Constitution of Conference.

That the name should be the Secondary Schools Conference.

That no voting by proxy be allowed; that no one be allowed 10 vote except a Principal of a Secondary School, or his accredited representative, such representative to be a member of his staff.

That assistants in Secondary Schools be allowed to attend the Conference, and take part in the deliberations, without voting.

That the subscription of such schools as join the Secondary Schools Conference be one guinea per annum.

That the Conference be not constituted unless seven voting members assemble, and that a quorum for any sitting be five.

That the Standing Orders of the Convocation of the University of New Zealand be adopted as the Standing Orders of this Conference.

Secondary Schools and the University.

1888.—1. That it is desirable that the heads of Secondary Schools be represented in the Senate of the New Zealand University.

1888.—2. That this Conference respectfully requests that no changed affecting the work of Secondary Schools be made by the Senate without prior consultation with the Principals of Secondary Schools throughout the colony.

1888.—3. That this Conference is of opinion that the fee charged to matriculated students under the University statute, "Term and Lectures," is excessive, and would therefore respectfully request the Senate to reduce it to two guineas for the examination, provided only three subjects are taken, and half a guinea additional for each extra subject.

Entrance Examinations.

1889.—4. That the entrance examination begin on the second Monday in November.

1888,—5. That the Senate of the New Zealand University be respectfully requested to give every encouragement to High Schools by cheapening and localising the Matriculation and Junior Scholarship Examinations so that they may be used to test the work of the ordinary Fifth and Sixth Forms.

1889.—6. That the University of New Zealand be again memorialised, to reduce the fee for matriculation to one guinea.

1888.—7. That in the Matriculation Examination for Arts and Medicine, the subject of Mechanics should be more clearly defined.

1888.—8. That in the University Entrance Examinations the subject under the head of Mathematics should be more clearly defined.

1889.—9. That the amount of Euclid and Algebra for matriculation be increased, and the degree of proficiency necessary for a pass in the other subjects be raised.

1889.—10. That Latin be again placed on the list of compulsory subjects for matriculation.

1888.—11. That it is desirable that no teacher engaged in teaching candidates should examine for scholarship or entrance examination.

1888-9.—12. That it is desirable that each examination paper in the entrance examination of the University of New Zealand should be approved by at least two Examiners in each subject.

1888.—13. That the Conference desires to call attention to the inequitableness of the present system of marking by examiners for the Junior University Scholarships, as practically undue preponderance is given to Science and Modern Languages over Latin and Mathematics in the interruption of the marking instructions.

1888.—14. That certificates be granted to all candidates who in the Junior University Scholarship Examination shall be "deemed to have passed with credit" (see Calendar, University New Zealand, 1888, page 29, § 5), and the subjects in which he has satisfied the Examiners be endorsed on the certificate with some sign appended if he has won distinction in any such subject.

1889.—15. That the certificates to be issued to candidates for Junior Scholarships 'who may be deemed to have passed with page 6 credit,' should be accepted for (1) D certificate:(2) senior Civil service; (3) law preliminary (solicitors): and (4) medical preliminary; if the subjects endorsed on these certificates include those prescribed for the particular examination.

1889.—16. That it is desirable that the number of junior University scholarships be increased.

1889.—17. That these scholarships be divided into two divisions, the object of one, A, being to promote special excellence in certain subjects, or pairs of subjects, and that of the other, B, being to encourage general proficiency all school subjects as at present.

Management of Secondary School.

1888.—19. That this Conference is of opinion that the management of all Secondary Schools should be by Boards of Governors, and not, as is at present the case in some instances, by the Education Board of the district.

1889.—20. That this Conference, believing that the difficulties which have arisen between Boards of Governors and Principals of Secondary Schools have been largely due the to want of a definite understanding as to their respective powers and functions, resolves—

(1)

That the Minister of Education be requested to draw up and submit to the Legislature an Act to define the relations between Boards of Governors and Principals of Secondary Schools.

(2)

That in such Act the following would be essential points:— page 7 (a.) That all internal discipline, including the suspension or expulsion of pupils, choice of books and methods, and organization of the school shall be in the hands of the Principal, but that if he suspend or expel any pupil he shall report the fact to the Hoard forthwith. (b.) That Assistants shall not be appointed or dismissed and that no change shall be made in their status without the recommendation of the Principal. (c.) That the Principal shall be consulted when alteration to school buildings and grounds and other matters immediately affecting the welfare of the School are under consideration. (d.) That all School servants shall be under the immediate control of the Principal.

Secondary and Primary Schools.

1888—21. That it is desirable that more liberal provision be made to give secondary education to the more promising pupils of Elementary and Primary schools, such as, for example, giving free or assisted education to all pupils who, under the age of 12, have passed a Fifth Standard examination with credit, or who, under the age of 13, have passed a Sixth Standard examination with credit, or an equivalent Entrance Examination.

1888—22. That free education for four years at Secondary Schools should be given to some of the candidates at the scholarship examinations held by the District Boards of Education, who, failing to win scholarships, obtain at least half the total of possible marks,

1889—23 That, in the opinion of this Conference, the time has arrived when a High School training, followed by a pass at matriculation, should be required of every applicant for a position as a pupil teacher.

District Scholarships.

1889—24

(a.)	That in the opinion of this Conference it is desirable that regulations should be laid down by the central authority as to the disposal of the sums of money placed in the hands of Boards of Education for the purpose of maintaining scholarships.
(b.)	That these regulations should embody conditions such as to ensure that the scholarships shall serve page 8 to carry on pupils from the primary schools until they are able to compete for the Junior University scholarships.
(c.)	That the essential points are: (1) That the scholarships should be divided into two classes, Senior and Junior: (2) That the examination for Senior scholarships should include the subjects usually taught in Secondary Schools: (3) That the period covered by a Junior and a Senior scholarship together should not be less than five years.

1888-9.—25. That it is desirable that every holder of an Education Board's Scholarship should be required to attend some properly constituted Secondary School during the whole tenure of the Scholarship, as recommended by the Royal Commission on Secondary Education of 1879.

President-elect for next meeting of Conference:

Mr. J. Harkness, M.A. (Waitaki Boys' High School).

Secretary and Treasurer:

Mr. W. Walton, B.A. (Akaroa High School).

Standing Committee:

Messrs. Harkness, Bourne, Bevan-Brown, And Walton.