m ^ '^ 



286 



KKi'oirr — 1884. 





"'"■ 



i 



! 



through reading lessons. The other nine girls' departments, with 2,330 

 childrtm, take needlework as the second class subject. 



At tho Sonthport meeting a i-ecommendatiou was passed that this 

 Committee ' be requested to consider the desirableness of making repre- 

 sentations to the Lords of tho Committee of Her Majesty's Privy Council 

 on Education in favour of aid being extended towards tho fitting up of 

 workshops in connection with elumontary day schools or evening classes, 

 and of making grants on tho results of practical instruction in such work- 

 shops under suitable direction, and, if necessary, to communicate with tho 

 Council.' 



As it was believed that the second Report of the Roy.al Commissioners 

 on Technical Instruction would have an important bearing upon this 

 question, tho Cotumitteo was not called together till the publicfition of 

 that Keport. It was not issued till ^fay, aud it then apj)cared that, in 

 addition to a very large amount of valuable information, the Royal Com- 

 missioners had recommended, among other things : — 



' (h) That thoro bo only two class subjects instead of three in tho 

 lower division ol' elementary schools, ami that tho object; lessons for 

 teaching olonientary science shall include the subject of geography.' 



' ((/) That prolicienoy in tho use of tools for working in wood anil 

 iron be paid for as a specific subject, arrangements being made for tho 

 work being done, so far as practicable, out of school hours. Th.at special 

 grants be made to schools in aid of collections of natural objects, casts, 

 drawings, &c., suitabl(> for school museums.' 



With reference to recommendation (//) your Committee, without 

 expressing .any opinion as to the desirability of forming one subject out 

 of geography and elementar}' science, couhider that, if this change bo 

 effected, tho two class subjects which will thou repi'csent literature and 

 science should stand upon an equal footing. This would be in accordanco 

 with the resolution of the Council passed on Decouibor '», 1H81, in cor- 

 sidering tho recommendations of your Committee in regard to the pro- 

 posals for tho now Codo, At present, if only one class subject is tfikcii, 

 the Codo reijuiros that it should be 'English' (grammar and literature); 

 but many maiuvgers or teachers might, prefer taking science. 



With respect to loconimendation {d) your Committee thoroughly 

 approve of the proposals, which, if carried out, would realise the wish 

 expressed in the reference to them from the Southport meeting. 



They have not, however, thought it necessary to communicate at onco 

 with the Council, as there is no immediate legislation in prospect, ami 

 the mooting at ^lontroal might like to give further instructions on the 

 subject. 



The name of Professor N. Story Maskolyne, ^[.P., has been replaced 

 on the Committee. 



