THE TRAINING OF TEACHERS.

Evening Post, Volume LXIX, Issue 118, 20 May 1905, Page 6

THE TRAINING OF TEACHERS.

TO THB KDITOn. Sir, —Ono of the points urged by tho Evcutive of the Nnv Zealand and Educational Institute, when wailing on tlift Premier lecently, was that our schools Minuld l>o alnffed wholly by certificated teachers. All >Ydl-n-fshers of our education system will support this suggestion, especially if it li'ad to a saner method of preparation of teachers for their lifr-work. Ido not intend to take up your space now by either a condemnation or a defence of the pupil-teacher system, except t« oay that there is little to commend it beyond its cheapness. Hitherto, in this district, at any rate, j ii has be-4n tho system which has providod a supply of i^chm. My object in writing this IMUt is to draw the attention of the powers that be to the way in which these young teachers are being overworked. Tho attempt to Kmi'li during tho day U sufficiently trying to young, immature girls, and —[ was #oing to s.iy boys, but these j scarcely over do attempt it. Thcso j girls, thon, aro ambitious, and the authorities, naturally, I suppose, show prefcronoc for rucli. Mm c<f them have matriculated when witr-Miuced to teaching, ami they nro urg<.d to go on wiiu their University VA»rk. 'J'hcy rush liomu to a hurried meal, attoml lectures till oor 9 o'clock, and on reaching home "swot" often till past midnight. What with result? No: niltinv, itiraly! but most surely impaired health, very possibly a complete breakdown and a general unfit ness for tlio next day's teaching — work requiring tho boat of Jioajth, good temper, tact, and an dbotutcc- -of irritability. It ia not too much to say that these young people ui\> unfitting tliojnselves foi the profession of a teacher, for of what avail is tho literary qualification if tho owner in a physical derelict? Thcso young peoplo noed to bo protected from themselves, and it is tlio duty of tho .Minister for Education to de.viso wino means whereby they may obtiiin their lileiavy qualification under more favourable conditions, and in such a way as to make less demand on their physical constitutions. Expense should not bo allowed to stand in the way, for a raco of healthy teachers, physically and mentally, is of vital inipurtunco to the nit ion. —I am, etc., OtiO. FLUX. South Wellington, 16th M;«y.

Mas tern of vessels arriving to-day mention having pusood through shunls o*f dencl fifth in the Straits. Captain Col lius, of the Union Company's stca.mcr P.il-ecna, states that his vessel .cjiue through about two miles nf dirty water, in which millions of dead fiali of every conceivable kind were floating. Tho destruction amongst the firuiy tribe i« put clown to v subinnrino disturbance. At Mews. J. H. Be^liuno and Co..i book salo yeaterdny nlteniurm thero wan a good attendnnco of bidders and keen competition for some of tho princip.il lotx. The Kiiryclopnfclm Untfliuiiua, ninth odU • ion, sold for £6 5« ; Cowk'd VoyngW, in eij;ht volumes, icaclicd 60s ; Brett's Early Now Zealand, 10s; Lane's Arnbidii Niglilw. in three volumes, 38s ; Old nnd New London, 17s ; The Library Shukcsppnre. 21s; nnd Old England Illusirnlcd, 2R Sir Walter ihilU-r'u Birds of New Zealand wn* pasted in .'it £12. and the New Zc-nlundcii), by (I. P. Angin. did not reach the resenc. prize, the best bid bciiiL' £15. On Monday evening nest Mr. .J, W. Poynton will deliver ;i lecture on "Mi rrobes" m Kcnt^acrrnce Prrflbyloriin Schoolroom, under, thp auapirrs 'of tho Kent -terrace LUwn'ry AsMicintion. Tho subject, is one of special interest at the nrasctit time, and Mr tVynton's abilily to doal with tlie subject in n popn lar way is so well Known that there should bo a large audience. An advertisement relating to "Pcnonal Mngnotum and Practical Piyohology" »p- ! peart elwwhwt. J