October 20, 1898] 



NATURE 



599 



Now why have I brought these statistics before you ? 



Because from 1861 onwards the chief rewards of the 

 successful students have been scholarships and exhi- 

 bitions held in this College ; a system adopted in the 

 hope that in this way the numbers of perfectly trained 

 Science Teachers might be increased, so that the Science 

 Classes throughout the country might go on from strength 

 to strength. 



The Royal Exhibitions date from 1863, the National 

 Scholars from 1884. The Free Studentships were added 

 later. 



The strict connection between the Science Classes 

 throughout the countr>' and our College will be gathered 

 from the following statement, which refers to the present 

 time : — 



Twenty-one Royal Exhibitions — seven open each 

 year — four to the Royal College of Science, London, and 

 three to the Royal College of Science, Dublin. 



Sixty-six National Scholarships — twenty-two open 

 each year — tenable, at the option of the holder, at either 

 the Royal College of Science, London, or the Royal 

 College of Science, Dublin. 



Eighteen Free Studentships — six open each year — to 

 the Royal College of Science, London. 



A Royal Exhibition entitles the holder to free ad- 

 mission to lectures and laboratories, and to instruction 

 during the course for the Associateship — about three 

 years — in the Royal College of Science, London, or the 

 Royal College of Science, Dublin, with maintenance 

 and travelling allowances. 



A National Scholarship entitles the holder to free 

 admission to lectures and laboratories and to instruction 

 during the course of the Associateship — about three years 

 — at either the Royal College of Science, London, or the 

 Royal College of Science, Dublin, at the option of the 

 holder, with maintenance and travelling allowances. 



A Free Studentship entitles the holder to free 

 admission to the lectures and laboratories and to in- 

 struction during the course for the Associateship — about 

 three years — in the Royal College of Science, London, 

 but not to any maintenance or travelling allowance. 



Besides the above students who have been successful 

 in the examinations of the Science Classes, a limited 

 number (usually about 60) of teachers, and of students in 

 science classes who intend to become science teachers, 

 are admitted free for a term or session to the courses of 

 instruction. They may be called upon to pass an entrance 

 examination. Of these, there are two categories — those 

 who come to learn and those who remain to teach ; some 

 of the latter may be associates. 



Besides all these, those holding Whitworth Scholarships 

 — the award of which is decided by the Science examina- 

 tions — can, and some do, spend the year covered by the 

 exhibition at the College. 



In this way, then, is the Ecole Normale side of our 

 institution built up. 



The number of Government students in the College 

 in 1872 was 25 ; in 1886 it was 113, and in 1897 it 

 was 186. 



The total number of students who passed through the 

 College from 1882-3 to 1896-97 inclusive was 4145. Of 

 these 1966 were Government students. The number who 

 obtained the Associateship of the Royal School of Mines 

 from 1851 to 1881 was 198, of whom 39 were Government 

 students, and of the Royal College of Science and Royal 

 School of Mines from 1882 to 1897 the number was 525, 

 of whom 323 were Government students. Of this total 

 of 362 Government students 94 were Science teachers in 

 training. 



With regard to the Whitworth Scholarships, which, 

 like the Exhibitions, depend upon success at the yearly 

 examinations throughout the country, I may state that 

 six have held their scholarships at the College for at 



NO. 151 2, VOL. 58] 



least a part of the scholarship period, and three others- 

 were already associates. 



So much for the prizemen we have with us. I next 

 come to the teachers in training who come to us. The num- 

 ber of teachers in training who have passed through the 

 College from 1872 to 1897 inclusive is about 600; on an 

 average they attended about two years each. The number 

 in the session 1872-73, when they were first admitted, was 1 6^ 

 the number in 1885-86 was 50, and in 1896-97 60. These 

 have not as a rule taught Science Classes previously, but 

 before admission they give an undertaking that they 

 intend to teach. In the earlier years some did not carry 

 out this undertaking, doubtless because of the small 

 demand for teachers of Science at that time. But we 

 have changed all that. With but very few exceptions, 

 all the teachers so trained now at once begin teaching,, 

 and not necessarily in classes under the Department. It 

 is worthy of note,'too, that many Royal Exhibitioners and 

 National Scholars, although under no obligation to do 

 so, also take up Science teaching. It is probable that of 

 all the Government students now who pass out of the 

 College each year not less than three-fourths become 

 teachers. The total number of teachers of Science 

 engaged in classes under the Department alone at the 

 present time is about 6000. 



I have not yet exhausted what our College does for 

 the national efforts in aiding the teaching of Science. 



When you, gentlemen, leave us about the end of June 

 for your well-earned holidays, a new task falls upon your 

 professors in the shape of summer courses to teachers 

 of Science Classes brought up by the Department from 

 all parts of the four kingdoms to profit by the wealth of 

 apparatus in the College and Museum, and the practical 

 work which it alone renders possible. 



The number of Science teachers who have thus- 

 attended the summer courses reaches 6200, but as many 

 of these have attended more than one course the number 

 of separate persons is not so large. 



Research. 



From time to time balances arise in the Scholarship 

 fund owing to some of the National Scholarships or Royal 

 Exhibitions being vacated before the full time for which 

 they are tenable has expired. Scholarships are formed 

 from these balances and awarded among those students 

 who, having completed the full course of training for 

 the Associateship, desire to study for another year at 

 the College. // is understood that the fourth year is 

 to be employed in research in the subject of the Associate- 

 ship. 



The gaining of one of the Remanet Scholarships, not 

 more than two on the average ajinually, referred to, 

 furnishes really the only means b\' which deserving 

 students are enabled to pursue research in the College ;. 

 as, although a professor has the power to nominate a 

 student to a free place in his laboratory, very few of the 

 most deserving students are able to avail themselves ot' 

 the privilege owing to want of means. 



The Department only very rarely sends students up as 

 teachers in training for research work, but only those who 

 intend making teaching their profession are eligible for 

 these studentships. 



I trust that at some future day, when we get our new 

 buildings— it is impossible to do more than we do till we 

 get> them — more facilities for research may be provided, 

 and even an extension of time allowed for it if necessary. 

 I see no reason why some of the 185 1 Exhibition Scholar- 

 ships should not be awarded to students of this College^ 

 but to be eligible they must have published a research. 

 Research should naturally form part of the work of 

 the teachers in training who are not brought up here 

 merely to effect an economy in the teaching staff. 



Such, then, in brief, are some of our Normal School 



