The Department of Science and Art

Abstract

THE fortieth Report of the Department of Science and Art has just been issued, and is of a highly satisfactory character. From it we learn that in 1892 there was a very large increase, not only in the number of students and classes, but also in the number of schools or separate institutions in which science is taught. The number of classes in different branches of science in 1892 was 10,352, as against 8,568 in the preceding year, and the number of pupils under instruction showed the remarkable increase of 32,002, the totals for 1891 and 1892 being respectively 148,408 and 180,410. The number of examination papers worked was 203,347, and tne number of individual examinees 108,858, so there was an average of nearly two papers for each student. The greatest number of papers, 29,051, was worked in mathematics. In physiography, 21,944 papers were written, and in theoretical inorganic chemistry, 21,578 papers. The lowest number of candidates were presented in mineralogy and nautical astronomy, the number of papers worked in these subjects being 119 and 141 respectively. With regard to the extent to which local authorities are devoting funds for the purposes of science, art, technical, and manual instruction, it is reported that “Of the forty-nine councils of counties in England (excepting Monmouth), forty-two are now giving the whole of the residue to technical education, while the remaining seven are giving a part of the amount; and of the sixty-one councils of county boroughs, fifty are devoting the whole of the residue to the same purpose, and ten are devoting a part of it, no decision having yet been arrived at in the case of Great Grimsby (which it may be mentioned was only constituted a county borough on April 1, 1891). Of the councils of the sixteen counties and county boroughs of Wales and Monmouth, to which the Welsh Intermediate Education Act, 1889, applies, fifteen are applying the whole of the residue to the purposes of intermediate and technical education, and one a part of it. Contributions are also made out of the rates under the Technical Instruction Act, 1889, in the case of seven counties and county boroughs in Wales and Monmouth. As regards Scotland, so far as returns have been received, the whole of the residue fund is being applied to technical education in the case of twenty counties (out of thirty-three) and sixteen burghs and police burghs (out of 187), while six counties and thirty-nine.burghs and police burghs are giving part of it to the same purpose. Of the remainder, the majority of the local authorities are devoting the residue to the relief of rates, and a small proportion of them have under consideration the question of applying the money to technical education.”