April 13, 1882] 
of course impossible, but a greater unity of action on the 
part of the Board of Examiners seems necessary. Take, for 
example, geometrical drawing : there were 39 per cent. of 
failuresin the elementary stage in 1879, and 50 per cent. in 
1880. In botany there were 43 per cent. of failures in 1879, 
and 20 per cent. in 1880. In biology there were upwards 
of 40 per cent. of failures in 1879, and only 17 per cent. in 
1880. In sound, light, and heat 51 per cent. of failures in 
1879, and 35 per cent. in 1880. Magnetism and electricity 
on the other hand, is extremely uniform, having 29 per 
cent. of failures one year and 30 per cent the next. But 
if we look at the advanced stage for 1879 the failures vary 
from 25 per cent. in magnetism and electricity to 60 per 
cent. in botany, and 82 per cent in biology. These fluc- 
tuations, if due to idiosyncrasies on the part of the exa- 
miners, are very serious for the teachers who are dependent 
for their livelihood on the payment by results. The 
natural result is the teacher selects that subject wherein 
he thinks there is least chance of failure, and thus we find 
the number of papers worked in the different subjects 
follows very closely the ease with which a candidate is 
likely to pass. 
Then, as to the method of eximination. Would it not 
be possible to introduce a practical examination in physics 
as well as chemistry? The adiitionai expense might in 
part be met by imposing a small fee for examination, and 
only those students should be eligible for the practical 
examination who have passed in the “advanced” stage. 
A certificate for practical knowledge in special branches 
of science would be most valuable to its holders, and no 
teacher should be allowed to obtain payment on results 
until he has one of these certificates. At present any one 
with very elementary knowledge indeed can set up as a 
teacher, and the vaiue of the title ‘‘ Certificated Teacher 
under the Science and Art Department” is not what it 
should be. Moreover, a preliminary examination in 
writing and spelling, and perhaps elementary drawing, 
ought, we think, to be passed by every certificated teacher. 
Again and again has the present writer had the most 
atrocious spelling and writing, to say nothing of English 
grammar, come under his notice in the May Examination 
Papers ; and yet if the student answered the questions 
before him he was bound to obtain a certificate, and would 
doubtiess be a full-blown certificated teacher, with a class 
of pupils, before the year was out. 
To meet the need of practical teaching, the De- 
partment has lately taken a most admirable step in 
advance. An arrangement has been made whereby 
a certain number of carefully-selected teachers have 
the opportunity of coming to London during the summer 
vacations, and spending a month to six weeks in 
the practical study of certain branches of science 
under the direct personal guidance of the eminent pro- 
fessors at the South Kensington Science Schools. In 
this way, year by year, from twenty to fifty teachers avail 
themselves of invaluable instruction in chemistry, physics, 
mechanics, geology, botany, and agriculture. A number 
of teachers (some 65 out of 200 applicants) are admitted 
free to the regular courses of instruction at South Ken- 
sington. Furthermore to meet, what to many certificated 
teachers would be the prohibitive expense of coming to 
London from the provinces, Government pay their railway 
fare to and fro, and give them an allowance for board 
whilst under instruction at Scuth Kensington. 
And just in passing we may perhaps ask how it is the 
Treasury have sanctioned the expense of paying the 
yearly contingent of Irish teachers going the long distance 
to and from London, when in Dublin there is a School of 
Science under the Department equipped with an even 
larger staff than at South Kensington, and furnished with 
quite as extensive and as admirable educational appli- 
ances? This is just one of those points which are calcu- 
lated to wound the susceptibilities of Irishmen and to 
foster the cry for local self-government. Moreover, the 
NATURE 
959 
claims of the College of Science to take part in the train- 
ing of assisted teachers become still more evident when 
we find that there are in England thirty-three training 
colleges receiving grants from the Department, whilst in 
Ireland there is not one. We feel, however, that atten- 
tion has only to be called to this point to lead to some 
change, if there are no insuperable obstacles in the way. 
To return—the need for, and the success of, the scheme 
for training teachers has led to an important alteration in 
the scope of the Science Schools at South Kensington. 
This session it begins its work under the title of the 
“Normal School of Science,” added to that of the Royal 
School of Mines. As before, Diplomas of Associate 
are given to those students who successfully pass through 
the prescribed curriculum, but considerable changes 
have been made in the curriculum. A student can now 
gain the title of Associate of the Normal School of 
Science if he passes successfully in one or more of the 
following divisions:—(a) Mechanics, (6) Physics, (c) 
Chemistry, (¢) Biology, (e) Geology, (/) Agriculture, and 
he can gain the Associateship of the Royal School of 
Mines in (g) Metallurgy and (Z) Mining. The course of 
instruction is the same for all divisions during the first 
two years, after which it is specialised in accordance with 
a carefully-prepared scheme. At least a three-years’ 
course is therefore necessary for all candidates for Asso- 
ciateship, the fees amounting for the first two years to 
752, and for the remainder of the time vary from 30/. to 
40/. There are, however, several scholarships and free 
studentships open yearly to competition. 
And now we must close this lengthy review. To those 
who have followed the work already done by the Depart- 
ment of Science and Art, and even to those who, ignorant 
of it, have troubled themselves to read this article, it must 
be evident that the anonymcus croakers at South Ken- 
sington are merely enjoying the English privilege of 
grumbling, and are doubtless secretly proud of this 
important Government Department. 
AN ELECTRIC BAROMETER 
OTICING an account of a new electric barometer, 
brought before the Royal Scottish Society of Arts, 
which requires some fifty communicating wires, and reads 
but to the one-tenth of an inch, I venture to send the 
following. It aims at solving the problem -that of read- 
Bes 
eof 
SEE 
SR) a Ree 2 
Senn 
(ES 
ag te 
7 
Fic. 1. 
ing a barometer, placed at a distance from an observatory 
—in a more simple manner. 
The barometer, the height of which is to be ascer- 
tained, has two platinum wires fused through the glass, 
at the vacuum end of the tube. Cne of these is con- 
tinued by a stout iron wire, the other by a fine carbon 
thread, both of which are joined at a point in the tube 
below the level of lowest fall. The iron wire keeps the 
carbon filament vertical and centralin thetube. From 
the platinum ends outside, wires communicate with 
the observatory ; and a current passed through them 
traverses both iron and carbon in its passage. 
