ON THE TEACHING- OF SCIENCE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. 



567 



Class Subjects —Departments 



English . 

 Geography 

 Elementary Science 



1890-91 



19,825 



12,806 



173 



1891-92 



18,175 

 13,485 



788 



The number of scholars examined in the scientific specific subjects 

 during the eight years 1882-90 has been as follows : — 



The numbers during the last two years are 



It will be noticed that the very rapid increase which took place in 

 1890-91 has not been quite maintained ; the diminution has been princi- 

 pally in algebra, animal physiology, and domestic economy, while there 

 has been a great increase in mensuration and mechanics. Estimating the 

 number of scholars in Standards V., VI., and VII. at 500,000, the per- 

 centage of the number of passes in these specific subjects as compared 

 with the number of children qualified to take them is 19"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 vear 

 since 1882 .— 



