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Mr. Petrie moved, and Mr. Morton seconded, That a knowledge of the matter of reading-lessons be no longer included among the additional subjects. Carried. Mr. Taylor moved, That it is undesirable that sewing be examined minutely. Not seconded. Mr. Smith proposed, and Mr. Petrie seconded, That, in order to encourage regularity of attendance in the public schools of the colony, the Minister of Education be requested to make annual provision for the awarding of prizes in each educational district to all children w r ho are not absent more than times during the year. Not carried. Mr. Lee moved, and Mr. Spencer seconded pro forma, the adoption of a scheme of science for the schools. On the motion of Mr. Petrie, seconded by Mr. Hill, the question was deferred to become the first order of the day for Wednesday. Moved by Mr. Murray, seconded by Mr. Airey, That the passes in drawing be awarded on the tests done under the Inspector's supervision, and that the Inspector, in awarding the pass in writing, may consider the writing and setting-out of good work of the examination tests. Motion not carried. Mr. Lee proposed, and Mr. Goodwin seconded, That children who fail to pass a standard, and who have made less than 250 attendances in the school year, be excepted. Motion carried. Moved by Mr. Lee, and seconded by Mr. Goyen pro forma, That, at the discretion of the Inspector, children of weak intellect be counted as excepted. Not carried. Moved by Mr. Lee, and seconded by Mr. Petrie pro formd, That the percentage of passes be discontinued. Mr. Hill moved, as an amendment, and Mr. Goyen seconded, That, instead of the present percentage of passes, a percentage of passes be estimated, in classes Standards 111. to VI., for statistical purposes, by dividing the total passes in subjects gained by the pupils examined by the total of passes attainable in those standards, and multiplying the result by 100. Amendment carried. Dr. Anderson proposed, and Mr. Fleming seconded, —1. That in Standards IV., V., and VI. the lessons in history shall be designed to give the children some clear knowledge of the formation of the Kingdom and of the growth of the Empire and of colonial settlements, of parliamentary government, of the rights and duties of citizens in relation to each other and in relation to the State, of social and industrial improvements, and generally of such simple matters of New Zealand social economy as may be most easily assimilated by young minds. 2. That the Government be invited to have a text-book drawn up in history and social economy for the use of New Zealand schools, following the lines sketched out, and containing only such portions of British history as are necessary to explain or give the history of the matters included. (Dr. Anderson handed in an outline of such a book. See Appendix C.) Carried. Dr. Anderson moved, and Mr. Goyen seconded, That the concession of 10 per cent, to girls in arithmetic, and the concession recently made in respect to geometrical drawing, are sufficient. Carried. Dr. Anderson moved, and Mr. Lee seconded, That this Conference strongly recommends the establishment in all our schools of school libraries of books interesting to children, as a means of fostering a taste for reading. Carried. Mr. Wood moved, and Mr. Bindon seconded, That for Standards I. and 11. a second readingbookibe required. Carried. Mr. Smith moved, and Mr. Spencer seconded, That it is desirable that members of the Conference be supplied with a copy of the minutes of the proceedings of the Conference. Motion carried. Mr. Petrie moved, and Mr. Taylor seconded, That while the teaching of science should, as far as'possible, be experimental and illustrative, it would be an advantage to have a suitable set of simple text-books in the hands of pupils. Deferred till the consideration of Mr. Lee's motion. Mr. Hill moved, and Mr. Braik seconded, That the Government be recommended to prepare for the use of the public schools the following maps and diagrams : (1) A map of New Zealand to illustrate the geography required under the standard regulations ; (2) a large wall-map of the North Island and of the South Island of New Zealand; (3) diagrams to illustrate the native flora and fauna. Motion carried. Mr. Lee moved, and Mr. Airey seconded, That drawing and singing shall nOt be included in the subjects for the certificate examination, and that special certificates be issued in these subjects. Motion not carried. Mr. Petrie moved, and Mr. Bindon seconded, That arrangements be made for revising the classification of teachers on some such basis as the following: If for three years in succession a local Inspector assigns to a teacher lower marks for efficiency than he has before received, the In-spector-General of Schools, or another Inspector acting as his deputy, shall see the teacher's work, and decide whether his marks are to be lowered or left unchanged; when, if the marks are lowered by the Inspector-General or his deputy, the teacher's classification shall also be lowered. Motion carried. Mr. Fleming moved, and Mr. Morton seconded, That clause 16 of the regulations pertaining to teachers' certificates (vi. p. 77) be amended so as to read : " 16. Subject to the operation of regulations 5, 6, 7, and 8, graduates of the University of New Zealand in first- or second-class honours, or those who are qualified for first- or second-class honours by passing the M.A. examination, be admitted to Class A. without examination." Motion carried. Mr. Goyen moved, and Mr. Petrie seconded, That the Conference adjourn till 10 o'clock on Wednesday morning. Carried.

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