3208
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 93

4. In general, the classification of a school shall be determined at the beginning of each school year; but, if necessary, promotion of individual pupils from class to class may be made at any other time by the head teacher.

5. No part of these regulations shall be read in such a way as to discourage or prevent the more rapid promotion of children who exhibit more than average mental capacity or intelligence.

V. COURSE OF INSTRUCTION.

The following shall be the course of instruction in all junior schools:—

ENGLISH.

The object of the instruction in English shall be to secure efficiency in the use of oral and written English, and to cultivate the habit of reading both for pleasure and for information. English must be the medium of instruction in all subjects of the syllabus except such subjects as are dependent upon Native teachers not possessed of a sufficient knowledge of English—e.g., Native handicraft.

Preparatory Class.

The work of this class should be as little formal as possible. It should aim—
(1.) To acquaint the pupils with the names of common objects and actions:
(2.) To understand and execute orders simply and directly expressed: -
(3.) To count objects to 10:
(4.) To secure the correct utterance of sounds not common to English and the vernacular—e.g., long and short vowels, th, sh, ch, s, h, &c., and to articulate these sounds in the formation of short words:
(5.) To separate English words into their phonic elements:
(6.) To exercise, whether in writing, drawing, or other manual occupations, the muscular co-ordinations necessary for writing.

Class I.

Conversation.—(1.) The work of the Preparatory Class should be extended so that the children may be able to understand and enter into a simple conversation about the schoolroom, playground, their work, their play, and other matters of general interest to children seven years of age.
(2.) Phonic exercises. See Preparatory (4) and (5).
Reading.—The reading of easy matter in script and print previously prepared orally, and well within the comprehension of the children.
Writing—As for Preparatory Class, but with greater emphasis upon the writing exercises.

Class II.

Conversation.—(1.) The work of the previous classes to be continued and definite emphasis to be placed upon the concord of subject and predicate (number) and upon the simple tenses (present, past, and future).
(2.) Phonic exercises to be continued.
Reading.—The reading of matter in advance of that prescribed for Class II.
Composition.—The writing of simple and direct statements based on the conversation exercises.
Spelling.—As required in the writing exercises.
Writing.—As for previous classes, but with increasing emphasis on the writing exercises.

Class III.

Conversation.—(1.) The work of the previous classes to be continued. Provision to be made for definite exercises in the use of—
(a.) Conjunctions—e.g., “and,” “but,” “if,” “because.”
(b.) Genders of pronouns.
(c.) Case of pronouns—nominative and objective as subject and object respectively.
(2.) Phonic exercises.
Reading.—As for Class II, but more advanced. Silent and study reading. Continuous readers.
Composition.—As for Class II, but more advanced. Very simple personal letters.
Spelling.—As required in the written exercises,
Writing.—As for previous classes,