Appendix D.J

VI

E.—2

Buildings, Grounds, &c. —The most noteworthy events of tho year were the completion of the College Hall in July, the acquisition of the school-garden at Thorndon, and the levelling of the playground at Kelburn. Tue College Hall has enabled us to increase the number of students materially, to encourage the expressive side of our art work, especially in physical culture, music, and drama, and to give more concrete form to the corporate life of the school and the College. The school owes more to the play group and tho playground than it does to any other educational factor, and that community wnieh fails to provide adequately for tho proper direction of this most natural of youthful impulses must be prepared to pay dearly for its lack of foresight, in a stunted physical, mental, social, and moral life. Wo stress this aspect of the play question because (I.) we wish the assistance we have received from both the Board and Committee to do fully appreciated, and because (2) the public is inclined to overestimate the physical at tho expense of the mental and social benefits derived from properly organized play. CHRISTCHURCH. (J. E. PuBOHASB, M.A., Principal.) I have tho honour to submit my report on the Christchurch Training College for the year ending 31st December, 1922. The progress in all branches of work indicated in my report of last year has been continued, the gains have boen consolidated, and further advances made in several directions. One hundred and twenty-eight students completed their training. Very many are already appointed to positions in tho service, and are, I hope, happily engaged in putting into practice the principles learned at College. The total number of students in attendance during the year was 244 (71 men and 173 women). There still is in evidence among the first-year students a lack of knowledge, of subjects required in a primary school, and I must once again urge that the secondary-school course for prospective teachers contain history, geography, nature-study, and drawing. It is to bo regretted that so many enter College with little knowledge of these subjects. This necessitates tho formation of extra classes after hours, attendance at which is a strain upon students and staff alike. Speaking generally, the young people offering for the profession are of a very suitable typo, both intellectually and physically. The medical examination revealed very few weaknesses. It is distinctly noticeable that leave of absence for sickness is required by graduate students much more frequently than is required by any other class of student. Tnis is probably due to tho fact that tho long University course has made too severe a demand upon their physical strength. More extensive use has been made of associated schools in which to obtain teaching practice. Linwood entirely, and Richmond and Phillipstown partially, afford facilities for training students on the professional side. The associated teachers are very keen, enthusiastic and sympathetic, and of proved ability. They have given their best to assist the students, and their help is gratefully acknowledged. In order to obtain practice for teaching in a secondary school, arrangements wore made with tho Board of Governors and the Principal whereby the Girls' High School afforded teaching practice for graduate students. This arrangement was highly appreciated by the students allotted to that school, and must bo regarded as the most important extension made during the year. The attendance at the special class for backward children still continues disappointingly low. Probably this is due to difficulty of transport. I fool sure that there must bo in the city schools a number of children labouring through the class subjects with great difficulty who would derive great benefit from the special methods adopted. Excellent work has been accomplished by the children who have regularly attended, and good progress has been made. The approach to the ordinary school subjects through manual activity has proved very successful. The children have acquired increased muscular control, and are enabled thereby to do much more for themselves. In addition, the work has been of such value educationally that their general progress has been most marked. Tho training of students has been carried on in the manner indicated in last year's report. As a result of tho restrictions placed upon students with regard to attendance at lectures at Canterbury College, Training College has become more nearly self-contained. This is logically the result of the growth of numbers and increase in staff. I regret, however, that it has resulted in the discontinuance of students at a course of lectures in economic geography. The subject does not form part of any degree course taken by our students, being a portion of the Bachelor of Commerce degree, but was so particularly adapted for our students that a very valuable source of instruction has been closed to us. The addition of the pass English to our time-table has very considerably increased the work in that subject, but it has had componsations. In most subjects the course taken has boon the proscription for the teachers' C certificate, as contained in the Department's regulations. j Education. —As in previous years, the preliminary course in the principles of education has been taken at Training College, and the senior work —second year —at Canterbury College. The work was generally well done, and the examination results satisfactory. The number of students preparing education for honours and M.A. or the diploma is increasing each year. Five candidates sat for diploma last year, and all were successful. The subject is growing in favour, too, among outside students, so that the classes at Canterbury College are very largely attended. English. —The work produced by students this year is a big improvement on last year's, and tho general interest displayed augurs well for tho future of these teachers. The course in general has been a survey of English literature, tracing tho development of the drama, poetry, the essay, the novel, of foreign influences at different periods, with more attsution to modern literature. The treatment of various forms of literature in tho class-room has not been overlooked, though the main