TRAINING OF TEACHERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22708, 22 October 1935, Page 7

TRAINING OF TEACHERS

THE DUNEDIN COLLEGE RE-ESTABLISHMENT SOUGHT Another move is being made to secure the re-establishment of a training college for teachers in Dunedin. As the result of a discussion launched at the meeting of the council of the Chamber of Commerce last night by Mr L. Deans Ritchie a motion was passed that telegrams should be sent the same night to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Education, and the Ex-Minister of Education (Mr R. Masters), emphasising the chamber’s earnest desire that a training college should again be established in Dunedin. It was also decided that the local members of Parliament should be asked to arrange a deputation to the Minister of Education in support of the movement. Mr L. Deans Ritchie, introducing the matter, said that Otago had many claims to a training college. The pioneers of the province had seen fit to do what, they could for education, and valuable endowments had been set aside by the provincial government. These had since gone into the revenue of the Consolidated Fund. Next year there would be 800 trainees, and if the system which was adopted two years ago of training them in two colleges were continued, the Dunedin college would remain closed. The speaker contended that the system of what he termed “training in massed production ” was not in the best interests of the teachers. Consequently It reflected on the children and through them on the Dominion. There was also the consideration that a number of students who would make excellent teachers would be prevented from entering the profession because of their inability to attend a training college in another centre. He asked the chamber to consider what it would mean to Dunedin if 200 trainees, with the necessary teaching staff, were centred in Dunedin. It would give a distinct fillip to business. The time for the commencement of a new training college year was drawing near, and if the chamber was going to do anything in the matter it would have to act quickly. He moved that telegrams be sent to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education, emphasising the earnest desire of the chamber to see a training college again established in Dunedin. He thought it would be advisable also to send a similar telegram to the ex-Minis-ter of Education (Mr R. Masters). The motion was seconded by Mr M. Stewart. The president (Mr J. C. Begg) said it was the policy of the chamber to support the movement for the re-establish-ment of the training college in Dunedin. Mr Stewart: Are the members of Parliament in the district in favour of it? Mr Ritchie said that the city members were in favour of it, and the country members had also expressed themselves as being in entire accordance with the movement. The motion was carried unanimously. It was decided to send the telegrams the same night and also to request the local members of Parliament to organise a deputation to the Minister of Education in support of the movement.