214: REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE. 



lasting, say, three-quarters of an hour each. This is not the case. 

 All the tests are never used at any one time, and eighteen to twenty- 

 two children are supposed to be dealt with in two hours. If one takes 

 a long period, say fifteen to twenty minutes, the time is made up on 

 the others. Most of the points dependent on observation are noted in 

 the course of tests, in which they appear as accidents or necessary, 

 concomitants of the action in the test itself. The central feature is 

 to confirm or to controvert the teacher's estimate of backwardness, and 

 if this is present to endeavour to apportion its cause. The distinction 

 required is to divide backwardness from mental causes from backward- 

 ness due to lack of opportunities, ill-health, or physical defect, and in 

 particular to arrive at anything remediable. Research into mental con- 

 ditions is not a primary point, and the opportunities, in point of time, 

 for so doing are distinctly limited. With more time a finer classifica- 

 tion might be possible, but this would be of little use without a far 

 more elastic curriculum than at present exists. 



The Curricula and Educational Organisation of Industrial and Poor 

 Law Schools, tvith special reference to Day Industrial Schools. — 

 Interim Report of the Committee, consisting of Mr. W. D. Eggar 

 (Chairman), Mrs. W. N. Shaw (Secretary), Mr. J. L. Holland, 

 Dr. C. W. Kimmins, and Mr. J. G. Lec-ge.. appointed to inquire 

 thereinto. 



The Committee was appointed to inquire into the curricula and educa- 

 tional organisation of Industrial and Poor Law schools with special 

 reference to day industrial schools. The terms of reference of the 

 "Committee appear to include all such schools in Britain. The 

 certified schools in question fall under two Government departments : 

 the Industrial schools being under the Home Office, and the Poor Law 

 schools under the Local Government Board. There are also a number 

 of uncertified schools of the same kind. It was therefore apparent 

 that three separate inquiries and three reports would be needed. 



The Committee commenced work by ascertaining from the Inspec- 

 tor's Report of Certified Industrial Schools for 1909 (the last issued) the 

 number and situation of such schools and the number of their scholars. 

 There are in Britain 77 certified residential schools and ships containing 

 12,042 boys; and 47 residential schools containing 3,887 girls. There 

 are two mixed residential schools containing 203 boys and 54 girls ; and 

 there are 10 short-term residential schools providing for 861 scholars. 

 In addition to these there are 19 day industrial schools with 2,015 boys 

 and 1,220 girls. 



In March of the present year a notice appeared in the Press that a 

 Committee had been appointed by the Home Office to inquire into the 

 constitution, management, discipline, and education of reformatory and 

 industrial schools in England and Wales. By the courtesy of Mr. 

 Maxwell (the Secretary to the Home Office Committee) the Committee 

 received a copy of the warrant of appointment of the Home Office Com- 



