THE TRAINING COLLEGE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20709, 6 May 1929, Page 8

THE TRAINING COLLEGE.

TO THE EDITOR. SlB/—I cannot congratulate' your two Ex-Student" correspondents on their efforts ■ to 1 rehabilitate the dormant ExStudents' Association. The suggestion of one writer that the task should be thrown on the Training College staff re- . veals, to say Uib least, an incompetence on the part of ex-students which, warranted or unwarranted, is hardly consistent with the same correspondent's assertion that this nebulous body "could do much 'in supporting remits from teachers' conferences, etc." Moreover, I fail to see what the staff could do other than interfere.. May I suggest, indeed, that the activities of the existing College Students' Association are to an extent proscribed by the vigilance of the principal? This is no doubt desirable,. Bince the principal must have absolute control of his students. I have men-, tioned the fact, however, to warn "ExStudent " of the subjugated position into which the association whicJi he is desirous of developing would probably be forced if it was created under staff auspices. Such is only natural, and these remarks-surely will not be construed as" a reflection on the college staff. Manifestly, such an association would become merely an appendage of the -present Students Association, and serve no purpose other than giving an added prestige to the college. This, surely, is not the function ex-studente " intend this body to serve. No, indeed! "Apart from the organi» eation of social gatherings, it could do much in supporting remits from teachers' conferences, etc." No doubt,it could do much to its own satisfaction and for its own edification, but the outside world might well laugh. How many more remit-fiupporting associations? How about the student body throwing all its weight in with-the well-organised potential associations existing for the advancement of education instead of wasting effort on a moribund, association, over the inception of which there was alreadv displayed an astounding lack of interest, so much so that the association to-day is as effete as it was on the day of its creation. It is not clear, therefore, what purpose an ex-students' association could serve. It could support as many remits as it nad the audacity to consider worthy of its support, but it would make no difference m the educational world. In reality, it would become what.it only could become, and wliat experience has made it become, namely, a social organisation. Thus «'e see "the f Wellington Training College Jix-Studente Association organising reunions, etc., but they do not presume any pretence of powers, such as vou r correspondent suggests, as a justification for the creation of the association. -Nor does it find it necessary to engage the organising abilities of the staff. . Now, this clears the issue. The association we want ■ is not a superfluous remit-supporhng one. Nor ie it so difficult that wo must "enlist the support of the staff. What is required is simplv a social committee to act as a nucleus around which could be gathered at suitable tun- * those desirous of renewing acquaintances. Indeed, it was during the jubilee reunion that the idea was" mooted, and no doubt the inspiration came irom a desire to hold such periodical reunions. There ie no reason why such a body could not be formed without all this P, ot g e ,F of , enlisting the " support of the start, and the establishing of yet another ottsnoot of the various teachers' associations, as your second correspondent implies, is totally uncalled for.—l am, etc., Ex-Student C.