THE TRAININ G COLLEGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13702, 19 March 1908, Page 6

THE TRAININ G COLLEGE.

PRINCIPAL'S REPORT.

SOME OUTSPOKEN CRITICISM.

THE principal of the Auckland Training ! College, Mi- If. A. Milnes, presented his | annual report to the Hoard of Kduca- ! tion yesterday. hi the course of a, | lengthy and interesting document \] r | Milne, said:—Work for the year com- ! menced on March 4, 1907. and ended De'•ember 2. The accommodation had been strictly limited, and it was. possible to admit only -luiit, first-year students so that the numbers were 28 second-year students and eight first year, the latter being all men. When tin- new colleen ' was built the numbers should be increased to 80. As the previous year showed the wisdom of curtailing university de»ree 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 (in three subjects as against two required at some of the other colleges). The bulk "i the students devoted their attention to the requirements of the "Q" certificate. Of the 36 students taking the reading course in Group 1.. only one, said Mr. Mihies, had any idea, of good reading so this subject was made compulsory, although nearly all the students had already satisfied the Department's requirements for. the "D" certificate. Not only was the enunciation and articulation bad. but the understanding of ordinary precis of prose was deficient. The use of the dictionary or encyclopaedias, or such books' as Whitaker's Almanac, or Brewer's " Dictionary of Phrase and Fable" for purpose of reference was quite unknown, while the knowledge of English literature was little short of lamentable. Only one student had read "The Cloister and the Hearth," and the great majority had not even heard the: name. The course of literature taken at the University was confined to the study of two or three set books, so that the hour devoted to reading was utilised in dipping into English classics. To supplement this a voluntary reading circle was held every alternate Saturday night. The meetings were well attended, and at any rate the names of several books were learned tot' ; the first time. In Group 11. all the ! students who took the "0" examination j in English language and literature at the j 1907 test were successful in passing. A gratifying feature was the fact that 9C per cent, of the students applied for permission to take a further course in English literature, although they had satisfied the requirements for the "C" examination. After referring briefly to several subjects, the. principal went on to say that the examination of the work of students in the agricultural course was 10 per cent, better than that of any other class the • instructor had taken in New- Zealand. 'The report made complimentary reference to the work done in connection with plain cookery, modelling in plasticine, woodwork, elementary science, physical drill, ambulance and first aid, and swimming, and a list was given of the places visited by the students for object lessons. A very pleasing feature of work was the success that had attended the Normal. School. Though placed in a district losing population owing to migrations to the suburbs, the school was receiving applications for admission greatly in excess of the accommodation. Particularly was this the case in the infant department, where a list of applicants had to be kept to fill vacancies in rotation. " *0: r The great problem to be solved in con-■ nection with the Training College was, how to provide sufficient practice for the students without unduly interfering with their courses of study. In an ideal college students would, on entrance, already have reached a sufficiently. high standard of knowledge of the subjects to be taught, so that the whole of the time could be devoted to actual training in the art of teaching. Under existing conditions, however, the students were themselves ignorant of much they had to teach, so that concurrently with technical training the studying for examinations had to go . on. The most time that could be devoted to the actual practice of teaching was about two weeks per term, or six weeks per year, plus two hours a week watching a lesson given by a student. This was twice the time allowed in English colleges, and yet for those students ad-' . milled under Division B it was obviously not enough. The report detailed'the procedure in connection with "lesson" work by students and the general plan followed in showing students how to teach classes and prepare lessons. It had been decided to issue no testimonials to students until they had served two years in the schools after leaving college, and each year a special report was made by the inspectors on the work of es- . students. The report states that at present. owing to the number of students being ' below half the regulation limit, the staff was adequate. To expect a college of 80 students to be taught by one man, however, which was apparently what the regulations required, was not likely to lead to good results. The headmaster and assistants at the Normal School had ample work in their proper sphere. without being required to take odd subjects with the students. With their ordinary teaching, together with supervision of the students, the writing of criticisms, etc., thereon, their whole time should be fully occupied. To require them to take, in addition, certain selected subjects with the students, was. to put it plainly, " sweating" pure and simple. To give them a few pounds extra per year did not alter the matter. The work of leaching the students was not done by the University professors. as was apparently expected when the regulations were drawn up. The students here, at any rate, were not up to the standard required for University work. There was too big a jump between matriculation and the keeping of the first year's terms, so thatvery little of the work required could he done at the University, and what, done required very careful supplementing. Hence one. and possibly two. tutors were required, whose sole time could be devoted to lecturing in the various- .subjects at present taken by the Normal School staff, and to supervise private study classes. In no other similar institution in the world that he had heard of was the attempt made te run a. training college by means of a normal school stall. It was a pity to "s]>oil a good ship for a barrel of tar. and an extra grant of £200 a year wouic make all the difference between mediocrity and real efficiency. t Another point touched upon was the question of providing suitable lodging accommodation for students. It was difficult, if not impossible, to get suitable accommodation where the surroundings weft conducive to work at a rate within then means. This question was being solved at Wellington by the erection of a. hostel. and the scheme would, he watched with interest., and. if successful, a similar one would be pushed forward here. The hold ing of a special course for back-block teachers was suggested by the Department, but it was not possible to hold one yet. The Board resolved to forward the report to the Minister for Education.