E.—l2

12

Interim Report of Teachers' Training and Certificate Committee (Convener, 11. A. E. Milnes). Provisional Agenda Paper 3, ii, and 23. 1. It is desirable that in districts where necessary certain of the schools of Grade 111 should become observation schools for the purpose of providing opportunity for practice in teaching for inexperienced teachers, who would be required to attend for a few weeks at a time so as to get an insight into the working of an efficiently conducted school. In such schools a suitable addition to the teacher's salary should be made. " Grade III," above, was altered to read " Grades 11, 111, and IV," and clause was carried as amended. Provisional Agenda Paper 24. 2. 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. It is suggested that the 10-per-cent. deduction of salary be used to this end. —Deleted. 3. No recommendation to make.—Adopted. Provisional Agenda Paper 26. 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. 4. Mr. Bakewell's motion, " That teachers' certificates be reduced to three " : No recommendation to make. Mr. Bakewell moved, and it was resolved, That the committee's recommendation above be disagreed with, and that the Conference affirm the desirability of reducing the number of classes of teachers' certificates. —Carried. Regulations for Teichers' Certificates. 1. On page 4, 8 (1), dealing with requirements for a B certificate, English language and literature be added. —Carried. 2. On page 9, section 24, re D certificate : " Provided Group 1 be passed, a candidate shall be given credit for every subject in which he has attained the necessary number of marks for a pass in that subject." —Deleted. And it was resolved, That the amendment of clause 24 of Teachers' Regulations be commended to the consideration of the Department. Re D Certificates; Re Practicil Certificates in Science Subjects. That where a teacher cannot attend a centre in order to obtain a practical certificate in agriculture or dairy science, a certificate from the Inspector or Agricultural Instructor be accepted, provided they are satisfied that a good school course has been followed out by the candidate during the year. —Carried. 3. That p. 10, section 32, be referred to the Inspector-General for a ruling. In any such case the candidate will, however, still be required to obtain on the remaining subjects of the group an undiminished aggregate of marks to satisfy the pass conditions of the group, and must pass in addition in some optional subject not otherwise chosen as for Class D or for Class C. —Ruling given. Commission Report. 1. Page 13, re training of teachers. —No recommendation to make. 2. Page 16, re demilitarization of Junior CaJets.—No recommendation to make. 3. Page 23, re correspondence schools. —No recommendation to make. Matters brought under Hon. Minister's Notice, and referred to Conference. There is a difficulty of outlook with respect to the rural-course pupils. They have gone so far to find that there is no path leading to a definite end. A pupil taking the Civil Service course looks to appointment, and a pupil taking the Matriculation course looks forward to the University, while a pupil taking the rural course, no matter how able he may be, has no outlook. It is suggested that promising pupils might be received at one of the State farms, and allowed a small wage from the outset. When agricultural colleges are established the outlook for such pupils will be definite. In connexion with the rural course, it is in the highest degree desirable that the services of the Agricultural Department's experts should be occasionally placed at the service of the Boards. Veterinary and wool-classing experts could do an immense deal to raise the utility of the instruction given. The Board cannot independently command the services of such experts*. The Department might well make a fixed grant to Boards to be devoted to the payment of agricultural experts' salaries which are inadequate. Physical Training. —Along with instruction in physical training should go instruction in first aid, and the Department should supply first-aid cabinets to all schools. School Sanitation. —Allowances to committees for this purpose are inadequate, especially in the smaller schools. Disinfectants are out of the question; for these a special grant might be made. Teaching by Kinematograph. —lt is desirable that Boards should receive a special grant to enable them to send to grouped schools in country districts a teacher provided with a kinematograph outfit for the purpose of giving pictorial lessons on geography, manufactures, nature-study and history. Medical Inspection of Schools. —Medical inspection should be followed by medical action, and parents who are unable to pay should be in a position to Took for medical treatment for their children at school or elsewhere, more especially in dentistry, eyesight, hearing, and lung trouble.