AUCKLAND TRAINING COLLEGE

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 151, 26 June 1907, Page 5

AUCKLAND TRAINING COLLEGE

RE-API"*OINTM__uS"T OF TUTORDEPARTMENT'S <_RTITCISMS. AUCKLAND'S -TREATMENT UN"PARAI_L__LED. SOME ESTTERESTTNG COMPABISONa In response to a memorandum front the Auckland Education Board, a 16tter. was this morning read from the Assist* ant Inspector-General of Schools, re« specting the subject of the Training College staff and salaries. After stating his difficulty in recommending the Minister to approve of the additions mada for the current year, except in so far aa they might be found temporarily admissible on the faith of an assent given in 1905, under evident conditions of compromise and with anticipations that had not been realised, he invited the Board's attention to the following points:—

"(1) With less than half the maximum number of students, the maximum amount in salary payments had already been reached."

"■ (2) With only half or less than half the number of students elsewhere in training, the salary sheet is now tha highest in the colony, the scale working out at more than double the average per" student in Wellington, Christchurch, 05 Dunedin."

" (3) With half or less than half tha number of students, and a most meagre addition of new entrants, the tutorial assistance provided has no current rallel elsewhere."

" (4) On general principles the employment of a tutor is to be justified only by necessity, which in the present case has yet to be proved. Of the subjects taken by the tutor, hygiene, from the point of view of examination, is a: purely optional subject for class C, andin so far as it is a necessary feature of training, should properly be treated by an ordinary member of the staff in intimate co-ordination with the ordinary teaching service. In regard to school science also, it is a cardinal principle that this shall not be taken by a specially employed master, and if the regular staff does not provide a person fully; competent for the duty, the only conclusion apparently possible is that tha personnel requires consideration." " I append," the letter concluded, " a comparative table, revealing, in a suo cinct form, some startling contrasts in which the Department could scarcely be expected to acquiesce without further grounds than the information already afforded. I shall be glad to receive any further communication tha Board may think fit to make on the matter under consideration. If tha Board is able at the same time to explain, for the information of the Department, the extraordinary falling-off in this year's new entrants, the courtesy would be appreciated." The table showed that Christehurc-i had a total of 70 students in training, total salaries, £2,655; average per student, £37 IS/7, no tutor. Dunedin, with SO students: Salaries, £2960, average £37; had a tutor at £60. Wellington's 76 students cost an aver* age of £38 3/2; no tutor. Auckland, with 36 students, average cost £83 6/8, had a tutor at £200.

PRINCIPAL'S REPLY.

THE TUTOR NECESSARY. Mr. H. A. Milnes, principal of tha Auckland Training College, in answen to this letter, wrote that the reply to paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 cf the Department's memorandum was that owin<» toi lack of accommodation the advisory! committee recommended that a maximum of ten male students and no women students should be admitted fofi the year 1907. When the new college was built, and the full number of students admitted, the average cost pcs student would be £3000 divided by £~SO, or £37 10/, practically the same as tha cost at the other three colleges. Tha increase in the number of students would make no addition to the cost, the (remuneration of the staff being tha same for 36 as for 80 students. With regard to the general question of the necessity for a tutor, the Principal very strongly endorsed the apportionment of the £3000. so as to allow for a tutor, as arranged for previous ta his arrival, by the Inspector-General in, conference with Mr. Petrie.

It was to be pointed out that in order to allow for this the salaries of other members of the staff were proportionately reduced—e.g., the headmaster of the model school received £60 a year less than at Wellington. The science teaching, which at present occupied the whole time of a tnor, would otherwise have to be done at odd times by the ordinary assistants in the Normal School. A properly trained teacher of high academic standing (M.A. and B.Sc. of New Zealand), able to devote his whole time to the preparation of lessons, etc., would do much better work than could possibly be done on the alternative plan. The writer went on to say that modem science teaching required that there should be careful preparation of apparatus for all the students, and if this was done, much more time was required than appeared on a time-table. That the Inspector-General recognised that was evidenced by the fact that he insisted on a science room forming part of the new training college plan. The letter ended by stating that the present tutor was wooing so well in the position that it would be calamitous to in any way interfere with the present working efficiency. The secretary ("Mr. Rice) pointed out that the position in Auckland was very different to those iv the Southern centres, as the other cities had long established and fully equipped institutions, whereas m Auckland the whole tmsiness had up to the present time been carried on under serious difficulties in the lack of accommodaition and equipment. It was decided to refer the principal's reply to the Department.