University and Educational Intelligence

Abstract

WE have received a verbatim report of the interview which a deputation from the Association of Technical Institutions recently had with Mr. Acland. Several suggestions were made, some of which have already received the at eution of the Science and Art Department. Prof. Wertheimer pleaded for an advisory voice in the construction of the Department's schemes before they were finally adopted, in a manner similar to that by which the Education Department allowed the managers of public elementary schools to express their views on the Code under which they had to work before it was finally adopted. Mr. Acland, in the course of his reply, said it was the intention of the Department not to publish near the summer months anything which will be in the nature of an important change. The recent form dealing with organised science schools had been issued early, with a view to embodying it in the Directory next autumn, the Department in the meantime being open to suggestions. During the course of the Vice-President's remarks, the question of the publication of the dates of the May examinations was raised, and, in reply to an inquiry, Sir John Donnelly said he saw no difficulty, it the schools wanted it, in publishing in May the dates of the subsequent May examinations. As to the question of the proper basis for the calculation of the Government giant, Mr. Acland expressed the hope that some day a part of the principle, which is shortly to be applied to organised science schools, will also be applied to evening classes ; that is to say, there is every prospect ihat the grants will in a year or two be awarded mure on the Inspector's reports as to the soundness of the teaching than on the results of examination.