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if these weie held in connection with their own schools. The establishment of such classes, which are, it may be mentioned, alieady to be found in some districts, should have the important effect of linking more closely than is at present the case the public schools with the technical schools. Refeience has been made in previous reports to the increase every year in the proportion of students who take up definite courses of instruction involving attendance at classes on two, three, or more evenings a week. With the object of encouraging attendance at grouped courses of related subjects, and in view of the fact that classes for advanced work in ait, science, and technology cost more to maintain and are usually much smaller than elementary classes, the Education Act. was amended last session so as to provide for the payment of capitation at higher rates in the case of students who take up in any year a group of related subjects or who go through a graded course extending over a period of years. It is hoped that the scale of payments, ranging from to 9d. per hour-attendance, now in operation will enable controlling authorities and managers of classes to improve and extend the arrangements already made for graded courses of instruction. While the attendance at evening classes generally, though entirely optional, continues to be well maintained, and is in the case of a large number of students very satisfactory, the fact remains that too large a proportion of young people do not on the completion of their primary-school course proceed either to secondary or to technical schools. Further reference to this matter will be found under the heading '-Secondary Education" (see page 51). The problem of the further education, control, and discipline of adolescents is to-day engaging the attention of progressive nations throughout the world. As stated in last year's report, the Education (Scotland) Act of 1908 imposes on School Boards the duty of taking fuller cognizance of the period of adolescence and of making suitable provision for the further instruction of young people over fourteen years of age who are not otherwise receiving a suitable education. It is gratifying to know that many of the School Boards are realizing their responsibilities in the matter and aie exciting themselves to meet as far as may be the requirement of their respective districts. It need hardly be said that they are proceeding cautiously. Every means short of compulsion is being used to foster a movement for the better use of the years of adolescence as a preparation for adult life. It is significant that the first proposals, in the shape of by-laws, for compulsory attendance at continuation classes should come from rural Boards. This, however, must not be taken as an indication that the urban Boards as a whole are inactive. On the contrary, several of them, notably the School Boards of Edinburgh and Glasgow, are showing an ever-increasing interest in the matter. They prefer, however, to exhaust all other available means before applying compulsion. Conferences with employers and employed have been widely held, while a large amount of what may be termed missionary work has been accomplished. Searching inquiries have also been instituted with the view of ascertaining how far young people are profiting by the opportunities offered. The important fact that by-laws even if made must be largely inoperative unless backed by a healthy public opinion appears to be thoroughly recognized. It is worthy of note in this connection that the Scotch Education Department, in a circular letter issued in 1909 dealing with the compulsory education question, recommends School Boards to use every device to stimulate voluntary effort before applying compulsion; and, further, that the Committee of the Privy Council on Education in Scotland, in their report for the year 1909-10, state that they have no desire that in this weighty matter School Boards should act otherwise than with the deliberation and circumspection. As regards New Zealand the amending Act of last session empowers school committees to request Education Boards to frame regulations requiring the attendance at continuation or technical classes of young people within the school district who are not otherwise receiving a suitable education, or who are not specially exempted by such regulations. Already there are indications in certain districts of a desire to establish compulsory classes under the Act, and in one district at least regulations have been drafted. The attention of those who are moving in the matter is earnestly invited to what has been said in regard to the attitude