272 REPORT—1896. 
School Board in Hackney and the Tower Hamlets. The work has con- 
tinued to develop, the most satisfactory element being the manner in 
which the interest of the teachers themselves has been stimulated. Pro- 
gress has been made in dealing with a much larger number of teachers 
than hitherto ; and the teaching throughout the schools shows marked 
improvement in quality and enthusiasm ; genuine efforts are now made 
by the teachers to induce their scholars to think. The number of schools 
attempting experimental work will soon be largely increased, owing to the 
appointment of an additional demonstrator. The one in the Tower Hamlets 
and Hackney Division has held classes for women teachers also in Experi- 
mental Science, especially in relation to the home; thus a large number 
of teachers are prepared to give some reality to their teaching in Domestic 
Economy, and by it to benefit their scholars to a greater extent. It is 
satisfactory to note that a request emanating from the teachers themselves 
has led to the establishment of similar classes in South London under 
another of the Board’s demonstrators, and it is hoped before the winter 
is past that like facilities will be offered to teachers in all parts cf the 
metropolis. 
With regard to the instruction of pupil teachers, the expectation 
referred to in the Report for 1894 has not been realised. No definite 
course of practical science has been rendered obligatory, but the Educa- 
tion Department has fallen back upon the old plan of giving marks 
for certificates from the Science and Art Department. These certificates 
must, however, have been gained either in the year of the Queen’s 
Scholarship Examination or in the preceding year. It is also now pro- 
vided that no student may be registered in the advanced stage of any 
subject until he has passed the examination of the Department in the 
elementary stage, or has passed some corresponding examination which 
is considered by the Department to sufficiently meet the requirements of 
the case. A change has also been made in the mode of assessing the 
grants by the Science and Art Department, which it is believed will 
conduce to the improvement of the study of science. 
With regard to the syllabus used in the schools themselves, that of 
mechanics is very largely taken, but much of it must necessarily be 
taught with the sole object of giving information devoid of illustration 
or experimental proof. It is not planned in accordance with modern 
ideas of science teaching, and should be materially altered. The Domestic 
Economy Syllabus (for girls) also needs complete reconstruction for similar 
reasons. 
Your Committee consider that the time has come when Educational 
authorities should definitely lay down a scheme of Elementary Experi- 
mental Science, to be taken by every scholar before he is allowed to 
specialise into the various branches of science. 
The all-important point in elementary schools is to train teachers to 
regard science teaching as a means of mental culture, and to get them 
to teach accordingly. The courses in the training colleges and pupil 
teachers’ centres appear to work in exactly the opposite direction ; so 
busy are these institutions in teaching ‘sciences’ for the sake of the 
certificates issued by the Science and Art Department, that the teaching 
of scientific method is apt to be almost entirely ignored. 
