256 
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
tlie instructor, who will always teach best when allowed to proceed in 
his own way. 
Some such system, for instance, as that carried on during the past 
two years in the Lahore Division (of which a short description is here 
given) might be adopted :— 
On each subject'a short lecture of from half to three-quarters of an 
hour is given, illustrated as fully as possible by short incidents, diagrams, 
and experiments on a simple scale. 
The class is then broken up into squads of convenient size, each under 
a N.C. officer. (In field or horse artillery batteries, subdivisions under 
their own Nos. 1 are employed). A card containing questions and 
answers on the lecture just delivered is then given to each N.C. officer 
in charge of a squad. Each card contains different questions, and is 
accompanied by any diagrams, sections, stores, models, &c., procurable 
referring to it. 
The N.C. officers are then directed to read the questions and answers 
on their respective cards to their squads, and to shew the diagrams, &c. 
After this, they teach their men the answers. 
Meanwhile, the officer in charge moves from squad to squad, to ascer¬ 
tain that the men really understand the answers, and are not learning 
them by rote. He finds out what difficulties exist, and removes them 
if the N.C. officers are unable to do so. When he is satisfied that each 
man knows all the answers on his N.C. officers card, he orders an 
exchange of all the cards, with, of course, their accompanying dia¬ 
grams, &c. (In a field battery, N.C. officer of No. 1 subdivision gives 
his card to No. 2, 2 to 8, 3 to 4, 4 to 5, 5 to 6, and 6 to 1). 
The N.C. officers then read over their new questions and answers, and 
teach their men as before. In this way, after six changes of the cards in 
a field battery, every man will have learnt all the answers on all the 
cards.* 
The subject lectured on is then gone into practically, and the men 
carry it out at drill or repository exercise as fully as possible, being 
occasionally questioned, to see if they understand what they are about. 
Frequently, while at drill, the questions and answers or short explana¬ 
tions are introduced, in order to give variety. 
Notice is given at the end of each attendance of the drills or exercises 
to be performed at the next, and the N.C. officers are directed to read 
up the drill-book on the subject. At the next attendance, after the 
instructor or his serjeant has performed an exercise, one of the N.C. 
officers is ordered to repeat it.f 
* By adopting this system of questions and answers, each man can haye more attention bestowed 
on him than if a large number are questioned by an officer. The men also answer and state their 
difficulties more readily to the N.C. officer of a small squad than to an officer in presence of all their 
comrades. The difficulties which present themselves to the men’s minds can be removed by explana¬ 
tions, since opportunities are offered for finding them; while in ordinary lectures an officer may 
unknowingly continue'to use language which his men do not understand. The N.C. officers are also 
obliged to keep up their knowledge in order to explain to their men. 
f No amount of reading, instruction, or even actual experience as a working number at repository 
exercises gives the confidence in directing others, and the facility and skill required in overcoming 
the small difficulties which arise, without actual experience in the responsibility of the charge of 
a squad at drill. All but the most necessary interference with the N.C. officer should be avoided, 
as it distracts his attention and hinders him in gaining self-confidence. 
