420 TECHNICAL EDUCATION xvi 



of the science classes is due, that there is much to 

 be done before the system can be said to be 

 thoroughly satisfactory. The instruction given 

 needs to be made more systematic and especially 

 more practical ; the teachers are of very unequal 

 excellence, and not a few stand much in need of 

 instruction themselves, not only in the subject 

 which they teach, but in the objects for which 

 they teach. I dare say you have heard of that 

 proceeding, reprobated by all true sportsmen, 

 which is called " shooting for the pot." Well, 

 there is such a thing as " teaching for the pot " 

 teaching, that is, not that your scholar may know, 

 bub that he may count for payment among those 

 who pass the examination ; and there are some 

 teachers, happily not many, who have yet to learn 

 that the examiners of the Department regard them 

 as poachers of the worst description. 



Without presuming in any way to speak in the 

 name of the Department, I think I may say, as a 

 matter which has come under my own observation, 

 that it is doing its best to meet all these difficulties. 

 It systematically promotes practical instruction in 

 the classes ; it affords facilities to teachers who 

 desire to learn their business thoroughly ; and it 

 is always ready to aid in the suppression of pot- 

 teaching. 



All this is, as you may imagine, highly satis- 

 factory to me. I see that spread of scientific 

 education, about which I have so often permitted 



