E.—lc.

The resolution was divided into two parts. Subsection 1: " That Standard VII. of the new syllabus regulations should noc be made compulsory." The Joint Conference divided. Ayes, 13 ; Noes, 9 : majority for, 4. Subsection agreed to. Subsection 2 : On the motion of Mr. Aitken, this subsection was amended and agreed Co as follows : " That the regulations be altered to provide that any qualified teacher shall be paid an extra capitation grant if he give secondary education to pupils out of reach of secondary schools." It was agreed, on the motion of Mr. Foster, " That where no provision is made in the secondary schools for the free education of children who gain certificates of proficiency, means be provided by which such children may receive free secondary education." Consideration of Kesolutions 6,. 7, and 8 postponed. Eesolution 9 agreed to, as follows: "It is highly desirable that the inspection of school classes under the Manual and Technical Instruction Aces should be so defined as to avoid any danger of conflict between the Inspectors of the Education Department and the Inspectors of the Education Boards." " 10. That the executive of the New Zealand Educational Institute endeavour to obtain a conference between the Inspector-General, the Inspectors of Schools, and an equal number of the representatives of the teachers to consider and report on the syllabus lately introduced, and that the introduction of the new syllabus be deferred until after the conference has been held." Eesolution discharged. The remaining resolution was agreed to as amended, as follows: "11. That it is highly desirable that in any future revision of the syllabus the Education Department consult the Inspectors, and also the teachers of the colony through the Educational that no important modification of the syllabus be brought into force without sufficient notice." Eesolutions as amended reported from committee and agreed to. Begulations for Inspection and Examination of Schools. The Joint Conference resolved itself into committee to consider these regulations and the regulations as amended by the Inspectors' Conference. Eegulations 1, 2, 3, and 4 as passed by the Inspectors' Conference agreed to. Eegulation 5 : Mr. Johnson moved to delete the words, " That the head teacher of a school be required to keep a work-book in which shall be recorded the work done during stated periods of the year." Mr. MacMorran seconded. Agreed to. On the motion of Mr. Petrie, " S6 " was substituted for " 57." Eegulation as amended agreed to. Eegulations from 6 to 27 as passed by Inspectors' Conference agreed to. The Joint Conference adjourned at 5.15 p.m.

Wednesday, 10th February, 1904. The Joint Conference met at 9.40 a.m. It was resolved that the Conference sit till 12.30 p.m., and from 2 till 5 p.m. Eegulation 28. [Note. The regulations were considered as amended by Inspectors' Conference.] Mr. MacMorran moved, " That reading, arithmetic, writing, spelling, and composition be compulsory subjects in all grades of schools, and the requirements be the same in all schools." Mr. Hughes seconded. Dr. Anderson moved, and Mr. Goyen seconded, " That the motion be amended by omitting the words ' reading,' ' spelling,' ' writing, ' composition,' and substituting therefor the word ' English.' " Amendment agreed to, and motion withdrawn. Mr. MacMorran moved, and Mr. Hughes seconded, " That as a general principle the work of small schools be lightened, not so much by reducing the number of subjects taught as by accepting a modified programme in subjects other than English and arithmetic. Agreed to. Mr. Petrie moved, and Mr. Hughes seconded, "That nature-study and object-lessons be added as a further compulsory subject (No. 6)." Motion negatived. Mr. Petrie moved, " That ' and 50 ' be omitted in Eegulation 28." Motion negatived, and Eegulation 28 agreed to. Eegulation 29. Mr. Spencer moved, " That ' nature-study ' be substituted for ' lessons on objects. Motion negatived. Mr. Hill moved, and Mr. Goyen seconded, " That in Group 1., No. 1, ' Lessons on objects be deleted." . The Conference divided. Ayes, 11; Noes, 10 : majority for, 1. Motion agreed to. Mr. Petrie moved, and Mr. Gray seconded, " That objects and nature-study be inserted as No. 1 in Group 1., Eegulation 29." Agreed to, and Eegulation 29 as amended agreed to. Eegulation 30.

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