500 REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE. 



instruction at present adopted in our training colleges. If our system of 

 education is to be changed, the teachers must be competent to use the newly 

 devised instruments. They must be equal to their task. The Sub-Committee 

 in their report on experimental science very rightly point out : ' It is of little 

 avail to advocate the teaching of a method or subject unless an adequate 

 supply of teachers fully competent to handle the subject can be trained.' 

 That supply does not yet exist. The teachers must not only be fully 

 conversant with the method, but must possess an adequate knowledge of 

 their subject. In these introductory remarks to the papers to be read 

 to-day I do not propose to consider what should be the qualifications and 

 special training of our future teachers. But it is certain that the quali- 

 fications and the training must be in many respects different from what 

 they now are ; and we may be sure that, as the qualifications of the 

 teacher are strengthened, his status in the profession will be improved. 



I trust that the new universities about to be created in Dublin and 

 Belfast will be the means of providing a suitable training for the teachers 

 in Irish schools. Let me take this opportunity of congratulating the 

 people of Ireland on the prospect which the foundation of these uni- 

 versities will afford of securing for all classes of citizens in Ireland further 

 opportunities for higher education. In facilitating the passage thi'ough 

 Parliament of the Irish Universities Bill, I took some part, and I sincerely 

 hope that a satisfactory arrangement may be made for enabling those 

 who are training to become teachers in elementary schools to take full 

 advantage of the wider learning and broader views of life which residence 

 at a university offers. Dublin will before long enjoy the unique and 

 exceptional privilege among the cities of Europe of being the seat of two 

 teaching universities, and I am sure that all parties in Great Britain, 

 divided as they may be politically and by religion, concur in felicitating 

 Ireland on the advantages which these additional opportunities for higher 

 education may bring to all her citizens. 



The Committee appointed in 1903 are desirous of continuing their 

 efforts in the directions wliich I have indicated. The work in which they 

 are engaged is one of national importance. Year by year it is being 

 more directly brought home to us that in every branch of public service, 

 in every grade and variety of professional life, the prosperity and well- 

 being of this country largely depend upon the eai-ly training of our 

 citizens and upon the suitability of their studies to their future occupa- 

 tions. It is anticipated that the papers to be read at this year's meeting 

 of the Section will prove a valuable contribution to the solution of the 

 problem which has engaged, and continues to engage, the careful con- 

 sideration of your Committee. 



In presenting the following report of one of its Sub-Committees the 

 Committee is glad to avail itself of the opportunity of placing on record 

 the unique experience which Mr. Heller has had in organising and super- 

 intending the instruction in experimental work in elementary schools, 

 first as an organising inspector under the London School Board (1894-97), 

 and afterwards, since 1900, as head-organiser and inspector of science 

 instruction for the Board of National Education, Ireland. The report 

 has the advantage that all the recommendations that are brought forward 

 in it are based on actual results of work carried on, not in a single school, 

 but in a large number of schools both in England and Ireland, 



