£.—l2

3

the three quarters unaffected by epidemic be totalled, and the sum be divided by 3. (12.) That probationers who, prior to appointment, have passed the Matriculation Examination, shall receive for the first year of service the salary of a third-year pupil-teacher, and for the second year that of a fourth-year pupil-teacher; and the probationers who have not so qualified shall receive for the first year the salary of a second-year pupil-teacher, and for the second year that of a third-year pupil-teacher : Provided that if at the end of the first year the probationer passes the Matriculation Examination, the salary paid during his or her second year of service shall be that of a fourth-year pupil-teacher. (13.) That the clauses relating to continuation classes and agricultural education be approved. (14.) That the conditions of attendance at school classes established under the Regulations for Manual and Technical Instruction be controlled rather by age and by physical development than by standard of attainments reached; in other words, that any pupil enrolled in the public schools be eligible to attend such classes and to earn capitation, provided that an Inspector of Schools certifies to the advisability of such a course. (15.) That the element of competition be gradually eliminated from scholarship tests, so that all who reach a sufficiently high standard of attainments may be afforded opportunities for further education. (16.) That as a first step towards providing greater facilities for enabling young people to take advantage of secondary or technical education, all scholarship allowances to holders of junior scholarships be abolished, and that the funds thus set free be employed in providing boarding allowances for those candidates who are obliged to live away from home. (17.) That in each case where a winner of a State scholarship applies for permission to hold such a scholarship in a private secondary school, the Education Department be the authority to decide whether the private secondary school in question is educationally equivalent to the State secondary school which such scholarship winner could reasonably be expected to attend. (IS-) That the following proviso be added to clause 1 of the Regulations for the Inspection and Examination of Schools: "Provided that in the case of schools with whose general efficiency the Board of Education concerned is thoroughly satisfied, one of the visits may be omitted in any year, and all visits may be omitted for a period not exceeding two years." (19.) That in clause 5, line 2, of the Regulations for the Inspection and Examination of Schools, the word " two "be substituted for the word " three." (20.) That no notice . of any visit of an Inspector to any school shall be necessary. (21.) That the proposal outlined in the report on page 23, under the heading " Private Schools," be approved. (22.) That each Education Board shall nominate annually one of its Inspectors or teachers for the purpose of studying education methods in other parts of the world, such nomine tion to be confirmed by the Council of Education. (23.) That in certain districts " observation schools" be established for the benefit of inexperienced and inefficient teachers; that in order to secure suitable teachers for these schools, which should not be of higher grade than Grade IV, the salaries provided be appreciably higher than those paid tinder present conditions. (24.) That in view of the large number of uncertificated teachers still employed in the schools throughout the Dominion a more liberal allowance be made to the Boards for the purpose of providing the instruction needed. (25.) That, where possible, a separate kindergarten department be provided in all schools of Grade X, to which children shall be admitted on reaching the age of four years, and in which they may be instructed until reaching the age of six years. (26.) That, with the object of improving the quality of singing in our schools, the Education Department issue for the use of teachers a pamphlet dealing with elementary voice-production. Mr. Garrard moved, Air. Stuckey seconded, That the first five proposals of the Auckland Inspectors be referred to the Commission Committee.—Carried. Proposals Nos. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 were referred to the Staffs and Salaries Committee. Proposal No. 11 was referred to School Attendance and Registers Committee; No. 12 to Staffs and Salaries Committee; No. 13 to Commission Committee; No. 14 to a committee (Manual and Technical); Nos. 15, 16, 17 to a Scholarship Committee; Nos. 18, 19, 20 to a Syllabus Committee; Nos. 23, 24 to Training of Teachers and Certificates Committee; No. 25 to Education Commission Committee; No. 26 to a committee (Training); Nos. 21 and 22 to Commission Committee. Dr. Mcllraith's motion (notice of which was given), re classification of schools into groups, &c., was referred to Staffs and Salaries Committee. Dr. Anderson moved, That the Conference resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole to discuss " Regulations for Organization and Inspection, and Syllabus of Instruction." The Conference went into Committee of the Whole. Resolved, That the Chairman of the Conference act as Chairman of the Whole. The Committee adjourned at 2.10 p.m. The Committee resumed at 2.30 p.m. Dr. Anderson moved, That the Committee report to the Conference, and ask leave to sit again.—Mr. Gill seconded. —Carried. Mr. Fleming read the report of the Business Committee. The following committees were set up : — 1. Commission. —Mr. Braik (Convener), Messrs. Garrard, Ballantyne, Hill, Mulgan, Crawford, Strachan, Brock, Hendry, Bossence, Fleming, Morton, Bird. Dr. Anderson. 2. Inexperienced Teachers and Training of Teachers. —Mr. Millies (Convener), Principals of training colleges, Messrs. Priestly, Stewart, Robertson, Bakewell, Strachan, Wyiie, Ballantyne, ♦ Austin, Gow, Hardie, Harkness. 3. School-attendance, Staffs, and Salaries. —Mr. Bell (Convener), Messrs. Cox, Plummer, Whetter, Milne, Lambourne, Hardie, Porteous, Mayhe, Dr. Mcllraith.