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No. 3. TRAINING COLLEGES. AUCKLAND. Report of the Principal for 1909. Sir, — Education Board, Auckland, 16th February, 1910. Ihe work of the College for the past year was carried on in the new buildings, which have proved to be excellently suitable for the work. The value of the swimming-bath as a mental pick-me-up during the hot muggy days at the end of November was brought home to all the students, and flagging zeal could always be renewed by a cold plunge. After a year's work in the new rooms there does not seem to be anything wanting to make them as they were intended to be, as nearly perfect as could be expected. The accommodation is excellent, and, once the college is filled with good material, I have no hesitation in looking ahead to the future. The new Training College Regulations came into force at the beginning of the year. It happened that the Inspector-General of Schools and Mr. W. Gray, Principal of the Wellington Training College, were in Auckland in January, so an informal conference was held to point out the inadequacy of the staff allowed. A school of the size proposed in the regulations—namely, main school, 400; secondary classes, 50—would be entitled to ten assistants — i.e., according to ordinary staffing arrangements under the Act. This is the number provided for the Normal School, and yet there are 100 students in addition to be provided for. I pointed out in my last report that the regulations provide for the two junior assistants to start at a salary of £90 per annum. These assistants are responsible for a class, one in the Primer department, the other taking Standard I. They are responsible for the criticism and training in practical work of those students apportioned to their classes. Now, £90 per annum is the very minimum salary allowed under the Act: is it likely that really capable teachers, fit to criticize the work of others, will be obtained for that salary? Surely, teachers in the Normal School, who are the models for 100 students, should be the best obtainable. I would respectfully urge that the Minister be asked to reconsider the question of salary paid to the two lowest-graded teachers in the Normal School. Number of Students, &c. —lhere were only -45 students in attendance during the year—2o men, 25 women. Every applicant was admitted —when meat is not available, bones are better than nothing—but I should not sleep o' nights if I thought my work would always be judged on the products of the last four years. Even the Israelites could not make bricks without straw, and the following extract from Professor A. P. W. Thomas's report on his botany class will show his opinion of the calibre of some of our students. He says, referring to certain students who had failed to pass his test after a year's work, " It is difficult to understand why these students should be admitted to the Training College." However, I am delighted to say that the Auckland Board of Education has determined that in future all pupil-teachers and probationers shall enter the College for at least one year at the conclusion of their period in the schools. Next year, therefore, there is every prospect of a full College and a happy Principal. Nothing can be much more disheartening than to lecture to half-filled benches. If in the near future there should be sufficient applicants to allow of a preliminary sifting, so that only those with a reasonable prospect of success should be admitted, then indeed will the College be a college in reality, and success assured. The Principal lives in hopes. University Work. —Of the 20 men, 12 attempted to keep terms at the University. Only those with a previous attendance of three or four years at a secondary school were allowed this privilege, yet 3 failed. Of the women, 8 out of 25 were allowed to attempt terms, and 2 failed. Terms are kept by passing in three subjects usuallj', but four of the students succeeded in passing in four subjects. The subjects usually selected are Latin, English, and education. All students, whether reading for a degree or not, attended the English lectures, and all the first-year students attended a course in botany under Professor A. P. W. Thomas. Curriculum and Training College Work generally. —As in past years, the aim has been to so arrange lectures that every student should attempt to take the C Examination. The optional subjects usually selected are physiology, hygiene, agriculture, plasticine-modelling, &c, or cookery. In the plasticine-modelling examination, held by the Department's Inspector at the beginning of December, all the students who entered were credited with a pass. The physiology syllabus is really too detailed in nature to be of much use to teachers, so that in future physiography will be substituted for that science. Physical Culture. —Miss K. Noble, a trained teacher of physical culture, took charge of this work with the women students. Proper costumes were worn, and a distinct improvement was noticeable in the bearing and deportment of those students who attended the course. The Principal, as before, was responsible for the physical training of the men. Tennis was played by every student in the College. As there were only forty-five students and three courts, it was possible to give every student two separate hours' practice per week, and, of course, extra opportunities were given on Saturdays. Many of the women students in particular look upon exercise as a waste of time, and it is difficult at first to get them to see and feel that a break for at least one hour per day, when work is forgotten, means increased vitality, and therefore a better output in the end. Hockey was played by the male students. The College team succeeded in winning the championship of the League, and was not beaten in any match. I hope next year, if use can be made of the Government House grounds, to introduce hockey to the women students who are strong enough to play it, and the basket-ball game to the others. The longer I live, the more I am convinced of the need of active sweating exercise, followed by cold baths, for young people. It cleans them, physically and morally.