B.—lβ.

" (4.) That the pupil-teacher course should be of at least two years' duration, the first three months being probationary, and a further course of two years at a training college, should the authority so advise; " (5.) That, in order to secure a better supply of male pupil-teachers, the work should be made more agreeable and less burdensome, and more liberal remuneration should be given. " Training Colleges : — " (6.) The committee recommends as highly desirable the establishment of a central residential training college. In view, however, of existing conditions and the recommendations expressed by the Education Committee of the House, it suggests as an alternative the establishment of training colleges in the four "University centres. " (7.) These training colleges should be under departmental control. " (8.) The committee, while not deeming it necessary to enter into the details of a curriculum for the training colleges, recommends that the Senate of the University of New Zealand be asked to make education one of the subjects for a degree in Arts or Science. "(9.) At the same time the committee desires to emphasize the paramount importance of training teachers for their professional work rather than for academic distinction." The recommendations were considered in committee seriatim. (1) was adopted, with the addition (on the motion of Mr. Fleming, seconded by Mr. Eichardson) of the words, " but that, after an efficient system of training has been established, it be a recommendation to the Department, when revising the scale of staff and salaries, to keep in view the reduction of the number of pupil-teachers at present on that scale." Mr. Hill moved, and Mr. Petrie seconded, " That in (4), before the word ' months,' the words ' not less than three or more than six ' be substituted for the word ' three.' " Negatived by 15 votes to 6. As an addition to the report, Mr. Petrie moved, and Mr. Purdie seconded, " That the pupilteacher examination be held about midwinter." Agreed to. Report, with amendments and additions, agreed to. Manual and Technical Instruction, and Miscellaneous. Mr. Fitzgerald brought up the following report of the committee dealing with motions under this head: — . . . " Manual and Technical Instruction.— -That the payment for instruction in school classes, lor which Form V is used in making a return of attendances, be made on the working-average attendance of the pupils of the standard class or classes in which instruction is given. "Free Secondary Education.— -That a pupil who obtains the certificate of proficiency, and who is not over fourteen years of age on the date of his obtaining such certificate, be entitled to a free place in a secondary school for at least two years from the date on which the governing body permits him to enter the school. " Miscellaneous.—l. That in large centres of population, in order to promote a more thorough organization of the pupils of each standard class and to render the teaching more effective, all pupils should (in classes above S4) be taught in the same school. "2. That this Conference affirm the principle involved in the proposal to merge, as opportunity offers, a number of neighbouring small schools in one central school. " 3. That in order to correlate the methods of teaching the various subjects, periodical conferences of the staff of each large school be held. " 4. That it be part of the duty of each teacher to visit annually a school other than the one in which he is employed. >~./-, , " 5 That (as nature-study is encouraged under the amended syllabus) this Conference again urges upon the Minister of Education the benefit that would accrue to nature-study from the issue of "diagrams illustrating the flora, fauna, and other natural products of New Zealand ; and that, to encourage and foster among school-children the habit of observation and research, facilities be provided for the exchange of natural-history specimens between the different schools in each education district such exchange to be carried on through the Inspector of Schools in each district. "6. That a map of New Zealand and a map of the locality in which the school is situated (survey map) be issued by the Department to each school. "7. That in order to promote the better physical education of pupils a suitable playground should be attached to each school. . . , "8. That it is desirable, where it is possible, that very much special training in English be given to Maori pupils attending Board schools. " 9 That a Council of Education be constituted. " 10. That the schedules attached to the Teachers' Salaries Act showing the staff and salaries in the public schools of the colony be amended by excluding all references to distinctions of sex, and simply assigning to each school the number of teachers to be employed—as, head teacher, first assistant, second assistant, &c—and specifying the salary attached to each position; and that there should be less discrepancy in the salaries fixed for the various assistantships. "11 That the grants in aid of district high schools are inadequate for successfully carrying on " 12." That in view of recent changes in the syllabus of instruction the Department be asked to revise the list of books sanctioned for use in the public schools of the colony." The recommendations were considered in committee seriatim. The recommendation on manual and technical instruction was agreed to, and that on tree secondary education was withdrawn. Miscellaneous.— Eecommendation 1 was, by leave, withdrawn. 2, 3, 4, 5, b, 7, tf, and 9 were agreed to.

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