AUCKLAND TRAINING COLLEGE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 67, 18 March 1908, Page 5

AUCKLAND TRAINING COLLEGE.

THE ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report of Mr. H. A. Milnes, B_A-, principal of the Auckland Training College, was received at the meeting of the Auckland Education Board to-day. Mr. Milnes stated that the new college was in process of erection, and as the present accommodation was strictly limited, it was possible to admit only eight first year students, so that the numbers were. 28 second year and 8 first year students, the latter being all men. When the new college was built, the numbers should easily increase to the regulation number of 80. As last year showed the wisdom of curtailing University DeTee work for all but the well prepared, only four women and six men were recommended to try the dual work required, and all but two succeeded in keeping terms. The bulk of the students devoted their attention to the requirements of the C. certificate. Dealing with the industrial subjects, the principal states with regard to reading, only one of 36 students had any idea of good reading, though nearly all had satisfied the Department's requirements for the D Certificates. Not only was the enunciation and articulation bad, but the understanding of ordinary pieces of prose was deficient. The use of works of reference was unknown, and the knowledge of English classics was very limited. A reading circle was held on alternate Saturday evenings. Regarding vocal music good progress was made, but from the limited observation of the writer he should say that this subject was the worst taught of any in the Auckland schools, so that special attention was given to instruction in it. Great attention was paid to drawing, and in blackboard work the teachers were requested to memorise thirty subjects, so that at any time in giving lessons an illustration could be put on the blackboard at a moment's notice. The subjects included different kinds of armour, kinds of ships typical scenery, and bills and feet of typical birds. A gratifying feature of the literature classes was that 90 per cent of the pupils voluntarily took up a turther course, although they had satisfied the requirements for the ' : C" examinations. Mr. V. Jackton, 8.A., had taken classes in agriculture, and in his depa.-tment work was quite 10 per cent better than any other class he had taken in New Zealand. Touching on elementary science, the work was entirely practical, and was most successfully carried out. Much time was needed in the preparation of apparatus, and the necessity of having a special tutor for the work was amply demonstrated during the year. Each section took five hours a week, and as a section could not include more than 15, it was obvious that the time required could not be given by one of the "assistants. There was ample work for a soecial tutor, and the attempt made by the Assistant Inspector-General to have him removed would, if carried out, seriously cnpple the college work. He wanted very strongly to show the necessity of not interfering with the present very" satisfactory arrangements. A very pleasing feature of work in connection with the college was the success which had attended the Normal School. Although in a district which was fast losing its population, owinjr to migrations to the suburbs, applications for admission were greatly in excess of accommodation, particularly in the infants' department. The tone of the school was excellent, and the head-tea-cher and staff deserved every praise. The open days for parents and the terminal reports were greatly appreciated. The great problem to be solved in connection with the college was how to provide sufficient teaching practice without interfering with the courses of study. The most time that can be devoted to the practice of teaching was two weeks per term plus two hours a week for watching a criticism lesson given by a student or a model lesson by the principal. The students take all lessons and learn the whole school routine. At present the staff was adequate, but to expect a coliege of 80 students to be taught by one man was not likely to lead to good results, and to expect the teachers of the Normal School to assist was sweating pure and simple. One and possibly two tutors were required, and an extra grant of £200 a year would make the difference between mediocrity and efficiency. j