270 REPORT—1896. 
The numbers for the last year show a greater proportional increase 
than in any previous year. , This is especially noticeable in Algebra, 
Domestic Economy, Mensuration, Mechanics, and Chemistry. The prin- 
cipal falling-off is in the subject of Sound, Light, and Heat, probably due 
to the very wide extent of that subject. Last year it was noted that 
very nearly half the students in Mechanics had reached the second or 
third stage in that subject ; this year’s Report is not so favourable in 
that particular, nearly three-fifths of the students in 1894-95 being in 
the first stage. In Chemistry, on the other hand, there is an improve- 
ment on last year, more than one-third of the whole number having been 
examined in the second stage. 
Estimating the number of scholars in Standards V., VI., and VIT. at 
590,000, the percentage of the number examined in these specific subjects 
as compared with the number of children qualified to take them is 22-7 ; 
but it should be remembered that many of the children take more than 
one subject for examination. The following table gives the percentage for 
each year since 1882 :— 
In 1882-83 
y 1883-84 
»» 1884-85 
» 1885-86 
,, 1886-87 
1887-88 
1888-89 
, 1889-90 
1890-91 
, 1891-92 
, 1892-93 
1893-94 
1894-95 
The Returns of the Education Department given above refer to the 
whole of England and Wales, and are for the school years ending with 
August 31. The statistics of the London School Board are brought up to 
the year ending with Lady Day, 1896. They also illustrate the great 
advance that has been made in the teaching of Elementary Science as a 
class subject, and they give the number of children as well as the number 
of departments. 
per cent. 
WODDODADRHDONWAS 
AWOL MNO HOUR OAOCS 
BS BS RO eb et st et et ht 
Years Departments , Children 
1890-91 11 2,293 
1891-92 113 26,674 
1892-93 156 40,208 
1893-94. 183 49,367 
1894-95 208 52,982 
1895-96 246 | 62,494 
School Board at the last-named date was 854, showing that a somewhat 
larger proportion take Elementary Science as compared with the previous 
year. 
The alterations that were made in the Code of 1893 for evening 
continuation schools give increasing evidence of bearing good fruit. In 
