E.—lo

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the question of the training of the teachers. The system seemed to have grown up that the training of teachers was required for the primary schools, whereas the teachers of secondary schools were generally taken from the ranks of University students, without training. Thus there must be a lack of continuation of effort in the one direction, and he thought there must lie consequently a loss of ultimate efficiency. If the primary-school teacher could realise what was required in the secondary school and lead up to it. and if the secondary-school teacher kept thoroughly in touch with the primary school, h<: thought they would come nearer success. He thought the question of inspection bore very vitally on this point. They had heard much of the overlapping of teaching, nothing of the overlapping of inspection. He knew of no more practical way of bringing about a bond between the two classes of schools than by having the same inspectors for the two grades of schools. Mr. Marshall seconded the motion. It had always l>e<'n his opinion (hat the same inspectors should supervise the work of both. The teachers in the secondary schools should be trained teachers, and they should be graduates in addition. The Chairman said the question of training would come up in connection with the training colleges. He thought that our system was better co-ordinated than thai in operation in other parts of the world. Still, he thought the different, parts were noi so well correlated as they might be. He thought the preeeni Conference, would do a good deal to bring about correlation by an exchange of views. Mot ion agreed to. Mr. Hill moved. That in the award of junior free places tenable at schools of other than purely secondary type credit should be given for proficiency in subjects of manual instruction and domestic science. The memlx-i's of the Conference were all aware of the fact that the manual and technical regulations were now w<ll understood in the various schools, and they were adopted in a large measure in the instruction of the children. Those subjects took up a fair portion of the school time —on the average two hours a week. It seemed to him only light and just that they should be considered as pan of (h< , school course., and in the examinations be treated as subjects for marks when estimating the attainments of the children for a proficiency certificate or for a free place. The Chairman suggested that if Mr. Hill moved this motion in a general way, the carryingout of it could be discussed at the Inspectors' Conference. Mr. Hill.-—That is what I wish to do. Mr. Howei.l seconded the motion. The Chairman said he would undertake to see that the subject was brought up at the Inspectors' Conference. Motion agreed to. Military Drill. Mr. Howell moved, That, in reference to the Defence Act, flu . Minister of Defence be asked to make such arrangements for the military drills of students attending evening-classes recognized by the Minister of Education as will noi interfere with their regular instruction. Mr. Braik seconded the motion. Mi , . MARSHALL said he was strongly in favour of such a motion. Motion agreed to. Physical Exercises and Military Drill. Mr. Kiiiii ived, That this Conference suggest to the Minister of Defence that in the case of boys under fourteen gymnastics may be substituted for military drill. There were many boys of twelve «ho were quite unfitted for military drill with the rifle. He was convinced that from a military point of view it would be a great advantage if boys received two years of gymnastic training—not fancy I ricks, &c, but such work as Swedish drill and running exercises. The senior military training would !«.■ greatly improved I>\ such preliminary training. He used the word ■■ may " because in some cases there might not Ik- the facilities for gymnastic training. Mr. Fleming seconded the motion. The only point about it might be that the term "gym nasties " might be misunderstood. The Chairman. —You mean co-ordinated physical exercises? Mr. Firth.—Yes. On the suggestion of the Chairman the word " gymnastics " in the original motion was struck out, and the words "systematic physical exercises " were inserted in lieu thereof, Motion agreed to. Seconr/firy Schools find University Colleges. The Chairman announced that the next subject for consideration was, " The relation of secondary and technical schools to one another and to the University colleges." Ho did not know whether all the members of the Conference knew what the decision of the University Senate was with regard to matriculation —as it would be after the year 1010. There was a definition now of a matriculation standard. There was no definition before. The definition of a matriculation standard now was that if was to l>e such as should lie reasonably represented by four years' work at a secondary school. It did not iniplv that the student had been for four years at a secondary school, but that the degree of attainment shown should be such as might reasonably be expected from pupils who had gone through a course for four years at a secondary school. The Senate set its face against any idea that two years at a secondary school, or work that could be done in two years at a secondary school, was sufficient to prepare a student for a university. Mr. Beva»Bhown moved. That this Conference recommends to the University Senate that the present aggregate maximum of marks for Junior University Scholarships he reduced so as to permit