290 REPORT — 1897. 



has been on the result of the examination of the individual scholars, for 

 which, of course, inspection with notice was necessary ; henceforth the 

 payment will be by time, and the scale of payment will be determined by 

 the report of the Inspector on his visits without notice. 



In Course H, in the Supplement to Schedule II., called ' Experimental 

 Arithmetic, Physics, and Chemistry,' there are some alterations in the 

 order of the work in the upper standards, with the addition of ' Floating 

 bodies' and 'The heat unit, heat capacity, and latent heat.' 



In the schedule of studies for pupil teachers there is a new column of 

 Elementary Science (details of which are given in the Appendix), but it 

 is only an optional subject. This has an advantage over the working 

 under the Science and Art Department, as the matter for study is not so 

 specialised, and it extends through the whole of the Pupil-teacher course. 

 But there is no requirement that it should be carried out e.x;perimentally. 

 In the Elementary Science supplement to Schedule II., the subject 

 matter of Standard III. in all the different Courses is unaltered ; but it 

 is made clear that it is to be taught by means of illustrative object 

 lessons. 



Teaching of Practical Housewifery, etc., must depend, not on empirical 

 rules, but on the scientific principles underlying the actual work. 



The Code of regulations for the Evening Continuation Schools is 

 increased in bulk. The new subjects in Science are Domestic Science 

 and Commercial Geography. The scheme for Elementary Physics and 

 Chemistry is enlarged by the introduction of the measurement of heat, 

 and heat capacity. An alternative scheme of instruction in Hygiene is 

 provided, which is described as the scheme of the St. John's Ambulance 

 Association. The detailed scheme for Commercial Geography includes a 

 considerable amount of matter touching the Physical Geography and 

 Climatology, and the raw -productions of the countries studied. The 

 scope of the syllabus for Domestic Science is much the same as that in the 

 Day School Code, with the proviso that ' the applications to the home 

 should be the results of the discoveries made in the course of the experi- 

 ments, which should be undertaken in a spirit of inquiry or research.' 

 The directions are exceedingly minute, detailing the practical work to be 

 done at every stage of the study. 



It is evident that if this kind of Science Teaching is to be given in the 

 Elementary Schools a body of teachers must be raised up who are well 

 indoctrinated in the new methods. This fact is being recognised now by 

 many of the large School Boards, and under that for London in particular 

 the classes in Practical Science for teachers, which have been conducted 

 by Mr. Heller for some time past, are already bearing fruit ; while the 

 same may be expected of the classes in Domestic Science for women 

 teachers, now under the management of Miss Edna Walter. The 

 Departmental Committee on Training Colleges, of which the Rev. T. W. 

 Sharpe (Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools) is Chairman, may also 

 be expected to do something to simplify and improve the teaching of 

 Science by providing a more appropriate course of study than the 

 specialised subjects of the Science and Art Department for the students 

 at those institutions. 



There has lately been held in London an important Conference of the 

 International Congress on Technical Education, at which five members of 

 your Committee read papers or joined in the discussion. Although it was 

 not directly concerned with Elementary Education, there was much that 



