TRAINING TEACHERS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 32, 1 November 1929, Page 9

TRAINING TEACHERS

AMENDED REGULATIONS

POSITION OF PROBATIONERS Amended regulations for training colleges and probationers published in yesterday’s Gazette introduced some new and interesting features governing the training of teachers in New Zealand. Under the new conditions probationers desirous of qualifying for admission to a training college will be required to obtain a pass or a partial pass in an examination to be known as the Training College Entrance Examination. This provision does not come iuto operation until March next, so that the first probationers to be affected will be those appointed to commence duty at the beginning of next year. Nine Subjects. The syllabus for the examination will provide for the examination to be held in nine subjects, namely, elocution, writing, freehand drawing, blackboard drawing, English language and composition, geography, history and civics, arithmetic,algebra, and geometry. To pass the examination candidates will be required to show a good standard of, attainment in al] the. subjects named above. To obtain a partial pass candidates must show a good standard of attainment in at least seven of the subjects prescribed, including not less than three of the subjects. English language and composition, arithmetic, geography, history and civics. Candidates who have gained higher leaving certificates or equivalent qualifications will be entitled to exemption from examination in the subjects in which thev have secured the qualification. Classification. In future, the students admitted to training colleges will be classified as follows :— Division A—Students' who have completed courses as probationers, student teachers or kindergarten teachers. Division B—Students who pay fees for tuition and training. Division C —Graduates of some approved university. Division D—Students admitted in general for short courses. The provision for admitting paying students is introduced into the Training College regulations for the first time. The fees payable have heen fixed at £7 7s. per term. No allowance will, of course, be paid to such students, nor will the students be required to bind themselves to teach in Government schools, as is the case which students in classes A C and D. The division B studentships should thus afford training facilities to teachers in private schools or to. young persons not qualified for admission in the other classes. General Matters. The revised regulations contain a number of other amendments mainly affecting the administration of the colleges and the actual training of the students. Any teachers of public schools, secondary schools, or technical schools may be selected by the chief inspector to supervise and report on the work of students assigned to such schools to observe and practise teaching. The members of the staff of a training colleee may be required to visit, and shall be entitled to enter any such schools for any purpose that may be approved by the Director of Education in connection with their work. The procedure to be followed in advertisingvacancies and making appointments to the staffs of training colleges is more speeificially set out than has hitherto been the case. A clause has also been introduced setting out the circumstances in which a studentship may. be terminated with the approval of the Minister of Education.