E.—lc

6

" That the following be substituted: ' The classification of a school shall be made by the headteacher, who shall have full discretion to arrange his pupils in different classes for different subjects according to their ability and proficiency with respect to the several subjects, and to group two or more classes for instruction in one subject. This discretion he must exercise to the satisfaction of the Inspector, who will regard as an element of weakness any undue complexity in the classification of pupils. As a general rule, pupils should be classified according to their capacity and attainment in English and arithmetic respectively, classification in English being determined by proficiency in English, and classification in arithmetic by proficiency in arithmetic' " That the following be substituted for Regulations 11 and 12 : ' The head-teacher shall hold periodic examinations of his school, and shall enter in a book provided for the purpose the results gained by each pupil in each subject. He shall also preserve, for the information of the Inspector, a copy of the questions and the written answers of the pupils. Before the Inspector's annual visit for examination, the head-teacher shall prepare class-lists, which shall contain the names and ages of all the pupils on the school-roll, with the number of half-days on which each pupil has attended the school since the last annual examination by the Inspector, and the length of time each pupil has been in the class in which he is placed. The class in which a pupil is placed for English shall determine the list on which his name shall appear. In general, a pupil shall be expected to pass through one class in each subject in a year; and the head-teacher shall, by underlining in red ink the figures opposite the name of any pupil, indicate the subjects in which such child has not passed a standard higher than that passed at the Inspector's previous examination.' " —Carried. The Conference adjourned at 12.55 p.m. The Conference resumed at 2.30. Mr. Goyen moved, and Mr. Bossence seconded, "That when a child leaves one school for another the head-teacher shall furnish him with a written statement showing: (1) The class or classes in which he is placed for English and arithmetic; (2) the date of the last Inspector's examination; and (3) the number of half-day attendances he has made since that examination."— Carried. Dr. Anderson moved, " That paragraph 3, Begulation 2, be amended by the addition of some such words as the following: ' but to qualify for examination in any class the pupil must have been taught continuously in such class for the three months immediately preceding the examination, or, if he has attended the school for a less period, during the period since his admission.' " — Seconded by Mr. Petrie, and carried. Dr. Anderson stated he did not desire to move clause 2 of the motion standing in his name. Leave was given Dr. Anderson to amend the third clause of his motion to the following form: "That paragraph 3, Begulation 4, be amended by providing that as a general rule, in Standards 111., IV., and V., promotion shall not be granted in English unless the pupil satisfies the requirements of the standard in three at least of the four subjects included under that head, two of which shall be reading and composition; and that also, as a general rule, in Standards 1.-V, the classification for English and arithmetic shall not in the case of any pupil differ by more than one standard." The motion was seconded by Mr. Goyen, and carried, an amendment by Mr. Harkness to leave out all words after " composition " being lost by 21 votes to 3. Dr. Anderson withdrew clause 4 of Motion 13. Dr. Anderson moved, " That Begulation 16 be amended by bringing the requirements of the Inspector's annual return into closer relationship with the facts or opinions provided for in the separate school reports."—Seconded by Mr. Gow, and carried. Dr. Anderson moved, " That paragraphs 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of Regulation 14 be omitted as useless."—Lost on the voices. Dr. Anderson also moved, " That the qualifications for Standard VI. certificate, provided for in Regulation 15, be defined with greater precision for the teacher's and the Inspector's guidance."— Lost by 17 votes to 7. Mr. Goyen moved, " That the certificates of proficiency awarded to pupils of Standard VI. shall show in what subjects the pupil passes Standard VI., and in what subject or subjects he passes Standard V." Mr. Fitzgerald moved, as an amendment, the addition of the words " and that a merit certificate be awarded to pupils who with credit pass Standard Vl."—Lost by 15 votes to 10. An amendment moved by Dr. Anderson to omit all words after " Standard VI." was lost by 9 votes to 17. Motion carried. Mr. Goyen moved, seconded by Mr. Richardson, "That in Regulation 14 the word 'one' be substituted for ' two,' in lines 9 and 10."—Carried. Mr. Goyen also moved, " That geography and drawing be deleted from the pass-subjects for the certificate of proficiency."—Seconded by Mr. Morton. Mr. Harkness moved, as an amendment, the omission of the words " geography and."— Seconded by Mr. Crowe, and lost. Mr. Petrie moved, seconded by Mr. Purdie, the omission of the words " and drawing."— Carried : 18 votes to 3. The motion, as amended, was passed: 17 votes to 6. The Conference adjourned at 5 p.m.