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only be sent under very exceptional circumstances, as these interruptions to work militate seriously against general progress. And students thus employed derive little or no compensating benefit from the experience, because, however unsatisfactory the methods they find in use may be, it would be unwise in them to make radical changes, seeing they are only temporarily in charge, and thus they get familiarized with methods of which they had far better remain in ignorance. The work of the training department is still hampered, as it was twelve months since, by the want of a large lecture-hall or theatre, to be used for lectures to the whole body of students and teachers in general, as a demonstration room, for criticism lessons, and general purposes. I hope this may shortly be supplied. The lavatory and cloak-room accommodation is also very defective. In any new buildings that may be erected, arrangements should be made for Principal's room and common-room, as now I have no room in which to see any one privately, and there is no room other than the lecture-room to which students can retire for purposes of general conversation. Arrangements have been made during the year by which greater practice in the schools, under competent supervision, has been secured to the students. They now devote about two-fifths of their whole time to professional studies. The practising department has had to contend with unusual difficulties during the past twelve months, but has made good progress in spite of them. The numbers on the roll this time last year were —Boys, 405; girls, 399: total, 804. The present numbers are—Boys, 484 ; girls, 451: total, 935. The average attendance for 1877 was 616, or 766 per cent. In 1878 the average was 745, or SOT per cent.; showing not only an actual increase in point of numbers, but greater regularity on the part of those attending. There have been about thirty children present every time the school was open during the year, to whom certificates to this effect have been given by the Board. The chief step taken in a new direction during the year has been the opening of the muchdesired kindergarten in connection with the Infant Department. A thoroughly and specially trained and highly competent directress, Mrs. Crowley, was secured in England, and arrived in July. She has already worked a considerable revolution in her department. But until suitable premises are erected it is impossible for her to exhibit the system fairly to the public, and until she has a sufficient staff of competent assistants progress must of necessity be slow. But I am convinced that the work is sound in principle, and that, so far as circumstances have permitted, the principles have been honestly and ably carried out. AYe could scarcely have secured a teacher more capable in every way than Mrs. Crowley. She is a most valuable addition to our staff. But the department is altogether under-officered. It is an essential in a kindergarten that there should be an ample supply of competent teachers. Every infant school should be more liberally treated in this matter than a common school, and in kindergarten work it is especially necessary. The tax on the teachers' powers is great and unremitting, .and the strain under present circumstances most severe— greater, I believe, than can with safety be borne. Ido hope that the contemplated new buildings will be commenced without delay, as the physical difficulties of the work are at present enormous. But I cannot say how glad lam that the kindergarten system is gaining favour in New Zealand. It is one of the most hopeful indications of the educational future; and in our special work a kindergarten is invaluable. It is pre-eminently the school for teachers, a school in which they soon become conscious of their weakness, and learn other lessons calculated to make them both wiser and humbler. By the appointment of Mr. Curnow to the headmastership of the East Christchurch District Schools in August last, the boys' school was deprived of its head. Mr. Curnow had been identified with the Normal School from its opening in April, 1876, and had seen it grow from comparative insignificance to its present importance as the second largest school in the district. His place is still vacant. Mr. Thornton, second master, has done his utmost to maintain the efficiency of the school, and with all the success that could be expected from an untrained and comparatively inexperienced teacher. I desire to bear my testimony to his industry and zeal. But a trained teacher, a man of wider experience and greater knowledge of technical details, and so a more competent assistant in the work of training others, is what the department needs. It would then be placed on a footing of equality with the others, and might be expected to become as good a model of style. This at present it is not, and never has been, although the results of the work have been in other respects very satisfactory. The new standards of examination were introduced into the school during the year, and our experience of their working hitherto is, on the whole, favourable. Whether or not it will be practicable in country schools to work up to them is another matter. AYe have, of course, some special advantages which they lack, but, taking it for granted that the upper classes will only be expected gradually to exhibit the results specified, and not to have worked fully up to them at the Inspector's next visit, there seems nothing so impracticable in these requirements as some would have us believe. At any rate, it is well to set a high standard before the teachers as something to aim at, letting it be distinctly understood that the law is to be leniently interpreted by the Inspectors, and that every due allowance shall be made for local conditions, and the special difficulties individual teachers have to contend with. Mrs. Patterson (late Miss Perry) continues in charge of the girls' senior division, and there is no department that gives me more complete satisfaction. The tone of the school is all that could be wished, and much of the work of a very high order of merit, although the staff is by no means so efficient as is desirable. The difference of the work of the trained and untrained teachers is only too apparent. The girls'junior department has suffered an almost irreparable loss during the year by the unexpected and deeply-lamented death of its mistress, Miss Julia Seager, whom in my last report I mentioned as the successor of Miss Dunnage in the junior girls' department. She was one of the first to enter as a student in the training department, aud she soon showed herself the ablest, as she was undoubtedly the best-beloved by all. As a schoolmistress she seemed to impress her influence instantly on all who surrounded her, and quickly made her school a model one —one which arrested the attention of all visitors, and elicited their warmest commendations. Miss Seager's place has been temporarily supplied by Miss Mary Page, an ex-student, but as she has recently obtained a permanent appointment this unfortunate division of the school is again without a head. The discipline has of necessity suffered somewhat, and I am particularly anxious to secure, without delay, the services of a teacher who will carry on Miss Seager's work in very much the same spirit as herself.