Student Teachers’ N.I. Study Tour ‘Hard Work’

Press, Volume C, Issue 29681, 27 November 1961, Page 21

Student Teachers’ N.I. Study Tour ‘Hard Work’

Ttnrty senior students and three staff meiribm. Meeara G. W. S. SoutbgsAe. J. A. Johnston, and NRa* P R Jones, from Christcburch

Teachers' CoUege. returned last week almost exhausted after a 13-day study tour of the North Island. "Let nobody think this was a holiday jaunt. We have never worked so bard in our live*,” they said.

The party paid alii expenses (about £2O each' themselves and cut coate by sleeping In schools and pcovfrfing most of their own maals.

This was their programme in brief:— Observe all developments in Wellington and the Hutt VaMey; study land use on the way to Hastings; examine intensive market gardening for canning on the Heretaunga plain: inveattgate the voicenic plateau, exotic forenta, and geothermal and hydro-electric power on the wey to Tokoroe; see the geomoapMc structure and faming preciicee of the Bhuraki-Umn 1 1 it lowlands: study the site, form and functions of Auckland city and have talks with regional planning authorities and specialist lecturers; hear the ethnological significance of

Maori occupation in the area; cover viticulture near Wellsford; see historic sites -round RusseH: historical studies round Rawene; look at activities round Hunrtiy: regional studies round New Plymouth: observe the Kapanui oil bores; interview an authority on the Mai..-is in Taranaki; and so back to Wellington and home. There was an immense amount of homework before the trip. Each student was given a seminar assignment on a special area or topic Each evening one of them gave a lecture on the ground to be covered next day. Others gave running commentaries over the bus speaker system or short talks

while standang on historic

Hone Heke was dealt with on Flagstaff hiH. Ute Treaty of Wbitangi was discussed on the spot where it was signed. “You could feel history seeping up out of the ground. Anybody not moved by tins experience must be a dumbefl," said one of the students.

The assignment is not finished yet. Bach student will write a book, with narrative, maps and illustrations, on every aspect of the ground covered. Some plan two volumes. The students will ■later use these books as personal texts when they teach in schools.