There are, in addition, 38 self-supporting female students :—

All but one male and seven female students had been pupil-teachers.

Practising School. The attendance and efficiency of the practising school and the management of the boarding house are maintained at their former high level.

Drill.-Drill is still a very outstanding feature in connexion with this college, and is distinctly superior in respect of system and precision to what is found elsewhere. It is scarcely possible to speak in too strong terms of the enthusiasm shown by Major Cruden and his assistants, or to recommend too strongly the adoption of the same thoroughness by other colleges.

Cookery and Laundry.-Cookery and laundry are taught as formerly.

University Students.-The number of students attending the university during session 1895-96 in terms of Art. 102 of the Code is :

Males. Females.

(a.) Who passed the admission examination in December 1894

Classes attended.-4 attended senior Latin and 3 middle; 2 senior and 1 middle Greek ; 1 honours; 1 senior and 3 junior mathematics; 1 English; 11 education; 3 natural philosophy; 2 logic; 2 chemistry; 1 geology.

The university distinctions gained at these classes will be indicated in my report for 1896.

RESULTS OF ART AND SCIENCE EXAMINATIONS, July 1895.

Certificate Examination.-The results of the examination for certificates (June 1895) are given in the tables following this report. The average place of the males

at the entrance examination in July 1893 was 57.3, and of the females 278.5. At the end of two years' training 21 passed in the first, 23 in the second, and 9 in the third division.

Out of 91 candidates of both years 80, or 87.9 per cent., passed in the first and second divisions, and 28, or 30.7 per cent., in the first division.

COMMITTEE.

The members present were Professor Traill and Alex. Simpson, Esq. The two other members of committee were absent owing to previous engagements, and sent apologies.

ABERDEEN FREE CHURCH TRAINING COLLEGE.

Visited with Dr. Stewart in April.

Staff-John Adams, M.A., B.Sc., Principal; John L. Mackenzie, B.A., B.Sc., mathematics and science; John Downie, M.A., Latin and English; George Davidson, physiography and school subjects; Alex. Bremner, M.A., B.Sc., practising school; Wm. Litster, music; John Hay, drawing; Major Cruden, drill; Mrs. Black, cookery; Dr. Urquhart, medical officer; Miss A. Walker, LL.A., lady superintendent.

Health of Students.—Health has been satisfactory. There were some cases of influenza, but none were serious.

There were in regular attendance the following students :

3. Students specially admitted and on whose account no grants were paid:

All the male students had been pupil-teachers, and all but seven of the female students.

Cookery and Laundry Work.--Cookery and laundry are taught on the same lines as formerly.

Practising School.--The practising school, in spite of buildings not more than fairly satisfactory, maintains its high character.

Drill.--This is under the same instructors as the C. of S. College, and is taught with the same excellent results.

University Students. - The number of students at present attending the University under Art. 102 (a) of the Code is as follows:

(a.) Students who passed entrance examination in December 1894 1

Males. Females.

Classes attended :-Senior Latin, 1; senior Greek, I; senior mathematics, 2; English literature, 4; education, 6; moral philosophy, 1; natural philosophy, 4; French, 5; logic, 4; chemistry, 1.

The university distinctions gained during session 1895-96 will be indicated in my report for 1896.

Certificate Examination.-The results in the recent examination for certificates are given in the tables following this report. The average place of the males at the entrance examination in July 1893 was 55.5, and of the females 257.7. At the end of their training 26 passed in the first, 20 in the second, 1 in the third, and 1 below the third division.

Out of the 87 candidates of both years, all but 5 passed in either the first or second division, and 42, or 48 2 per cent., passed in the first division.

COMMITTEE.

The members present were the Rev. Prof. Salmond, D.D., Rev. Prof. Iverach Rev. F. R. Barry, J. Lyall Grant, Esq., Hugh R. Souper, Esq., and Gray C. Fraser, Esq., secretary.

REPORT, for the Year 1895, on NEEDLEWORK, in the TRAINING COLLEGES of SCOTLAND, by THE HONOURABLE MRS. COLBORNE, DIRECTRESS OF NEEDLEWORK.

16th March 1896.

MY LORDS, I HAVE the honour to submit my annual report on the needlework of the students attending the training colleges of Scotland, of acting teachers and of the candidates, who presented themselves at the Queen's Scholarship Examination in December 1894.

The average marks gained by the 731 students, who were examined for certificates in June 1895, were 71 4, namely, 8 per cent. lower than in the preceding year; the falling off was especially noticeable in the practical tests of the second year students, and was due in a large measure to the shortened period of study they had had.

The marks of the 647 acting teachers reached almost the same average as in 1894.

This year the syllabus of needlework requirements for certificate candidates has been reduced; the amount of finished work now demanded from them is very small and ought to prove no burden to willing hands. More time will be at the disposal of college students, and they will, I trust, employ it in seeking to acquire skill in the art of teaching needlework in a thoroughly practical and attractive way; when well taught a needlework lesson is enjoyed by children, badly taught it is the most wearisome hour of the time-table.

The needlework of candidates at the Queen's Scholarship Examination, December 1894, was of a far higher quality than in preceding years; the average marks were 70-8. I cannot, however, flatter myself that this marked improvement was entirely due to increased attention to the subject; it was in part owing to the issue of a more detailed syllabus of requirements; candidates were thus enabled to concentrate their attention on particular exercises, the examination tests being based on these exercises. Nevertheless, signs of real improvement were visible, and I have every hope, that the college authorities will, year by year, have less cause for stating, that the students on admission often know little or nothing of the fundamental principles of needlework.

The syllabus of needlework for children and pupil-teachers has been revised and modified; its requirements can, I am sure, be carried out without pressure on mistresses or children if the former will be content to keep within the boundaries of the schedule, and will limit their instruction to teaching their scholars how to cut out and make up (with due regard to neatness and thoroughness) some simple article of clothing. I would urge on teachers the desirability of reducing to a minimum the number of so-called "specimens" to be worked by the children; such specimens are of value when a child is learning a new stitch or when she does the specimen as a sample of some portion of a garment which she has already learnt to make or mend, but they are almost valueless,

besides being uninteresting tasks to little fingers, when the said child knows that the specimen when finished will probably be thrown into the waste rag basket.

I have the honour to submit to my Lords the special reports on the training colleges.

To the Right Honourable

I have the honour to be, &c.

RHODA E. COLBORNE.

The Lords of the Committee of Council

on Education in Scotland.

APPENDIX.

TRAINING COLLEGES.-SCOTLAND.

ABERDEEN CHURCH OF SCOTLAND.

2nd Year Students.

The greater number of the lessons were very good, and the finished work was thoroughly well done; but at the June examination the test exercise in pattern making showed great weakness and was incomplete.

1st Year Students.

The results of the examination were not satisfactory.

ABERDEEN FREE CHURCH.

2nd Year Students.

A high standard of proficiency is always aimed at by the students of this college; it was attained by the greater number. The lessons were thoroughly good ones, and the practical work was equally satisfactory.

1st Year Students.

The needlework tests showed some excellent sewing; the diagrams also were carefully drawn.

EDINBURGH CHURCH OF SCOTLAND.

2nd Year Students.

Many of the lessons were thoroughly good ones; the standard of teaching was higher than last year. The finished garments showed good practical work; some of the needlework exercises at the certificate examination were rather roughly earried out.

1st Year Students.

A good average was reached in the theoretical part of the examination, and the test exercises were well done.