X1V PROCEEDINGS. 
If Academie and High School positions are worth on an average 
only ten years’ tenure we will require but six new Grade A’s each year, — 
say ten to give them the benetits of healthy competition, and let them 
have a thorough college training or its equivalent. 
(c) The professional training of academic teachers and of the 
Principals of the larger schools should be part of a college course. 
Elsewhere at some length I gave my opinions on this subject. At, 
present I will do no more than quote from an American educationist a 
few sentences which express the opinions of the most of our educationists 
and of our college graduates. ‘‘The environment of learning and culture 
are essential to the best training for the practice of the learned pro- 
fession, * * * Existing normal schools, which have more than 
justitied their establishment for the professional training of elementary 
teachers should continue to do their appropriate work. However much 
modified, they will not be well adapted to meet the wants of higher 
teachers.” 
Their professional training should be a post-graduate course at least 
in part. If our larger colleges cannot provide pedagogical training for 
the few Grade “ A” teachers that we need we will have in the mean- 
time no difficulty in obtaining it abroad ; but wherever it is obtained let 
it be as thorough as the post-graduate training required in the other 
professions, 
(¢) Examinations in science, whether by the colleges or by the 
Educational Departments, should be so modified as to take into account 
the pupil’s laboratory work throughout the term and his present ability 
to perform and interpret experiments, and also to examine and classify 
mineral, plant and animal specimens. 
A certified copy of his Note-Book of experiments should be taken 
as evidence of his work. In order to have some reasonable certainty 
that this work was honestly reported it would be necessary for some 
qualified person to inspect the !aboratories and see tbe students at work 
twice every year. A written examination does not adequately test a 
student’s science acquirements. If the Provincial Grade ‘‘ A” scientific 
examinations are to be continued they should be conducted at the 
Normal School, and every candidate should have to do a certain amount 
of laboratory work in the presence of the examiner. 
Such are a few of the suggestions which I have to offer for the 
advance of science in Nova Scotia. I feel confident that if adopted 
