E.—lc.

return shall indicate the degree of attention paid to the several compulsory subjects and to the additional subjects respectively, and state in brief the condition of each school as to order and discipline, and as to the manners of the pupils. The return shall also include a statement of the average age of the pupils in each class." Mr. Petrie moved, " That the average age of Class P be omitted from the return in section 27." Motion agreed to, and regulation as amended agreed to. " 60. The course of instruction may, if the Board of Education think fit, be modified in accordance with these regulations immediately on the publication thereof, or at any time not later than the Ist day of July, 1904 ; but in all other respects these regulations shall come into force on the Ist day of January, 1904." Mr. Fitzgerald moved to strike out " Ist day of July, 1904," and insert in lieu thereof " 31st day of December, 1904." Agreed to, and regulation as amended agreed to. "61. In case of any misunderstanding arising as to the meaning of any part of these regulations the Minister of Education shall declare what is to be taken as the meaning, and his interpretation shall be binding upon all persons to whom it is communicated, and shall, if declared by publication in the Neiv Zealand Gazette, have equal force with these regulations." Agreed to. " 10. Every pupil examined in any subject by the Inspector shall be examined in the 3lass 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." On the motion of Mr. Harkness, this regulation was recommitted. Mr. Harkness moved, and Mr. Petrie seconded, " That the words 'or the teacher' be omitted, and that after the words ' such class ' the following be inserted : ' and the teacher may exclude from examination any pupil who has made less than one hundred half-day attendances. , " Motion agreed to, and regulation as amended agreed to. Beport of committee on Regulations 1 to 27 and 60 and 61 was adopted. Syllabus (General). Mr. Purdie moved, " That in the syllabus of subjects to be taught in the primary schools greater freedom of selection should be given to teachers." Mr. Mulgan seconded. The Conference divided. Ayes, 8 ; Noes, 18 : majority against, 10. Motion negatived. Mr. Bakewell moved, " That a reduction be made in the requirements of the new syllabus in regard to schools below Grade 4." Mr. Ballantyne seconded. Agreed to. Syllabus (Subjects). On the motion of Mr. Fitzgerald, the standing orders were suspended to enable motion No. 1, Syllabus (Subjects), to be moved. Mr. Goyen moved, " That in the new syllabus the work sketched in geography, history, and science (including nature-study and health) is in excess of what can be well done in the circumstances in which our schools have to work." Mr. Petrie seconded. The Chairman vacated the chair in order to discuss this motion more freely. Mr. Pope took the chair. The Conference adjourned at 5 p.m.

Friday, sth Febeuaby, 1904. The Conference resumed at 9.30 a.m. Syllabus (Subjects). The consideration of the following motion, moved by Mr. Goyen, was continued: " That in the new syllabus the work sketched in geography, history, and science (including nature-study and health) is in excess of what can be well done in the circumstances in which our schools have to work." The Chairman (Mr. Hogben, Inspector-General) vacated the chair, which was taken by Mr. Pope, and Mr. Hogben concluded his remarks on the motion, and then resumed the chair. Motion agreed to. Regulations for Inspection and Examination of Schools. On the motion of Mr. Fitzgerald, the standing orders were suspended to enable Mr. Braik to move motion No. 10, Syllabus (General). ' Mr. Braik moved, and Mr. Morton seconded, " That the Conference consider seriatim the remaining regulations relating to the inspection and examination of schools." Agreed to. The Conference resolved itself into committee to consider the remaining regulations. " 28. The following subjects shall be compulsory in all schools for classes P, SI, and S2 : (1) English, (2) arithmetic, (3) drawing, (4) singing, (5) physical instruction, Instruction of the kind indicated in clauses 48, 49, and 50 must also be given."

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