is oral examination by competent speakers of each modern The Gaelic League has demanded such oral

language. examinations.

NOTES ON PROGRAMME.

The experimental science course is excellent as far as it goes. But it takes no account of the special needs and circumstances of Irish industry, commerce, etc. The whole Intermediate prógramme is as yet out of touch with the new progressive Ireland of to-day. Commercial, agricultural, and industrial training generally are treated in meagre fashion. Commercial subjects, like book-keeping, arithmetic, type-writing, précis writing, are not encouraged. Scientific agriculture is wholly neglected. Drawing and woodwork, together with a rather unpractical course of experimental science, represents all that is done for direct industrial education.

TO PASS in a SUBJECT a student must get thirty per cent. on pass paper in that subject or twenty-five per cent. on Honours Paper; in Mathematics twen y per cent. in Honours Paper secures a Pass. In languages 20 per cent. must be obtained for translation from English into that language.

To PASS ALL ROUND

Preparatory Grade. -Students must pass in
I.-English.

II.-Latin or French or Ge.man or Irish.
III.-Mathematics.

IV. Experimental Science.

V. One other subject.

Junior, Middle, Senior.

I.-English.

II. Two of following-(1) Latin; (2) Greek; (3) Irish; (4) German; (5) French.

III.-Mathematics.

IV. Experimental Science unless specially exempted.

HONOURS, EXHIBITIONS, PRIzes--Medals.

In Preparatory Grade there are no 'edals, Honours, Exhibitions.

In other Grades there are four courses for Prizes and Exhibitions, one of which may be selected by student. Courses are named from main subjects:

I. Classical Course-Latin and Greek.

II.-Modern Literary Course

A-French OR German and Irish.

B-French and German.

III.-Mathematical Course.

A-Algebra and Arithmetic.

B-Geometry (or in Senior Grade Trigonome

try).

IV.-Experimental Science Course. Exhibitions go according to courses.

Special papers are set in main subjects in addition to ordinary Honours Papers. No Honours Papers in Shorthand, Book-keeping, Natural Philosophy. With those exceptions we have Pass, Honours, and Special Papers in all subjects except in Preparatory Grade.

Honour Marks = 50 per cent. on Honours Paper except in Mathematics in which 35 per cent. will suffice.

round with

A student who has passed all round and has obtained Honours in three subjects has passed all Honours.

Prizes in books, scientific apparatus, etc., value £3, £2, £1 awarded to students next in merit to those who get exhibitions.

AGE FOR EXHIBITIONS AND PRIZES.

Under 16 on 1st of June in which examination is held for Junior Grade; under 17 for Middle; under 18 for Senior.

NUMBER OF EXHIBITIONS AWARDED.

In each course the average marks of five best students are taken as standard marks; students who get 85 per cent. of

this standard marks will get exhibitions. Number of exhibitions will not exceed one-third nor be less than one-fourth of the total number of those who have passed with honours in the grade and course and in the main subjects of the course 95 per cent. of standard marks is the limit for first class exhibitions; 70 per cent. and 65 are limits for first and second class prizes.

The Board may direct that exhibitions be spent on education of students who win them or otherwise for their benefit. Students must be prepared to abide by Board's decision in this regard.

MEDALS also are awarded for distinguished answering in all the Honours subjects.

Special prizes awarded for composition in all the languages.

There is also a special prize fund for the Preparatory Grade.

NCTES OBSERVATIONS: CRITICISMS.

Being a Dublin Castle Board, the Intermediate Board has left itself open to Irish criticism. The following are a few of the leading criticisms :

1. There is nothing distinctly Irish in the whole system. No stimulation of patriotism. The whole outlook is English, and English in its most shallow and unreal form. Nothing taught about past, present, future of Ireland: about wants, capabilities, aspirations of Ireland. A bitter warfare in the press and a strong agitation in this country were necessary before the Irish language got even the secondary place it now occupies. Other native studies of a real and practical and human sort will not be introduced into the system unless a similar agitation be raised.

2. The Board represents nothing except an English official's view of how Irishmen may be tamed and rendered harmless and useful to England. Independent Irish opinion is never consulted in appointing persons to the Board. The self-reliant and progessive elements of Irish life are suspected and disliked by the Board and return the compliment with interest.

3. The Board consists of men who have no experience of present-day Intermediate teaching. They are men of theory only. The continual changing and chopping and twisting of the programme would show this if other evidence were lacking.

4. Programme not practical. It trains men to write and to talk but not to work profitably. Greek, Latin, German, French will not help Irish boys and girls in the mass to gain a livelihood in Ireland. The sciences and arts of the field, the garden, the workshop, the countinghouse would. Irish language and history would make them feel at home in Ireland and anxious to work well for themselves and for their country.

5. There is too much cram and too much competition. Managers are forced into all the arts and tricks of the pett trader to keep their concerns going. Vulgar and blatant advertisement, mean underhand touting are encouraged. Thus a spirit of ill-will is aroused between rival schools that ought to be mutually helpful.

To sum up, the Board is not representative of expert educational opinion in Ireland; it is not representative of the I:ish people; its system is unIrish, unpractical, and a forcing or cramming system.

REMEDIES.

Better understanding amongst teachers. Agitation for reform of Board and system so as to make both really Irish.

Block and hinder interference of Englishmen as Commission of Inquiry or in any other guise. If English Government appoint such a Commission let no Irishman heed it, for it will be a humbug like all the rest of them.

Inform Irish public opinion.

Try to get for education some of the cash that is idle in banks. Point to America where every successful business man founds and endows a College. Thus would be a better guarantee of fame and remembrance than to found a new breed of shoneens. Many Irish business men are richer than the princes who endowed Clonard and Clonmacnoise.