254 



KEPOET — 1889. 



■ In 1887-8, 25,000 out of 4,500,000, i.e., 1 in 180, children in schools 

 took this subject. 



The teaching of chemistry as a specific subject is also under the con- 

 trol of H.M. Inspectors, who award a grant of 4s. on each pupil who 

 passes at the annual written examination. The performance in specific 

 subjects also counts in awarding the merit grant. 



Teachers and Apparatus. — The teachers in the earlier standards (in- 

 cluding elementary science) are the usual school teachers, and have not 

 necessarily any qualification of a scientific kind. 



The inspectors have instructions to ascertain that teachers of specific 

 subjects have received training in a training college or have passed some 

 public examination. The Department recommends the ' peripatetic ' 

 system of science teaching by a 'demonstrator,' in which either the 

 demonstrator visits the schools in rotation, or the pupils from the different 

 schools attend a central laboratory for science instruction. This system 

 has been adopted with success in several large towns, including London, 

 Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and Leeds. 



There is no stipulation in the Code for apparatus or experimental 

 illustration, this being a matter for the school managers, subject to the 

 criticism of the inspectors. 



Statistics. — The following are statistics as to the teaching of chemistry 

 in elementary schools as a specific subject under the Whitehall Code for 

 the year 1887-8 :— 



The proportion taking chemistry in Board schools is thus about four 

 times that in Voluntary schools. 



Cheviistry as a Science Subject. — The preceding statements apply only 

 to teaching under the Whitehall Education Department. The greater part 

 of the chemistry teaching is carried out under the Science and Art Depart- 

 ment, South Kensington. This is done in virtue of a regulation of 

 that Department, whereby pupils in elementary schools receiving aid from 

 the Whitehall Education Department may be 'registered' in a science 

 subject provided that they have passed Standard VI. of the Code and are 

 taught by a duly qualified teacher. Such teacher must have obtained a 

 first class in the advanced stage of the May examinations of the Science 

 and Art Department, or have obtained some qualification deemed equiva- 

 lent by the Department. 



Pupils who have passed Standard VI. may thus form a class under 



