VISITING TEACHERS

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24814, 2 March 1946, Page 5

VISITING TEACHERS

COURSE AT CANTERBURY COLLEGE Visiting teachers from all over New Zealand assembled at Canterbury College for a three weeks’ course, sponsored by the Education Department, and directed by Dr. R. Winterbourn (lecturer in educatign. Canterbury College). A full programme was arranged which included visits to special classes, the Merivale Occupation Centre, the School for the Deaf, Sumner, the Burwood Girls’ Training Centre, and the Normal School Speech Clinic. Lectures on theoretical and practical aspects of behaviour problems and backwardness in school, the compilation and use of cumulative records and case histories, and the administration and interpretation of intelligence and attainment tests were given by Professor H. E. Field, Dr. R. Winterbourn and Mr C. T. Ford, of the Department of Education, Canterbury College. Outside speakers included Dr. Helen Field and Dr. Turbott (health problems), Mr A. .J. McEldowney (school problems of orphanage children), <Mr L. G. Anderson (child welfare officer), Mr Raymond Ferner. S.M. (Children’s Courts), and Miss C. E. Robinson and Mr G. M. Keys (vocational and leisure time problems). A conference was held to whidh representatives of youth organisations and other bodies interested in the

of children at home and in the community were invited, and there was a free exchange of views. The central theme of this conference was an enquiry into what facilities were available for catering for youth generally and how co-operation between visiting teachers and such organisations might best be effected. The final session yesterday took the form of a conference of the visiting teachers and matters of policy and organisation were discussed, and remits prepared for presentation to the Education Department. This was the first course to be provided for training visiting teachers in a work which aims at co-ordinating the school and. the home so that a combined front may be presented to all problems affecting the welfare of children.