B.—lo.

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." Dr. Anderson seconded. The Chairman announced that he would divide the report into four sections. Subsection I.—" The head teacher shall draw up quarterly schemes of work for all classes in his school." It was resolved to alter the words " quarterly schemes "to "for each term or quarter." Subsection 2.—"And shall hold thereon not fewer thar four periodical examinations of the classes, the last of which shall be held immediately before the Inspector's annual visit." Mr Gray moved, and Mr. Strachan seconded, to substitute " three " for " four." Amendment agreed to, and subclause as amended agreed to. Subsection 3. —" 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 records shall also show all changes from class to class made as a result of the examination to which it relates." Mr. Spencer moved to add, " That the head teacher of a school be required to keep a workbook in which shall be recorded the work done during stated periods of the year." Amendment agreed to. Subsection 4.—" 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." Mr. Eichardson moved, and Mr. Purdie seconded, to strike out " five " and insert " ten." Agreed to, and Eegulation 5 as amended agreed to. " 22. The standard of attainment for a certificate of proficiency shall be the same in all schools. No one shall receive a certificate of proficiency unless he (a) obtains at least 30 per cent, of the possible marks in each of the subjects English and arithmetic ; (b) gains at least 50 per cent, of the possible aggregate marks in the following compulsory subjects —viz., English, arithnietip, geography, drawing ; and (c) satisfies the Inspector that he has received sufficient instruction in the other"compulsory subjects, and in at least two of the additional subjects, of which one must be either handwork or "elementary science. In the compulsory subjects named in (b) the possible marks shall be in the following proportions, viz. : English, 400; arithmetic 200 ; geography, 100 ; drawing, 100." Mr. Strachan moved, and Dr. Anderson seconded, to delete "at least two of, insert after subjects " as prescribed by these regulations," and delete " of which one must be either handwork or elementary science." Agreed to. On the question, That the regulations as passed by the Conference in committee be agreed to by the Conference, it was proposed that the regulations be recommitted for the purpose of reconsidering Eegulations 30, 33, 41, 42, 43, 48, 49, and 51. Agreed to. The Conference resolved itself into committee. " 33. All the additional subjects may be taken in any school. " In schools below Grade 4 the subjects in Group I. may be omitted.. "In schools of Grades 4 to 8, inclusive, either elementary science or handwork must be taken by boys and girls. "In schools of Grade 9 and higher grades at least four hours and a half a week must be given to the subjects of Group I. and geography (A) by boys, and two hours and a half by girls; not more than two subjects may be omitted by the former, and not more than three by the latter; one of the subjects (1) or (2) of Group I. must be taken in either case. " At least two hours a- week must be given to needlework by all the girls of S3-6 m every school where there is a mistress; provided that girls who are attending classes in cookery, dairywork, dressmaking, or laundry-work recognised under the regulations of the Manual and Technical Instruction Act need not take needlework while they are so attending. " Military drill must be taken by boys in every school in which there are twenty or more boys of twelve years of age or upwards, as provided in the regulations for public-school cadet corps." Mr. Mulgan moved, and Dr. Anderson seconded, "That the teaching of a definite course of science be compulsory in all schools above Grade 3." Amendment agreed to. Dr. Anderson moved, and Mr. Eitchie seconded, " That in schools of Grades 4 to 8 two of the subjects of Group I. be taken by boys, and, where needlework is not taught, by girls also." The Conference divided. Aye's, 10—viz., Messrs. Anderson, Bird, Braik, Browne, Hendry, Isaac, Mulgan, Petrie, Eitchie, Spencer; Noes, 14—viz., Messrs. Bakewell, Bossence, Fitzgerald, Fleming, Goyen, Gray, Grierson, Harkness, Hill, Milne, Morton, Eichardson, H. Smith, and Strachan. Amendment negatived, and Eegulation 33 as amended agreed to. Eegulation 41 agreed to. . Eegulation 42 (geography course B).—Mr. Fitzgerald moved, and Mr. Petrie seconded, ' That the following be added to geography course B : ' The topography implied in course B should be dealt with, special stress being laid on that of New Zealand and the British Empire generally.'" Agreed to, and regulation as amended agreed to.

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