ABSTRACT
Agitation for educational reform grew in the Australian state of New South Wales during the first years of the new century and led eventually to a significant conference held in Sydney over two weeks in April 1904. This chapter follows the course of educational reform in New South Wales from 1901 to 1905, with some mention of subsequent developments. Francis Anderson led the agitation for reform in 1901 and stressed the need for a new course of instruction for the primary schools. Knibbs and Turner observed nature study and similar natural science courses in practice and were impressed by what they saw although Knibbs was particularly concerned with introducing elementary science and Turner's conclusions demonstrated an inadequate grasp of the ideals and methodologies involved in nature study. Peter Board, however, remedied any lack of prominence given to nature study in his own report on primary education, and in his "Syllabus of Instruction".
