B.—lc.

" 7. The Inspector may require the head teacher to note, in the column for remarks, the reason for more or less rapid promotion in the case of any pupil, or to give an explanation in the case of any pupil whose age is much above the average of the pupils in that class for that school or that education district ; and the Inspector may approve or not of the sufficiency of the reason or explanation given." Agreed to. "8. In general, pupils shall be expected to pass through at least one class in each subject every year, and the head teacher shall indicate subjects in which any pupil is not in a class higher than that in which he was placed at the previous annual visit of the Inspector." Dr. Anderson moved, and Mr. Harkness seconded, after " pupils," to insert "of average ability." Motion negatived. Mr. Spencer moved, and Mr. Bossence seconded, to delete " In general, pupils shall be expected to pass through at least one class in each subject every year, and." Motion negatived. Mr. Goyen moved, and Mr. Gray seconded, " That clause 8 be deleted." The Conference divided on Mr. Spencer's motion. Ayes, 20 ; Noes, 12. Motion agreed to, and the regulation as amended referred to the special committee. " 9. In order to satisfy himself of the general efficiency of the instruction given in the school, the Inspector shall at his annual visit devote the major portion of his time to an investigation of the character of the teaching and of the degree to which the intelligence of the pupils has been developed, and to this end he shall examine a due proportion of the pupils in each class, including Class P and Class S7, in such subjects as he shall choose." Agreed to. " 10. Every pupil examined in any subject by the Inspector shall be examined in the class in which he has been taught during the preceding three months ; but the Inspector or the teacher may exclude from the examination of a class any pupil who has made less than one hundred halfday attendances in such class." Mr. J. Smith moved, and Mr. Hill seconded, " That ' three' be deleted, and the word ' six 'be substituted." Motion negatived, and regulation agreed to. " 11. At the time of his annual visit, or of any other visit, the Inspector may, but only if the circumstances seem to call for such exceptional action, examine all the pupils of the school, or of any class, to ascertain their individual progress, and he may modify the classification of the head teacher by directing that any pupil or pupils shall be placed in any class or classes that he may name. Such modified classification shall thereupon for three months, or such shorter period as the Inspector may prescribe, be substituted for the classification of the head teacher. In such cases the effect of clauses 3 and 4 will be modified accordingly." By invitation, Mr. F. Tate, of the Victorian Education Department, addressed the Conference. Mr. Morton moved, and Mr. Goyen seconded, " That the words ' but only if the circumstances seem to call for such exceptional action' be transposed and inserted between the words ' may ' and ' modify.' " Agreed to. Dr. Anderson moved, and Mr. Petrie seconded, "That in the last sentence '3' be deleted, with the view of substituting therefor ' 6.' " Agreed to, and regulation as amended agreed to. " 12. When a child leaves one school for another the head teacher shall furnish him with a ' certificate of transfer,' showing (1) the class or classes in which he is placed for English and arithmetic; (2) the date of the last annual visit of the Inspector ; (3) the number of half-day attendances he has made since that annual visit; (4) the number of half-day attendances he has made since the date of his last promotion in English and arithmetic respectively ; and (5) the other subjects (including military drill) in which he has been receiving instruction." Agreed to. The consideration of Eegulation 13 was postponed. " 14. In expressing his opinion of the value of the work done in any compulsory subject, the Inspector shall consider whether the subject is taken by all the pupils in all the classes for which it is prescribed, and also whether it is efficiently treated." Agreed to. " 15. In judging the work in the additional subjects in any school, the Inspector shall consider whether the number of subjects taken in the school is in accordance with clauses 29 to 35 of these regulations, and also whether these subjects are efficiently treated." Agreed to. " 16. The inspection report shall relate to such topics as the following: I. List of classes and teachers. 11. Organization, as shown under topic I. 111. Suitability of time-tables ; marking and keeping of registers. IV. Method and quality of the instruction in general or in detail. V. Order and discipline, and the tone of the school with respect to diligence, alacrity, obedience, and honour. VI. Supervision in recess. VII. Manners and general behaviour of the pupils. VIII. State of buildings, ground, and fences. IX. Sufficiency of school accommodation. X. Cleanliness and tidiness of rooms and premises, including outside offices; condition of school material and apparatus ; ventilation and warming. XI. List of class-books used in the school. XII. Special circumstances affecting the work of the school. XIII. Method, quality, and efficiency of the instruction given to pupil-teachers. XIV. Other topics. " The report shall be divided into sections, and the section relating to any topic in the foregoing list shall bear the number assigned to that topic in the list. Section I. shall show what classes within the meaning of clause 2 of these regulations there are in the school, whether the

6