FEDERAL CONFERENCE ON EDUCATION. 789 



conference I met several teachers who expressed a keen desire to 

 effect an exchange with some of our teachers for a 3'ear or two, if it 

 could bo arranged. 



On Tuesday, the subject of discussion was " The possibility of 

 closer uniformity of curricula, nomenclature, and methods of present- 

 ing official educational statistics." Some uniformity of curricula 

 seemed to be desired by the League of Empire, but the representatives 

 were unanimous in considering '"' that it is not desirable or necessaiy 

 to take any steps to bring about uniformity of curricula or text-books 

 for the different school systems of His Majesty's dominions." 



On the remaining part, it appeared that what was needed was 

 not so much a greater degree of unifonnity in presenting statistics as 

 a clearer understanding of what is connoted by the terms used, and 

 the definitions employed, and it was resolved that " It is desirable that 

 the different Education Departments of His Majesty's dominions 

 should define year by year with precision the terms used in the regu- 

 lations and statistics that they publish, and the basis upon which 

 their published statistics are prepared." 



The next three sittings were devoted to a careful investigation 

 -of the various Avays in which the interests of education in the different 

 pails of the Empire could be furthered by encouraging closer relations 

 and a more eft'ective and continuous exchange of information between 

 the several education departments. It was felt that the actual meeting 

 together in the conference of persons engaged in the administration of 

 education for the purpose of personal interchange of information and 

 ideas was of the highest possible value, but that there were also great 

 advantages to be derived from having a permanent machinery to 

 further ihis end. The following motion was agreed to: — '"That the 

 delegates desire to express their appreciation of the value of this 

 conference to the work of education departments throughout the 

 Empire, and resolve (1) that a quadrennial conference is desirable, 

 {2) that the representatives sent to the conference should be selected 

 by the Governments, and (3) that it is desirable that the first, of such 

 conferences should be convened by the Imperial Government." It was 

 further resolved that '" the conference is unanimously agreed as to 

 the importance of a permanent central bureau of educational infor- 

 mation." 



At the next two sittings there was further discussion, but no 

 important resolutions passed. The representatives were, however, 

 delighted with the announcement from Mr. Morant, on behalf of the 

 Imperial Government, that, in reply to the expressed desire of the 

 conference, His Majesty's Government was willing to arrange for an 

 official educational conference to be held in the year 1911. 



The full conference of representatives and delegates also passed 

 the following resolution : — '' That it is desirable that the Colonial 

 Office and the Board of Education should co-operate in issuing, 

 officially, particulars as to the courses of study, fees, expenses of 

 living, itc, at colonial universities, technical and agricultural colleges, 

 together with statements of the advantages attaching to their degrees 

 and diplomas; and that information should be circulated in the 

 colonies as to similar advantages and facilities which exist in this 

 country." 



