842 REPORT—1904. 
(8) Progress in the Higher Elementary Schools. 
(a) Of 14,201 boys and 20,588 girls, 840 boys (6-2 per cent.) and 450 girls 
(2:2 per cent.) had to repeat their work. 
(6) By standards :— 
Percentage repeating their Number of Girls to 
Bede Year’s Work 100 Boys 
Boys Girls 
I. 11:0 a1 28 
1B 4°8 2°7 57 
II. 4:6 18 35 
TV. 30 0°6 20 
Average ‘ : 6:2 gb! 22 35 
(c) Frequency of the best marks in the Fourth Standard :— 
Boys Girls 
In Mother-tongue . . 16°7 per cent. 44-6 per cent. 
» German 5 - = 412-2 + BO2 yas, 
», History 5 ; .. 20°9 + ATS 
» Arithmetic . : ANOS 2% 3 35:3, 
The superiority of girls is really puzzling here, especially in arithmetic. 
In this division, however, there are difficulties, for the female group is more 
selected than the male; for the boys who follow the higher elementary classes, 
instead of entering secondary schools, are from a class less gifted than the ordinary, 
while the contrary is the case with the girls. This disturbing cause exercises 
greater influence in the grammar school, as only the most talented and most 
ambitious girls enter the Latin schools. Besides this the system of teaching and 
examination is more favourable to the girls.!_ Thus the elementary schools furnish 
the most reliable measure, especially where their attendance is, as in Hungary, 
compulsory. 
Conclusion. 
The results are all in favour of the female sex, but relate only to children. 
Since not only in sciences, but also in poetry and (with exception of the stage) 
in arts, the great work of human progress has been accomplished by the male 
sex, one is obliged to suppose that with the age of ripening the feminine intellect 
develops itself more slowly than the masculine, 
3. The Teaching of Experimental Science in the Secondary Schools of 
Ireland. By the Right Rev. Gzratp Motuoy, D.D., D.Sc, 
The education given in the secondary schools of Ireland is controlled and 
guided, in large measure, by a body of Commissioners known as the Intermediate 
Education Board. This Board was constituted by Act of Parliament in 1878, 
and administers a fund of about 90,000. a year. For many years this fund was 
distributed on the results of examination alone; and the programme of the Board 
was not favourable to the study of experimental science in the schools. But in 
the year 1900 the Board was empowered, under a new Act, to supplement examina- 
tion by inspection, and, in the distribution of grants, takes account of the results 
of inspection as well as the results of examination. 
‘ At the examination, which takes place at the end of the grammar school 
course, there were rejected (1900-03) 494 young men—22°4 per cent. 
22 girls —10°3 4 
