THE DUNEDIN TRAINING COLLEGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21601, 23 March 1932, Page 13

THE DUNEDIN TRAINING COLLEGE

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — While I have always made’ it my practice not to enter into newspaper correspondence, I think the last paragraph in your leading article of Saturday last calls for some comment. You say “ there are lecturers in the Training College who are performing work that is being done also in- the University. Obviously a gr-.at saving can be made here." A few somewhat similar statements may be found in the Atmore Report. It is noteworthy that they are nearly always made by professors or others having a close connection with university colleges. The lecturers to whom the statement is most likely to apply are those in history and English, and even here the prescription of work for the teacher’s “ C ” certificate differs widely from that for Stage ! in these subjects at the University while the methods of instruction and the objects to be attained have little in common. (i Let us consider for a moment the ‘great saving” which is obvious. In normal prosperous times the four training colleges send out annually nearly 600 teachers. Is it more economical for the Education Department and the students concerned to pay the University authorities in “class,” “college,” and “association ” fees, a sum of over £3700 for a one year’s course of instruction that does not quite fulfil the requirements, or to appoint a lecturer in each centre at a salary of about £SOO (much less at present) to teach a course, extending over two years, and that does fulfil departmental anfi teaching requirements? It must not be concluded that the difference between. £3700 and £2OOO represents a clear gain. The Education Department pays, in addition to the salaries of the college lecturers, University fees for the abler and more ambitious students who are proceeding to n degree, and such students are generally exempted from the more academic part of the corresponding college courses. When one meets with statements about unnecesary expenditure in training colleges and the duplication of work that is ■ being done in the University, one should make certain that the person making the statements is both familiar with the facts and entirely disinterested! Your suggestion that the Training College might be brought wholly or in part under the control of a university is worthy of careful consideration, but it must be proved, that it would be more economical, otherwise it would be very unwise to tamper with the present system." Of course, all possible economies consistent with efficiency must be made, and'in this direction much has been done already in the Dunedin College. Independent of the 10 per cent, cut, economies in salaries to the extent, of nearly £2OOO have been made, and further great economics can be made for ' next year. The proposal for the professional training of the teacher-students to be carried out at the University is at present under consideration by the Otago University Council, and the public may rest assured that if it can be shown that a decided saving would result therefrom there will be no opposition from the Otago Education Board. I feel sure, however, that such a scheme as that proposed by Auckland University Council, reported in the Auckland papers, will meet with moat decided opposition. If at any time a closer union should be established between Training College and University it will still be necessary that the more professional side of the work be carried on at the Training College. The University can have no part in such work as methods of teaching, drawing, handwork, needlework, kindergarten, school music, geography, agriculture, Nature study, physical instruction, etc. — I am, etc., J.‘ Wallace, Chairman Otago Education Board. Dunedin, March 21.