TkANSACtlONS OF SECTION L. 779 



geography, the inventions and processes in use, and the most pressing questions 

 and problems. (This is to take the place of the chemical or physical laboratory in 

 early days of school.) (c) The frequent reading of guide-books, books of travel 

 and exploration, and books on the flora and fauna of great divisions of the globe. 

 (d) History, taught on the concentric system. 



4. English Work, including reading, spelling, composition, and literature. 



5. Elementary Mathematics, chiefly mental. 



6. Singing, Speaking, and Voice Production. 



It will be seen that the following omissions or changes are suggested : (!) A 

 second language is omitted, (ii) All but elementary mathematics are omitted, 

 (iii) All definite instruction in chemistry, apart from geographical lessons, is 

 omitted, (iv) All higher grammar is omitted, (v) Much more is demanded 

 under the heads of physical work, tool work, and geographical work. 



The subjects thus grouped would, out of a possible thirty-two hours or lessons, 

 receive the following: Physical, six; tool work, six; geographical, eight; 

 English, five ; mathematics, five ; singing, two. 



(b) The training of teachers for this work. Demand should be made for 

 (1) a preliminary examination to test general knowledge and fitness for the work, 

 such examination not to take place later than the beginning of the seventeenth 

 year. (2) A standard of measurement and health analogous to that demanded by 

 the Army and Navy. 



On entry into training colleges the work should be grouped under the head- 

 ings referred to before. 



1. Physical work should include («) a grounding in hygiene, anthropometry, 

 elementary physiology (a school-medical training). (6) a practical knowledge of 

 drill and some games. 



2. Tool work should include training in the use of tools and a practical know- 

 ledge of two manual training subjects; a large increase in the time devoted to 

 drawing (blackboard and other). 



3. Geographical work should include elementary science, map drawing, wide 

 reading in suitable libraries. 



4. English work should include a good deal of memorising and wider reading. 



5. Elementary mathematics should not go beyond the practical mathematics 

 demanded by the other groups. 



6. Singing, &c., should include voice-production, theoretical and practical. 

 There should also be a separate study of the art of desci-iptiou. 



It will be seen that the following omissions or changes are suggested : (1 ) a 

 dropping of most of the psychology and theory of education ; (2) a dropping of 

 advanced grammar ; (3) a dropping of advanced mathematics and science ; (4) a 

 large increase in drawing work ; (5) a large increase in oral work. 



It is further recommended that all students be compelled: (1) to study a 

 language other than English ; (2) to enter for a teacher's degree, the examina- 

 tion for which should be based on tlie above suggestions, should be to a large 

 extent oral, and should carry with it diflerentiation of students into those who are 

 awarded a degree, a first-class, second-class, third-class, or a certificate. 



5. The Training of Primary Teachers. By Professor J. A. Green, B.A. 



Educational changes are at present tending to throw greater responsibilities 

 on local authorities and on teachers. The underlying idea is that schools should 

 be specially adapted to their environment. Their business is to help in the 

 process which makes socially efficient men and women of the children. The 

 school is the chief formal instrument to that end ; and as its aims and methods are 

 under control, the social mind may there expi-ess itself to an extent proportionate 

 to the efficiency of its agents — the teachers. 



The education and training of teachers is therefore of prime importance. Great 



