E.—9

8

9. Wanganui Collegiate School (Bev. Dr. Harvey). —Thinks individual headmasters would like to confer with others equally interested. Suggests that Government should invite them to meet in Wellington during next holidays. 10. Wellington College (Mr. Mackay). —Examination should be by competent men, who are not actually engaged in teachiug in the schools. The work would be very burdensome to headmasters, and could not be done in time to answer practical ends. Lower forms as well as higher should be examined by independent examiners. Headmasters ought not to be the sole judges of their assistants' work. It would be a mistake to require all schools to read the same authors. Individuality and originality would be repressed. Matriculation and junior scholarship examinations must be the standard examination for secondary schools. A "whole-form test" can with difficulty be applied where boys may be in one form in Latin and in another form in mathematics. Another scheme proposed—appended to this analysis. 11. Wellington Girls' High School (Miss Hamilton). —Three stages for literary subjects, and algebra and Euclid. Two stages for arithmetic, trigonometry, science, and geography. All schools to use the same books. Whole forms. Examiners' schools should stand out. December seems to be the best month, but the occurrence of the matriculation examination in that month is against this. Assistants should take part in some cases. Head masters do not, as a rule, examine their own schools. This new work would have to be done in the holidays. The examination would be fragmentary, owing to the number of examiners, and therefore the tone of the school would not be ascertained. An examination that would involve competition between schools would be attended by danger of over-straining and "cram." Suggests that pupils going up for University examinations should be excused from school examinations. It appears to me that, while such great diversity of opinion exists as is shown by these repliesto my circular, it would not be wise to attempt to establish a general examination; and, as it seems probable that there will be a conference of principals of secondary schools about the end of this year, I think it would be well to wait and see if at that conference any scheme can be devised that will command a more general assent than has been awarded to my proposal. At the same time I feel that hearty thanks are due alike to those who have signified their willingness to make the suggested experiment, and to those others who have so frankly and so fully stated their objections and difficulties. I trust that this publication of opinions and criticisms, and of the counter-schemes proposed by Dr. Belcher and Mr. Mackay, may prove to be of some service in any future discussion of the subject. I may perhaps be allowed to say that, for my own part, I consider that neither my own scheme nor any other would be required if the principals of the schools were always treated with the confidence they deserve, and that there are already too many examinations. I agree with Mr. Bevan Brown in desiring to see a good leaving examination instituted, that might might render unnecessary several of the examinations with which our young students are now harassed. In making the proposal now under discussion it was part of my design to prepare the way for the institution of such a leaving examination. I have not thought it necessary to direct attention to any point on which the replies show some misapprehension of my meaning, feeling sure that, in such a careful discussion of the questions at issue as I hope will soon take place, anything of that kind will be easily cleared up. I have, &c, Wm. J as. Habens, Inspector-General of Schools. The Hon. the Minister of Education.

Enclosure No. 1. Scheme submitted by the Headmaster op Wellington College. As the circular invites suggestions I venture to make one. I would recommend that the University be urged to constitute an examining syndicate on the lines of the examining syndicates of Oxford and Cambridge, and most of the Home Universities. The syndicate might comprise the professors of university colleges and all graduates, whether by examination or cod eundem, of the New Zealand University. Such an examining body would be a bond of union among all interested in higher education, and would tend not only to keep alive, but to widen and deepen, the feeling in its favour. It would also command the confidence of the public. The University, I am aware, has been repeatedly urged to take this step, but has hitherto declined, on the ground that the number of graduates is too small. The number of graduates now, however, is such that that plea is no longer available. The constitution of the Oxford and Cambridge Syndicates is so well known to all interested in such matters that I shall not enter into detail here further than to say that they undertake the examination of schools at the rate of £3 3s. per day for each examiner. Now,