7

E.—lc

Thursday, 31st January, 1901. The Conference resumed its sittings at 9.30 a.m., the attendance being the same as on the previous day. Mr. Goyen was given leave to amend his motion of the preceding day dealing with Regulation 2 by the omission of the words : " cancelled. That the following be substituted," and the words "be amended as follows" inserted. Also, the substitution of the words "schedules of progress" for the term "class-lists" in the same motion.—Carried, and previous resolution amended accordingly. The Conference resolved to adjourn at 12.30 p.m., in order to accept Professor Easterfield's invitation to visit the Victoria College laboratories. Mr. Petrie moved, and Mr. Fitzgerald seconded, "That the Minister be asked to recast the scheme of instruction in geography, so as to make the observation and study of the geographical features of the school district an important part of the work of Standards 11. and 111., and so as to connect the study of the great physical features of the several continents and countries with their political geography."—Carried. Mr. Petrie moved, seconded by Mr. Ritchie, " That the Minister be asked to prepare and publish a short illustrated text-book of geography for the use of the pupils attending the public schools of the colony, and that this text-book be prescribed for use in all the public schools."— Conference divided on the question. Motion lost: 7 votes to 18. Dr. Smyth was given leave to amend the motion standing in his name, as follows: " That the work in Standard IV. geography include only that set down under New Zealand and Australia, and that the rest of commercial and political geography not embraced by Standards 111. and IV. be divided between Standards V. and Vl."—Seconded by Mr. Purdie. Lost on the voices. Mr. Purdie, seconded by Mr. Morton, moved, " That the subjects of instruction in the schools be divided intp two sections —compulsory and optional—and that the department determine the subjects to be placed under each section, and prepare alternative schemes of instruction in optional subjects.''—Carried. Mr. Smith moved, "That sole teachers and head-teachers of schools having only one assistant shall be allowed to select not more than two out of the list of class-subjects."—After discussion, the motion was withdrawn. Mr. Petrie moved, seconded by Mr. Wood, " That the Minister be asked to prescribe suitable and definite courses of study for the upper standard classes in the following subjects: (a) Elementary physiology and general science; (b) elementary physiology and domestic economy; (c) elementary agricultural science: and that the teaching of one or other of these courses be made compulsory in every school."—Carried by 17 votes to 12. Mr. Braik moved, and Mr. Hill seconded, "That, to provide solid groundwork for instruction in observational and experimental science, elementary physiography be taught systematically during the entire school course." Mr. Petrie moved, as an amendment, " That a systematic course in physiography be included in the school syllabus as one of the optional subjects."—Amendment carried: 15 votes to 10. Mr. Petrie moved, seconded by Mr. Bitchie, " That teachers be no longer required to state the maximum half-day attendance during each quarter, as this information involves a great deal of work, and appears to be of little or no use." —Carried. Mr. Smith moved, seconded by Mr. Morton, " That no scholar shall be admitted to any annual examination unless he shall have attended school at least three hundred times since the previous examination, and not less than seventy-five times during the thirteen weeks immediately preceding the same."—Motion lost. Mr. Lee moved, seconded by Mr. Bossence, " That this Conference recommends the establishment of a colonial system of military drill in schools, including the formation of companies and cadet corps dressed in simple uniform and provided with light rifles. Arrangements should also be made for taking battalion drill." Mr. Petrie moved, as an amendment, to omit all words after " schools."—Amendment lost: 11 votes to 14. Motion carried. On motion of Mr. Hill, it was resolved, " That the Minister of Education be respectfully requested to lay before the Conference the proposed salary scheme of the Education Department." The Conference adjourned at 12.35 p.m. . The Conference resumed at 2.45 p.m. Mr. Lee moved, seconded by Mr. Hill, " That, in schools of good record, any head-teacher may frame his own scheme of work within the lines of the prescribed standards, such scheme to be approved of by an Inspector."—Lost by 8 votes to 20. Mr. Spencer moved, seconded by Mr. Bossence, " That, in view of the fact that this Conference has recommended the abolition of the individual pass below Standard VI., it be recommended also that the department make provision for the issuing of certificates of competency to candidates for positions in the public service."—Carried: 18 votes to 9. Mr. Hill moved, and Mr. Morton seconded, " That the capitation allowance of Is. 6d., estimated on the average attendance, for the promotion of scholarships to pupils attending the public schools be increased to 2s."—After discussion, the motion was withdrawn. Mr. Smith moved, seconded by Mr. Petrie, " That, in the opinion of this Conference, the examination and classification of pupil-teachers should be uniform throughout the colony, and should be undertaken by the Department."—Motion lost: 14 votes to 15. Dr. Smyth moved, seconded by Mr. Goyen, "That the syllabus of instruction for pupilteachers throughout the colony be so drawn up that the examination for the last year be the matriculation examination, or that for Class D; and that any pupil-teacher who has passed