67

H.—l

for a share of the sum appropriated for normal schools, to appoint a normal master, to constitute the schools at Thorndon and Kaiwara practising schools, and to open a class for students in training at once. Peoposed Additions to and Modifications of the Standaeds. The four standards which have been in operation four years have worked well, and are working well. I could not have devised standards better suited to the requirements of the time. I have taken a whole year to consider whether more standards are necessary, and I have arrived at the conclusion that the number may be enlarged, so as to give an annual interest in tho passes to all or nearly all the children iv school between the ages of seven and thirteen. The present Standard IV. pass, with modifications, will be retained under a new name—the Scholar's Certificate Examination. Practically there will then be six standards in which all children may be classed before leaving school, and a higher examination for the best scholars of the most advanced schools. The general system of marking, passing by sections, and the methods of examination will be retained. The system remains : the classification is changed by an increase of classes and sections, and by a modification of the work in the sections. At tho next examination, pupils passed in old Standard I. will be required to pass new Standard II.; those passed in old Standard 11. will be required to pass new Standard IV. ; and pupils passed in old Standard 111. will be required to pass new Standard VI. Two-fifths of the maximum marks in each section will be required to pass a candidate, and 120 marks in all out of a maximum of 200 for each standard. No pupil will be expected to pass a standard who is under age, or who has not attended 250 half-days since passing the previous standard ; and no scholar of any age will bo expected to advance more than one standard each year; but candidates of any age may be presented for any standard, and returns will show the status of the school, and not merely the percentage of new passes made each year. Conclusion. Schedule A, attached to my report, gives the details of the proposed new standards, and Schedule B those of the old standards. Schedules C and D show the number of children of age to pass each of the old standards, and the number actually passed in the four standards of each school examined. The Wanganui and Wellington school results are separately collated for the convenience of the new Boards. In Schedules E and F will be found lists of the higher-standard candidates who have passed this examination. I have, &c, The Hon. 0. J. Pharazyn, Roueht Lee, Chairman of the Wellington Education Board. Inspector of Schools.

Schedule A. PROPOSED NEW STANDARDS. Standard I. Section. Max. Marks. I. —Heading Book 1., words grouped (40). Recitation of 10 lines of easy poetry (10) 50 II. —Spelling —Common words of reading book ... ... ... ... ... 30 lll.—Writing—Small words round-hand on slates from copy ... ... ... 30 IV. —Arithmetic —Addition, one line ... ... -... ... ... ... 40 V.—Addition table and multiplication tables to end of five times ... ... ... 20 VI. —General knowledge of the subject-matter of the Reader (15). Recollection of a story or object lesson (15) ... ... ... ... ... ... 30 200 Standard 11. % Section. Max. Marks. I. —Reading Book 11., with expression (30). Recitation of 20 lines easy poetry (10) 40 II. —Spelling words from dictation (20). Meaning of words in Reader (10) ... 30 111. —Writing—Round-hand from dictation (20). Copy-books, letters or short words (10) 30 IV. —Arithmetic —Addition and subtraction. Read and write hundreds ... ... 50 V- —Oral Subjects —Addition and multiplication tables (15). Knowledge of subjectmatter of Reader (15)... ... ... ... ... * ... ... 30 VI. —Definitions of geography (10). Point out nouns (10) ... ... ... 20 200 Standard 111. Section. Max. Marks.. I.—Reading Book 111., with intelligence (30). Recitation of 30 lines of poetry (10) 40 II. —Spelling words from dictation (20). Verbs and adjectives (10). Meanings of words in Reader (10) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 40 111. —Writing from dictation, round or small hand (20). Copy-books (10) ... ... 30 IV.—Arithmetic —Simple long division. Read and write thousands ... ... 40 V.—Mental Arithmetic—lntegers, simple rules ; tables, common weights and measures (15). Knowledge of subject-matter of Reader (15) ... ... ... 30 VI. —Outlines of geography of the world ... ... ... ... ... 20 200 11— H. 1.