the same time, it receives, under the amended Act and regulations, a needed stimulus in the system of inter-school competitive examinations, departmental, maticulation, and university first year, whereby, in due time, a proper pace will be set' for the schools of this Province, relatively not only to one another, but also to the schools of other Provinces, and to the university itself. "I, therefore, view with much satisfaction the changes announced in the School Manual, and the school legislation of last session, as being, thus, calculated to quicken the educational life of the Province. The bearing upon this of competitive examinations I have already indicated. Of much importance, too, is the recent modernising of text-books, and of even more, the liberalising of the course of study for prospective teachers-notably along the line of language and literature. But in the amendments there is no more welcome feature than the recognition of university work and examinations as the non-professional equivalents of departmental requirements for teachers' certificates, which has long been needed both for the concentration of the energies of our High Schools by obviating unnecessary multiplicity of classes, and for the due effectiveness of the legislation that authorised affiliation by unifying needlessly conflicting examinations. It is interesting to note, too, in this connection, that the Provincial Bar Society has recently admitted this principle of substituting equivalent examinations, Matriculation in Arts being now accepted in lieu of the society's preliminary examination. "Now that the conflict is quite over, the coming year should show in the percentage of matriculation and first-year students that take the full curriculum and the university examinations a marked increase over the past year's record of 20 out of 30 and 7 out of 12, respectively, in these classes; and should, moreover, see definite steps taken, in line with the policy of this institution, for such increased rights of affiliation as will meet the non-professional requirements of prospective candidates for Departmental Academic Certificates. "SIR,-In obedience to your instructions, I have the honour to make the following report on the condition and progress of the Victoria High School for the year 1900-1901 :— "That period is probably the most important in the history of the High School, because it was then that a new course of study was prescribed, the Provincial Normal School was opened in Vancouver, and the building of a new High School was commenced. Each of these events is calculated to affect materially and beneficially the welfare of this school. "The New Course of Study. "For a long time the necessity for change in the curriculum of High Schools in this Province has been apparent to all who are acquainted with the conditions and requirements of these schools. Till this year, a very extensive range of subjects, almost covering the compass of a university course, was provided, and pupils were at liberty to choose what they should learn. There had been no attempt to bring the High Schools curriculum into harmony with university matriculations and the teachers' examination, the consequence being that the aims of each pupil had to be taken into consideration in determining the subjects he ought to study, whereby the classes of the High School, instead of being units whose members were all studying along the same lines, were subdivided into groups requiring different treatment at the hands of the teacher. Experience in pedagogy is not required to perceive that much energy must be dissipated and time wasted by such a system. "By the unification of the syllabus of the teachers' examination with the curriculum for the High Schools, the Department of Education has arranged that the certificates awarded at the annual examination held by the Superintendent of Education are now in reality Teachers' Certificates, and the High Schools can now devote themselves entirely to preparation of pupils for these examinations, while the curriculum is so framed that such preparation, with very slight modifications, is also suitable for university matriculations. All that is now wanting to perfect the scheme is the recognition by the Universities and by the Law Society of British Columbia of the Provincial Certificates- -a consummation which I hope will not be long delayed. "The Normal School. "It is not necessary for me to discuss the great advantage to the Province of this establishment. I mention it here as the effect of its being opened last January was to withdraw from this school thirteen of its senior pupils, some of whom would, no doubt, have given a good account of themselves at the Midsummer Examination. "The New High School Building. "Teachers and pupils have long been labouring under the disadvantage of having to teach and study in one of the most inadequate school buildings in the Province. The effect of such accommodation on the well-being of the school can be readily appreciated. But both teachers and pupils have done their best under the circumstances with not altogether unsatisfactory results, and they have waited with patience till the necessity for a new building should be recognised by the city. That recognition has at last come, and I am most thankful to say that a handsome new building is in course of erection which will be a credit and an ornament to Victoria. I fully expect that increased attendance and greater efficiency will result from superior accommodation. "Examinations. "In June last seven pupils wrote at the University Schools Examination for the title of Associate of Arts, of whom four were successful. One pupil passed the Intermediate and thirteen the Junior Examination, held by the Superintendent of Education at midsummer. "Manual Training. "Every boy in the High School has availed himself of the privilege of attending the Sir William Macdonald Manual Training School, the Superintendent of which reports to me very favourably on their zeal and skill. "Athletic Sports, &c. "Considerable attention has been paid by both boys and girls to athletic sports during the past year. Rugby and Association Football Clubs and a Cricket Club for the boys, and Hockey and Lawn Tennis Clubs for the girls, provide healthful exercise for their members after school hours. The importance of such sports both as tending to improve the physique of the pupils and to raise their pride in the school is too obvious to need remark. A movement was made last year to have a Cadet Corps in connection with the schools, but it is to be regretted that nothing seems to have resulted from it. A Debating Club in connection with the High School has done much to improve the debating power and ready speaking of its members. The fact that they have taken the name of Demosthenes for their club shows that their ideals are high. "In conclusion, I beg to state that the utmost good feeling and mutual respect exists between the teachers and pupils of the Victoria High School. "I have the honour to be, "Your most obedient servant, Below will be found a list of the Graded Schools. The number of divisions in each and the percentage of regular attendance are also shown : : It is a matter of regret that, owing to the large number of Graded Schools, it is not possible to publish the reports of the Principals of these schools. Several schools, such as Armstrong, Duncans, etc., moved from the rank of Common to that of Graded Schools during the year. COMMON SCHOOLS. The names of the Common Schools that were in operation during the year follow. "Assisted Schools," having the rank of Common Schools. in italics are Abbotsford, Chemainus Landing, Chilliwack, East, Those Clayoquot, Clayton, Clinton, Denman Island, Discovery, Camp McKinney Camp Slough, Cape Scott, Cascade, Fairview, Ferguson, Ferndale, Cheam, Chemainus Glenwood, Goldstream, |