ON THE INFLUENCE OF EXAMINATIONS. 377 
I understand, been adopted more or less by all the Eastern colleges and 
Universities. This is a signal triumph and evidence of the value of a 
course of study of fixed duration, carefully graded and carefully watched 
at every turn, over the sort of racehorse method that turns our schools 
into training grounds for the examination race that occupies a few days 
at the end of a boy’s school career, and upon which his future is made to 
depend to an alarming extent. This system is perhaps one of the most 
noteworthy contributions of America to educational progress. Its adop- 
tion indicates that America at all events realises that education is a slow 
process which must be spread over certain fixed periods of time, that there 
are no short cuts, that even though the boy may have acquired the 
requisite information to answer the questions of an outside examiner, it 
does not follow that he has been satisfactorily educated to the standard 
that that examination is supposed to represent. It is only another 
instance of the responsibility and consequently of the dignity that is cast 
upon the teacher. To dignify the teaching profession is a certain way of 
making it strong. To deprive it of dignity by showing lack of trust in 
it by all sorts of rules and regulations and by outside restrictions and 
examinations is a sure way to degrade it.’ 
Corresponding Societies Committee.—Report of the Committee, con- 
sisting of Mr. W. Wurraker (Chairman), Mr. F. W. RuDLER 
(Secretary), Sir Joun Evans, Rey. J. O. Bevan, Dr. Horace T. 
Brown, Dr. VaucHan CornisH, Mr. T. V. Homes, Mr. J. Hop- 
KINsON, Professor R. Metpoua, Dr. H. R. Mini, Mr. C. H. Reap, 
Rev. T. R. R. Srepsinc, Professor W. W. Watts, and the 
GENERAL OFFICERS. (Drawn up by the Secretary.) 
Tue Corresponding Societies Committee have to report that during the 
past year the Quekett Microscopical Club and the Southport Literary 
and Philosophical Society have been added to the list of Societies in 
correspondence with the British Association. 
The Committee have had under consideration the suggestions which 
were brought before the Conference of Delegates at Southport by Mr. 
William Cole, of the Essex Field Club, with regard to Exploration and 
Registration Work for certain local Societies. With Mr. Cole’s general 
objects the Committee cordially sympathise, and they have recommended 
that local Societies should make it a part of their systematic work to 
enter upon the 6-inch Ordnance maps of their respective districts 
any natural features and archeological remains which are not indicated 
thereon. With regard, however, to the suggestion that the County 
Councils should be asked to allocate an annual sum to the central scientific 
Society of each county for the purpose of carrying out the work of local 
exploration and registration, the Committee have felt that it is not within 
their power to take any action. 
The Committee have also considered a suggestion from the Rev. E. P. 
Knubley with reference to the assistance which local Societies might 
render to teachers anxious to introduce Nature-Study into their schools. 
In accordance with this suggestion, the Committee strongly recommend 
that the Corresponding Societies should assist, by scientific advice and other- 
wise, those teachers in elementary and secondary schools who are taking 
