TRAINING OF SCHOOL TEACHERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7802, 5 September 1903, Page 5

TRAINING OF SCHOOL TEACHERS.

A NEW SCHEME. [Fkom Ottr Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, September 5. Among the matters engaging the Education Committee is the establishment of a training college for teachers. The Secretary for Education says that a certain amount of training ,of a character which is not altogether satisfactory is being given in Dunedin and Christchurch. These arrangements will come to an end in December. Mr Hogben considers that provision should b<j made for training all teachers, and that normal schools or training colleges should^ be established where there are university colleges. It would cost very little more to maintain four normal schools than to maintain one for the whole colony, as in the latter case, boarding allowances would have to be paid for more than five-sixths of the student teachers, whereas, in the former case, such payment would have to be made probably for not more than onefourth. As these normal schools would be open to teachers from all parts of the colony, and not merely to teachers in the education district in which they are situated, Mr Hogben thinks that they should be directly under the Department. He considers a school- with from 250 -to 300 in average attendance is best suited for the purpose' of a normal school. A somewhat higher salary tnould be given to the headmaster than is provided for any other •headmaster— say £450, with £100 added if he is recognised as a lecturer on education by the local university college, and the salaries of his assistants, especially of the first assistant master and of the infant and kindergarten mistress, should also be somewhat increased above the rates allowed under the colonial scale. There should be no pupil teachers in the school and their place should be taken by student teachers. There sfoould be a small model country school with a master specially skilled in the management of such a school (this w-ould be as an addition to the staff). There should also be instruction in handwork. The extra money in the salaries thus indicated would be about £500 for the normal schools of each ofHhe four centres, exclusive of salaries of lecturers on. education. To tlhose who have completed their pupil teachership an allowance of £50 a year is, suggested, with £10 added if they are compelled tolive away from home. The net cost of the proposed scheme for the first few years would in all probability not exceed £5000 a year. As a matter of policy* it might be as well, Mr Hogben suggests, to start Schools in Auckland and Wellington immediately, allowing the present arrangements : in Dunedin and Christ-church, to continue for another year. In that case £1000 (for one year) would be a sufficient amount to put on the Estimates at present. In addition, the amount of £1000 already set down in the training vote would be needed for buildings, unless buildings were taken, over from the Education Boards.