Sir Arthur Eddington died on 22nd November, 1944. The last sixteen years of his life had been occupied chiefly with the discovery and development of certain new principles in physics, which he used in the first place in order to calculate theoretically the “ Constants of Nature ” (such as the ratio of the mass of the proton to the mass of the electron) ; he did in fact succeed in deriving correctly the values of all those constants of Nature which are pure numbers. Later he showed that his ideas could be presented as a coherent system, to which he gave the name Fundamental Theory, and which may be broadly summed up in the statement: the external world is isomorphous with the square of quaternion algebra.

Dr. McLachlan and I felt that it would be best to commence the discussion by dealing with the work done in technical colleges and thus lead up from the younger to the older. Mathematics classes in technical colleges can be said to fall into three groups : first, for those in which there are junior and technical schools there are mathematics classes for lads aged from 13 to 16 ; secondly, there are classes for those over 16 which we may group under the heading “ Degree Courses ”, that is to say, Matriculation, Intermediate and Final Degree and Special Honours classes for science or engineering; thirdly, there is what is probably the largest group, taking the colleges throughout the country, namely, the National Certificate classes leading up to the Higher National Certificate.

Mr. K. S. Snell (Harrow), in opening the discussion on the syllabuses suggested by the Cambridge Advisory Committee, said : Schoolmasters are apt to criticise heavily examinations and examination boards. We now have an opportunity of doing the reverse. A committee has been formed with the object of producing, and keeping up to date, an agreed syllabus for Sixth form work. This was brought about by the initiative of the Cambridge Syndicate, and in particular of Mr. Brereton, whom we are glad to welcome here to-day. I am sure I am expressing your opinion when I say that this Association welcomes the first report of this Committee, and is grateful for being offered permanent representation on the Committee. We must hope that other examining boards will consider the report with care, and will be prepared to come in line with it, for the advantage of any syllabus is so greatly enhanced if it can be one that is agreed by all boards.