subtraction and proportion in arithmetic, &c." Resolution withdrawn. " 4. That the smaller country schools be permitted to take fewer additional subjects than those specified in the syllabus, and that the teachers of these schools be allowed greater freedom of choice in the selection of these subjects." Agreed to. " 5. That Standard VII. of the new syllabus regulations should not be made compulsory, but that advanced instruction to ex-Standard-VI. pupils be provided for on the principle embodied in the following : That regulations be introduced in the new secondary-education scheme whereby any qualified teacher may be paid the extra capitation grant if he give secondary education to pupils out of reach of secondary schools."

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The resolution was divided into two parts. Subsection 1: " That Standard VII. of the new syllabus regulations should noc be made compulsory." The Joint Conference divided. Ayes, 13 ; Noes, 9 : majority for, 4. Subsection agreed to. Subsection 2 : On the motion of Mr. Aitken, this subsection was amended and agreed Co as follows : " That the regulations be altered to provide that any qualified teacher shall be paid an extra capitation grant if he give secondary education to pupils out of reach of secondary schools." It was agreed, on the motion of Mr. Foster, " That where no provision is made in the secondary schools for the free education of children who gain certificates of proficiency, means be provided by which such children may receive free secondary education." Consideration of Kesolutions 6,. 7, and 8 postponed. Eesolution 9 agreed to, as follows: "It is highly desirable that the inspection of school classes under the Manual and Technical Instruction Aces should be so defined as to avoid any danger of conflict between the Inspectors of the Education Department and the Inspectors of the Education Boards." " 10. That the executive of the New Zealand Educational Institute endeavour to obtain a conference between the Inspector-General, the Inspectors of Schools, and an equal number of the representatives of the teachers to consider and report on the syllabus lately introduced, and that the introduction of the new syllabus be deferred until after the conference has been held." Eesolution discharged. The remaining resolution was agreed to as amended, as follows: "11. That it is highly desirable that in any future revision of the syllabus the Education Department consult the Inspectors, and also the teachers of the colony through the Educational that no important modification of the syllabus be brought into force without sufficient notice." Eesolutions as amended reported from committee and agreed to. Begulations for Inspection and Examination of Schools. The Joint Conference resolved itself into committee to consider these regulations and the regulations as amended by the Inspectors' Conference. Eegulations 1, 2, 3, and 4 as passed by the Inspectors' Conference agreed to. Eegulation 5 : Mr. Johnson moved to delete the words, " That the head teacher of a school be required to keep a work-book in which shall be recorded the work done during stated periods of the year." Mr. MacMorran seconded. Agreed to. On the motion of Mr. Petrie, " S6 " was substituted for " 57." Eegulation as amended agreed to. Eegulations from 6 to 27 as passed by Inspectors' Conference agreed to. The Joint Conference adjourned at 5.15 p.m.

Wednesday, 10th February, 1904. The Joint Conference met at 9.40 a.m. It was resolved that the Conference sit till 12.30 p.m., and from 2 till 5 p.m. Eegulation 28. [Note. The regulations were considered as amended by Inspectors' Conference.] Mr. MacMorran moved, " That reading, arithmetic, writing, spelling, and composition be compulsory subjects in all grades of schools, and the requirements be the same in all schools." Mr. Hughes seconded. Dr. Anderson moved, and Mr. Goyen seconded, " That the motion be amended by omitting the words ' reading,' ' spelling,' ' writing, ' composition,' and substituting therefor the word ' English.' " Amendment agreed to, and motion withdrawn. Mr. MacMorran moved, and Mr. Hughes seconded, " That as a general principle the work of small schools be lightened, not so much by reducing the number of subjects taught as by accepting a modified programme in subjects other than English and arithmetic. Agreed to. Mr. Petrie moved, and Mr. Hughes seconded, "That nature-study and object-lessons be added as a further compulsory subject (No. 6)." Motion negatived. Mr. Petrie moved, " That ' and 50 ' be omitted in Eegulation 28." Motion negatived, and Eegulation 28 agreed to. Eegulation 29. Mr. Spencer moved, " That ' nature-study ' be substituted for ' lessons on objects. Motion negatived. Mr. Hill moved, and Mr. Goyen seconded, " That in Group 1., No. 1, ' Lessons on objects be deleted." . The Conference divided. Ayes, 11; Noes, 10 : majority for, 1. Motion agreed to. Mr. Petrie moved, and Mr. Gray seconded, " That objects and nature-study be inserted as No. 1 in Group 1., Eegulation 29." Agreed to, and Eegulation 29 as amended agreed to. Eegulation 30.

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This regulation as amended by the Inspectors' Conference (and subject to necessary redrafting) was agreed to. Eegulation 31 agreed to as passed by Inspectors' Conference. Regulation 32. Mr. Jeffery moved, "That ' (3) geography ' be deleted." Amendment negatived, and regulation agreed to. Eegulation 33. Dr. Anderson moved, " That in schools of Grades 4-8 two of the subjects of Group I. must be taken by boys, and, where needlework is not taught, by girls also." Mr. Foster seconded. The Conference divided. Ayes, 11 —Miss Lorimer, Dr. Anderson, Messrs, Braik, Brskine, Foster, Gow, Hughes, Morton, Murray, Spencer, Watson ; Noes, 11—Messrs. Aitken, Fleming, Goyen, Gray, Harkness, Hill, Jeffery, Johnson, Law, MacMorran, Petrie. The Chairman gave his casting-vote with the "Noes," to give an opportunity for further consideration. Amendment negatived. Miss Lorimer moved, "That in paragraph 5 'one hour and a half' be substituted for ' two hours.' " Mr. Petrie seconded. Agreed to, and regulation as amended agreed to. Eegulation 34. Dr. Anderson moved, and Mr. Hughes seconded, " That in schools where S7 consists of a pupil or pupils who have failed to reach the standard of the certificate of proficiency this regulation shall not apply." The Conference divided. Ayes, 13; Noes, 7: majority for, 6. Motion agreed to, and Eegulation 34 agreed to. Eegulation 35. Mr. Jeffrey moved, and Mr. Hill seconded, " That regulations be introduced whereby any qualified teacher may be paid the extra capitation grant if he gives secondary education in schools out of reach of secondary schools." The Conference divided. Ayes, 15—Miss Lorimer, Messrs. Aitken, Braik, Erskine, Foster, Goyen, Gray, Hill, Hughes, Jeffery, Johnson, Law, MacMorran, Murray, Watson ; Noes, 7— Dr. Anderson, Messrs. Fleming, Gow, Harkness, Morton, Petrie, Spencer: majority for, 8. Motion agreed to. Mr. Aitken moved, "That after the words 'secondary school' there be inserted the words ' coming under section 5 of the Secondary Schools Act.' " Agreed to, and regulation agreed to. Eegulation 36 agreed to. Eegulation 37. Mr. Johnson moved, and Mr. Goyen seconded, " That in the English course, clause 37, in the section dealing with the comprehension of the language and the subject-matter of the reading lessons, a paragraph be added recommending teachers to give special attention to the lessonsjor recitation, and to six (6) of the best prose lessons in the reading-book." Agreed to, and regulation as amended agreed to. Eegulation 38. Mr. Jeffery moved, and Mr. Johnson seconded, " That in Standard VI. '250' be deleted, and ' 200' inserted." Agreed to, and regulation as amended agreed to. Eegulation 39. Mr. Petrie moved, and Mr. Goyen seconded, "That '£10,000' be substituted for '£200' in Standard 111. arithmetic." The Conference divided. Ayes, 11—Messrs. Braik, Gow, Goyen, Gray, Harkness, Hill, Johnson, Murray, Petrie, Spencer, Watson ; Noes, 11—Miss Lorimer, Dr. Anderson, Messrs. Aitken, Erskine, Fleming, Foster, Hughes, Jeffery, Law, MacMorran, Morton. The Chairman gave his casting-vote with the " Noes," in order to allow of further consideration. Mr. Hill moved, " That ' £I,ooo' be substituted for ' £200' in Standard III." Agreed to, and regulation as amended agreed to. Eegulation 40 agreed to. Eegulation 41, Mr. Petrie moved, and Mr. Hill seconded, " That the bulk of the matter contained in the alternative course C be incorporated in course A." Motion negatived. Dr. Anderson moved, " That geography course B be amended in the direction of making the incidental topography and humanistic elements more prominent, New Zealand and the British Empire generally receiving especial attention." Motion negatived, and regulation agreed to. Eegulation 42 agreed to. Eegulations 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, and 61 agreed to, it being understood that consequential amendments would be made by the Education Department. Eegulations as amended reported from committee. On the motion of Mr. Foster, seconded by Mr. Law, the regulations were recommitted for the purpose of reconsidering Eegulation 11.

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Mr. Foster moved, and Mr. Jeffery seconded, " That Regulation 11 be amended so that the Words ' but only if the circumstances seem to call for such exceptional action ' be inserted after the words ' or any other visit,' in line 1." Amendment negatived. Dr. Anderson moved, " Nothing herein contained shall preclude the Inspector at the time of his annual visit, or of any other visit, from examining all the pupils of the school, or of any class, to ascertain their individual progress. As the result of such examination he may, but only if the circumstances seem to call for exceptional action, modify," &c. Amendment agreed to, and regulation as amended agreed to. Eegulations reported from committee and agreed to. . Mr. Jeffery, president of the New Zealand Educational Institute, moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman (the Inspector-General) for the admirable manner in which he had conducted the business of the Conference, and for the assistance he had given to the teachers in dealing with the syllabus; also that a vote of thanks be passed to the Inspectors, who had done so much to make the Conference both a pleasurable and an educative one. Mr. Aitken seconded. Carried unanimously. The Chairman briefly returned thanks. Mr. Petrie and Mr. Hill returned thanks on behalf of the Inspectors. The business of the Joint Conference being concluded, it adjourned finally at 5.45 p.m.

Thursday, 11th Febbuaby, 1904. The Conference resumed at 9.30 a.m. Scholarships. Mr. Mulgan brought up the following report of the Committee on Scholarships : — " (a.) That it appears inadvisable at present to make one examination serve for National and Education Board scholarships throughout the colony. " (b.) That the examination for Junior National Scholarships be on the subjects prescribed for the Fifth Standard in the public-school syallabus, but that the scope of the examination be not necessarily limited to the work of that standard. " (c.) That the age-limit under which candidates are eligible for a Junior National Scholarship be thirteen years. " (d.) That no change be made in the distribution of the Junior National Scholarships. " (c.) That the principle that a district scholarship should be of sufficient value to support each holder thereof be affirmed. " (/.) That in the Junior National Scholarship Examination candidates who fail to get 50 per cent, of the aggregate number of marks, or to get 25 per cent, of the number obtainable in either English or arithmetic, be disqualified. " (g.) That the Senior National Scholarships be open to all candidates under nineteen years of of age. " (h.) That the Senior National Scholarships be allotted to the several university districts on a population basis. " (i.) That on the subject of consolidating the various scholarships open to competition among the pupils of public schools the committee has no recommendation to make." The Conference resolved itself into committee to consider the recommendations seriatim. Recommendations (a), (d), (c), (/), and (h) were agreed to; (b) and (c) were negatived. The Conference divided on the question that (g) be agreed to. Ayes, 16 ; Noes, 4 : majority for, 12. Agreed to. The following amendments were substituted for (i) : — Mr. Hill moved, and Mr. Goyen seconded, " That no pupil hold more than one scholarship, whether granted by an Education Board, by the Education Department, or by any other authority." Mr. Fleming moved, and Mr. Hill seconded, " That it be a recommendation to the Victoria College Council to utilise the National Scholarship Examinations for the Queen's Scholarships." Report of committee as amended agreed to. Thanks to Ministers. Mr. Hill moved, Mr. Purdie seconded, and it was agreed, " That the thanks of the Conference be given to the Minister of Education and the Minister for Railways for the railway concessions granted to the Inspectors." Pupil-teachers and Training Colleges. Mr. Fitzgerald presented the following report of the committee on these subjects : — Pupil-teachers. —The committee is of opinion— " (1.) That at present it is inexpedient entirely to abolish the pupil-teacher system; " (2.) That the regulations relating to the appointment, instruction, training, and examination of pupil-teachers should be made uniform throughout the colony, and that the examinations should be conducted by the Department; " (3.) That the test of the literary qualification for entrance into the pupil-teacher ranks should be an examination appropriate to the end of a two years' course at a secondary school or a district high school;

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" (4.) That the pupil-teacher course should be of at least two years' duration, the first three months being probationary, and a further course of two years at a training college, should the authority so advise; " (5.) That, in order to secure a better supply of male pupil-teachers, the work should be made more agreeable and less burdensome, and more liberal remuneration should be given. " Training Colleges : — " (6.) The committee recommends as highly desirable the establishment of a central residential training college. In view, however, of existing conditions and the recommendations expressed by the Education Committee of the House, it suggests as an alternative the establishment of training colleges in the four "University centres. " (7.) These training colleges should be under departmental control. " (8.) The committee, while not deeming it necessary to enter into the details of a curriculum for the training colleges, recommends that the Senate of the University of New Zealand be asked to make education one of the subjects for a degree in Arts or Science. "(9.) At the same time the committee desires to emphasize the paramount importance of training teachers for their professional work rather than for academic distinction." The recommendations were considered in committee seriatim. (1) was adopted, with the addition (on the motion of Mr. Fleming, seconded by Mr. Eichardson) of the words, " but that, after an efficient system of training has been established, it be a recommendation to the Department, when revising the scale of staff and salaries, to keep in view the reduction of the number of pupil-teachers at present on that scale." Mr. Hill moved, and Mr. Petrie seconded, " That in (4), before the word ' months,' the words ' not less than three or more than six ' be substituted for the word ' three.' " Negatived by 15 votes to 6. As an addition to the report, Mr. Petrie moved, and Mr. Purdie seconded, " That the pupilteacher examination be held about midwinter." Agreed to. Report, with amendments and additions, agreed to. Manual and Technical Instruction, and Miscellaneous. Mr. Fitzgerald brought up the following report of the committee dealing with motions under this head: — . . . " Manual and Technical Instruction.— -That the payment for instruction in school classes, lor which Form V is used in making a return of attendances, be made on the working-average attendance of the pupils of the standard class or classes in which instruction is given. "Free Secondary Education.— -That a pupil who obtains the certificate of proficiency, and who is not over fourteen years of age on the date of his obtaining such certificate, be entitled to a free place in a secondary school for at least two years from the date on which the governing body permits him to enter the school. " Miscellaneous.—l. That in large centres of population, in order to promote a more thorough organization of the pupils of each standard class and to render the teaching more effective, all pupils should (in classes above S4) be taught in the same school. "2. That this Conference affirm the principle involved in the proposal to merge, as opportunity offers, a number of neighbouring small schools in one central school. " 3. That in order to correlate the methods of teaching the various subjects, periodical conferences of the staff of each large school be held. " 4. That it be part of the duty of each teacher to visit annually a school other than the one in which he is employed. >~./-, , " 5 That (as nature-study is encouraged under the amended syllabus) this Conference again urges upon the Minister of Education the benefit that would accrue to nature-study from the issue of "diagrams illustrating the flora, fauna, and other natural products of New Zealand ; and that, to encourage and foster among school-children the habit of observation and research, facilities be provided for the exchange of natural-history specimens between the different schools in each education district such exchange to be carried on through the Inspector of Schools in each district. "6. That a map of New Zealand and a map of the locality in which the school is situated (survey map) be issued by the Department to each school. "7. That in order to promote the better physical education of pupils a suitable playground should be attached to each school. . . , "8. That it is desirable, where it is possible, that very much special training in English be given to Maori pupils attending Board schools. " 9 That a Council of Education be constituted. " 10. That the schedules attached to the Teachers' Salaries Act showing the staff and salaries in the public schools of the colony be amended by excluding all references to distinctions of sex, and simply assigning to each school the number of teachers to be employed—as, head teacher, first assistant, second assistant, &c—and specifying the salary attached to each position; and that there should be less discrepancy in the salaries fixed for the various assistantships. "11 That the grants in aid of district high schools are inadequate for successfully carrying on " 12." That in view of recent changes in the syllabus of instruction the Department be asked to revise the list of books sanctioned for use in the public schools of the colony." The recommendations were considered in committee seriatim. The recommendation on manual and technical instruction was agreed to, and that on tree secondary education was withdrawn. Miscellaneous.— Eecommendation 1 was, by leave, withdrawn. 2, 3, 4, 5, b, 7, tf, and 9 were agreed to.

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Clause 10. Dr. Anderson moved to add the following words : " That it be a recommendation of this Conference that the schedules to the Teachers' Salaries Act be amended in the following directions—(a) by affording relief to schools of Grades 7 and 8 ; (b) by the omission of the provision that a fifth-year pupil-teacher continuing in the same school shall receive the remuneration of a third-year pupil-teacher." Amendment negatived. The Conference divided on clause 10. Ayes, 5; Noes, 19 : majority against, 14. Clause 10 negatived. Clause 11, by leave, withdrawn. Clause 12 agreed to. Eeport of committee agreed to by Conference. Mr. Spencer moved, "That the great importance of the work done in district high schools be laid before the Minister for Eailways, and that he be respectfully asked to afford every facility for the carriage of pupils attending secondary classes in such schools." Agreed to. Mr. Eichardson moved, and Mr. Bossence seconded, " That in the opinion of this Conference it is highly desirable in the interests of education in this colony that the Education Department should make arrangements to enable the Inspector-General to visit Europe and America at an early date." Agreed to. The Chairman stated that he had been desired by Messrs. Gray, Grierson, and Crowe to inform the Conference that they had had to leave Wellington on Wednesday through urgent private business. On the motion of Mr. Eichardson, a motion was passed expressing the sympathy of the Conference with Messrs. Goodwin and J. Smith in their illness. _ Mr. Goyen proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman for the able and impartial manner in ■which he had conducted the business of the Conference. Mr. Petrie seconded. The Chairman returned thanks. The Conference adjourned finally at 1.20 p.m.

APPENDIX.

Subjects Peoposed foe Discussion.—Cibculae to Inspbctoes of Schools. S IB >— Education Department, Wellington, 14th January, 1904. I have the honour, by direction of the Minister of Education, to invite you to attend a Conference of Inspectors of Schools, meeting at Wellington on Wednesday, the 3rd February proximo, at 11 a.m., to consider, inter alia, — 1. The curriculum, &c, of training-colleges; 2. Dates and arrangements for National and other scholarship examinations; 3. Pupil-teachers and pupil-teachers' examinations ; 4. Examination cards in English and arithmetic for Standard VI.; and other subjects, if any, that may be admitted. I shall be glad to receive suggestions for additional subjects. I have, &c, Gbobge Hogben, Secretary of Education.

Inspector of Schools, . Aijproximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given ; printiufi (1,623 copies), £18 16s.

By Authority: John Maokay, Government Printer Wellington 1904 Price 9d.]

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