B.—lc.

teacher or teachers should not in general greatly exceed the number indicated by the scale of staffs in 'The Public-School Teachers' Salaries Act, 1901,' which allows not more than sixty children for each adult teacher, and not more than thirty for each pupil-teacher, or on the average not more than forty-five for each member of the staff.)" Mr. Purdie moved, and Mr. Mulgan seconded, " That in line 4 the word 'and' be omitted, and that in line 5, after the words ' Class P,' the words ' and his opinion of the order, the discipline, and the tone of the school with respect to diligence, alacrity, obedience, and honour ' be inserted." Agreed to, and clause 13 as amended agreed to. Mr. Petrie brought up the following report of the committee on Eegulation 5. " The head teacher shall draw up quarterly schemes of work for all the classes in his school, and shall hold thereon not fewer than four periodical examinations of the classes, the last of which shall be held immediately before the Inspector's annual visit, and he shall keep for the information of the Inspectors a record of the nature and results of these examinations. This record shall show for each standard class the head teacher's estimate of the proficiency of each pupil in SI to S7 in the subjects of English and arithmetic, and also a general estimate of the quality of the work done in each of the additional and other subjects. The record shall also show all changes from class to class made as a result of the examination to which it relates. These records, as well as the class registers and the copies of the Inspectors' reports and class lists, shall be kept in the school for not less than five years, and in the case of the closing of a school shall be delivered up to the Education Board, to be kept for a similar period, as the Board shall direct. The questions used at the periodical examinations, and the pupils' written answers thereto, shall be kept in the school for reference till the next annual visit." On the motion of Mr. Gray, seconded by Dr. Anderson, it was resolved, " That the committee's report on Eegulation 5 be postponed, and that typewritten copies be placed in the hands of members as soon as possible." " 6. Before the Inspector's annual visit, the head teacher shall prepare class lists on the forms provided by the Department. The class in which a pupil has been placed for English during the preceding three months shall determine the list on which his name shall appear. The class lists shall contain — (a) the names and ages of all the pupils on the school roll; (b) the number of halfdays on which each pupil has attended the school since the last annual visit of the Inspector; and, where necessary, (c) the number of half-days each pupil has attended the class in which he is placed for English, (d) the classes in which pupils have been placed for other subjects besides English during the preceding three months, and (c) the number of half-days each pupil has attended such classes." "8. The head teacher shall indicate the 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." Mr. Petrie brought up the following report of the committee on these regulations: "In Eegulation 6, to delete ' and 'in the line before last, and add ' (/) an indication of the 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.' " Report agreed to, and regulations as amended agreed to. "17. (i.) A ' certificate of competency ' means a certificate that the holder has fulfilled the requirements of some standard of education, prescribed by these regulations and named on such certificate, in (1) reading, (2) spelling, (3) writing, (4) composition, (5) arithmetic, and has satisfied the Inspector that he has received sufficient instruction in the other compulsory and additional subjects; provided that the Inspector may accept work below the requirements of such standard in one, but not more than one, of the subjects (2) to (5). " (ii.) A person may be a candidate for a certificate of competency on one of the following grounds : — " (a.) That he is seeking employment in the public service or elsewhere ; " (b.) That he wishes to enter a secondary school; " (c.) That he is under fourteen years of age, and that his parent wishes to obtain for him a certificate of exemption as prescribed in section 4 of ' The School Attendance Act, 1901.' " Agreed to. " 18. Immediately on the receipt of the notice of the annual visit of the Inspector referred to in clause 1, the head teacher shall post in a conspicuous place in the school a notice that such visit is about to be made, and shall call the attention of the children thereto. The parent of any child of school age, or on the roll of any school, who wishes such child to obtain a certificate of competency must give notice of his desire in writing to the head teacher at least three days before such annual visit ; this notice must state on which of the grounds named in clause 17 the parent wishes such certificate to be granted. " The head teacher shall, on the day of the annual visit, hand to the Inspector lists in duplicate of those on behalf of whom notice has been given to him of the desire to obtain certificates of competency. These lists shall be written on forms provided by the Department." Dr. Anderson moved," That the clause be amended by the omission of the words 'in the school,' and the substitution therefor of the words ' on the school premises.' " Agreed to, and regulation as amended agreed to. " 19. The Inspector shall, at or about the date of his annual visit, arrange for the examination of such children as are candidates for certificates of competency in whatever way he may deem fit, and may examine them at their own or any other school; provided that for such purpose no child shall be compelled to attend at any school (not being his own school) more than five miles from his place of residence. "The Inspector may, if he see cause, refuse to examine for a certificate of competency any child on the roll of a public school who has not been instructed for at least six months in the work of the standard to which such certificate refers, or in the work of a higher standard; or any

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