Articles in the Code of 1877 which are modified in the Code of 1878. 69. Certificates may at any time be recalled, suspended, or reduced under Articles 67 and 68. 70. (b) That the pupil-teachers be not less than 13 years (completed) of age at the date of their engagement. 70. (g) That not more than four pupilteachers are engaged in the school for every certificated teacher serving in it.* After the 31st of March, 1878, not more than three pupil-teachers will be allowed in any school in respect of each certificated teacher serving in it. The age for admission will be 14, and the examination that is now fixed for the end of the first year (Schedule I.); the engagement will be for four years. When the average attendance exceeds 220, a second adult certificated or assistant (Article 79) teacher will be required. Two stipendiary monitors will be allowed either in place of a fourth pupil-teacher (Article 32 c) or to fill, for not more than two years, a vacancy in the staff of pupilteachers in any school. Stipendiary monitors will be not less than 12 years of age, will pass on admission the examination in reading. writing, and arithmetic for Standard IV., and that for Standard V. at the end of the first year. They will be paid a fixed stipend by the managers, and will assist, for not more than three hours each day, in the school, receiving during the rest of the school hours special instruction either by themselves or in one of the higher classes of the school. This arrangement, if the managers wish it, may be adopted in any school whose year (Article 13) ends before the above-mentioned date. New, or modified, Articles in the Code of 1878. 69. A certificate may at any time be recalled, suspended, or reduced under Articles 67 and 68; but not until the Department has, through the managers, given the teacher an opportunity of explanation. N.B. Addition made to show the practice of the Department. 70. (b) That the pupil-teachers be not less than 14 years (completed) of age at the date of their engagement. 70. (g) That not more than three pupilteachers are engaged in the school for every certificated teacher serving in it. (h) When the average attendance exceeds 220, a second adult certificated or assistant (Articles 79) teacher will be required. (i) Two stipendiary monitors will be allowed1. In place of a fourth pupil-teacher required by Article 32 (c); or 2. If less than four pupil-teachers are required by Article 32 (c), to fill, for two years, the place of one of them. (k) Stipendiary monitors must 1. Be not less than 12 years of age at the date of their appointment; 2. Be recommended by the inspector at his annual visit (Article 11), after then passing the examination in reading, writing, and arithmetic for Standards IV., V., or VI.; Articles in the Code of 1877 which are modified in the Code of 1878. New, or modified, Articles in the Code of 1878. 113. (a) The inspector, after any visit paid to a school with notice (Article 11), will grant such certificates as may be required for children who have reached the Standard prescribed by, or pursuant to the provisions of, the Elementary Education Act, 1876, or of any bylaw of the local authority of the district, or of any Act for regulating the education of children employed in labour. 113. (b) Certificates will be issued for those scholars only who pass in all the three subjects in the prescribed Standards, or in a higher Standard. 114. For the purpose of these certificates the Inspector or his assistant will examine1. Any scholars in the school; 2. Other children, resident in the district, not being scholars in the school, allowed by the managers to attend the examination, on the application of the local authority of the district, or of a local committee.f 115. When the candidates for certificates of proficiency in a district, not being scholars in an aided school, are more than 15 in number, application for a special examination may be made by the local authority, or by a local committee, subject to the following regulations: (a) The application shall be sent to the Inspector for the district not less than 20 days before the date at which it is desired that the examination should be held. (b) The local authority, or local committee, must specify the number of children to be presented for examination, and must undertake That all children within their district for whom certificates are needed will be allowed to attend the examination; and That a convenient room will be provided for the examination on such day, and at such hour, as shall be fixed by the Inspector. 116. The special examination may also be attended by any child qualified by age for full-time employment who, having failed to pass, at the examination of its school, in one or more of the three subjects in the Standard prescribed in the district, either by the Act of 1876 or by the bylaws of the district, wishes to be examined again for the purpose of obtaining a certificate. 116. (a) A child cannot be examined a second time until three months have elapsed since the date of the examination at which it failed, and must on each occasion be examined in all the three subjects of the Standard in which it is presented. 117. The Inspector will not grant certificates to individual children. He will forward to the managers of each school at which he has held an examination, and to the local authority, or local committee, in the case of each special examination, a schedule showing the results of the examination of each child, and deputing the teacher of the school, or an officer of the local authority or local committee, to grant certificates to such chil dren as have passed successfully. 117. (a) When this schedule is sent to the managers of a school, or to a local committee they shall forthwith transmit a certified copy of it to the local authority for record. See Elementary Education Act, 1876, ss. 7 and 33. + Ibid, s. 32. TEACHERS' ASSOCIATIONS. NATIONAL UNION OF ELEMENTARY TEACHERS. AT the meeting on February 22nd, the Secretary stated that the balance sheet for the nine months ending December 31st, 1877, showed that after all liabilities had been met, about £100 of the Reserve Fund was still in hand. Information was given that the local authority for Boston pays for returns at the rate of 2d. per name, and that for St. Ives at 1d. a name. At the meeting on March 2nd, the Treasurer's statement from January 1st, to February 23rd, was submitted, and approved. Mr. Heller was absent through illness. The Committee recommended that the Plymouth Guildhall should be hired for three days at an expense of eighteen guineas for the Easter Conference. At the meeting on March 8th, Mr. Heller was still too ill to attend. The Committee agreed to recommend the following resolutions for adoption at the Conference. (1) That when the Compulsory Clauses of the Education Acts are efficiently administered, still more satisfactory educational results may be expected. (2) That in the opinion of this Conference, the relations between teachers and the Government should be placed upon a consistent basis. (3) That it is essential that all persons appointed to the office of Inspector should have a practical acquaintance with the work of elementary schools. (4) That in the opinion of this Conference the operation of the so-called payment by results has been detrimental to the extension and improvement of Elementary Educa tion. The London and South Western, and Great Western Railway Companies declined to make any special arrangement for travelling in connection with the Conference at Plymouth. Under these Circumstances the Committee decided to apply to Mr. Cook the Excursionist to ascertain if any arrangement could be made. At the meeting on March 18th, Mr. Heller was present. The following part of the report shows the new notices that are to be brought before the Conference. A resolution in accordance with the recommendation upon the subject of Temperance having been moved by the Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Potts proposed the following as a rider: "That this Executive will welcome any arrangements that can be made by the National Temperance League to bring the subject of Temperance in schools before the Representatives at Plymouth." This was accepted by Mr. Morgan, and the resolution carried. The recommendations of the Committee in reference to the other subjects were adopted, and the Executive agreed to place on the Conference Agenda the following notice of motion: "That this Conference declares the Treasurer of the Union to be responsible to the Executive for the Funds of the Union, and that he should produce all books, papers, and accounts when required to do so by the Executive or by the Finance Committee." Mr. Phillips moved, as a matter of emergency, "That in order to afford opportu nities for holding the General Meetings of the Provident Society and Benevolent Fund, the third Session of Conference be not continued after 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23rd." Mr. Greenwood seconded, and the motion was unanimously adopted. The following notices of motion for the next meeting were handed in during the meeting : By Mr. Potts.-"That in view of the professional objects of the N.U.E.T., the Executive regrets that there are no members on their Committee who represent the great number of Roman Catholic and Jewish Teachers." By Mr. Gardiner.-"That the Executive recommend to Conference that an increase of £50 per annum be made to the Secretary's salary." A vote of thanks was given to Mr. Day for presiding. THE EASTER CONFERENCE. THE Ninth Annual Conference of the National Union of Elementary Teachers will be held this year in Plymouth. The Meetings will take place in the New Guildhall Buildings, and excellent arrangements appear to have been made by the Local Conference Committee. The holding of Conference so far west has made it necessary to commence the First Session at 6 p.m. on Easter Monday. By extending this Session to 10 p.m., the Executive hope to avoid the necessity of more than five Sessions. The National Schoolmaster. SUMMARY. HE Easter Conference of the National Union was held at Plymouth on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, April 22nd, 23rd, and 24th. As the report of the proceedings has not reached us before going to press, we shall give an outline of what took place in our June number. Mr. J. W. Grove was elected Vice-President for the year, and it was decided to hold the Conference next year at Nottingham. In the reconstruction of the Cabinet, which followed the retirement of the Earl of Derby, Lord Sandon, the Vice-President of the Council, was promoted to be President of the Board of Trade. His place at the Education Department has been given to Lord George Hamilton, the third son of the Duke of Abercorn, who, since 1874, has held the post of UnderSecretary of State for India. In his address to his constituents on his acceptance of the office, his lordship remarked, "My endeavour will be to continue the policy of my predecessor, and to bring within the reach of all, by utilising every available agency, the benefits of a sound and beneficent education." The School Board Chronicle, reading between the lines, thus expounds the hidden meaning of his lordship's statements : He speaks of "utilising every available agency." Experienced critics of the words of politicians on the education question will infer that he proposes to himself to be a special friend to the voluntary school system. Taking the passage in its ordinary sense it does not distinctly affirm that policy; but in the language of political polemics it is an intimation that he will be especially a friend to voluntary schools. Again, in the words "the benefits of a sound and beneficent education" the close scrutineer of the expressions of public men will perceive a half-hidden meaning. "Beneficent education" has a slightly different signification as different men may use the phrase, and it will be thought that the word "beneficent" when used by Lord George Hamilton means an education in which religious instruction is as far as possible a substantial element. Mr. Forster has stated that he does not agree to the addition to the New Code dealing with what it terms unnecessary schools. The tables seem to be turned; Mr. Forster is the champion of the denominational No. 90.-May, 1878. |