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APPENDIX C. EXTRACTS FROM REPORTS OF PRINCIPALS OF TRAINING COLLEGES. AUCKLAND. I have the honour to submit my report for the year 1927. The numbers show an increase of fifty-eight on those of the preceding year. It is to be noted that no corresponding adjustment in staffing was provided for. The problem of providing an effective training for so great a number of students has made the year a very difficult one. Another difficulty that has repeatedly made itself felt throughout the year, consequent upon the increased numbers, has been the impossibility of getting quickly into touch, with the many individuals. Another difficulty which made the year a hard one was the lack of a second Normal School. I found it expedient to limit the number of students attached for training to any one school to six, and asked no teacher to train more than one at a time. Training easily becomes nominal; unless we can make it thoroughly effective I consider we are wasting much of what we are expending in other directions. Our difficulty has been one of keeping in touch with so many teachers so widely scattered. I should be both unjust and ungrateful if I did not acknowledge with thanks the services rendered by many of these teachers. The new system of training has discovered for us a number who have the ability, the tact, and the enthusiasm to train students excellently. It is a matter for regret that we are not able to eliminate from such work all who do not possess these qualifications. It is most desirable, I think, that students at the outset should come in contact only with the best, and no pains should be spared to provide, as far as possible, that this may be so. Staff. —No changes of staff have to be recorded for the year, and, except for the rather serious recent illness of Mr. D. M. Eae, Vice-Principal, the health of its various members has been good. Students' Health. —The year has been remarkable for the great number of short absences on the part of the students. These have been considerable during the last weeks of the College year, and seem to be associated in many cases with the work pertaining to examinations. Probably in many cases there is a want of sufficient balance in life throughout the year, and the reserve of strength is insufficient to meet the demand, made upon it when, the stress of pending examinations is being felt. Two students broke down in health immediately before the final College examination, each due, I think, to overwork in preparing for examination. Organization of College Work. —As in former years, students were organized in groups based on their year and their sex. Of men and women there were eighteen sections in all, averaging about twenty-five individuals in each. Each section was a class unit. For some work two units were grouped, and occasionally three. The general plan of working has been that adopted in former years — i.e., during the first half of each term the first-year students carry on their academic work on the first three days of each week, while the second-year students are learning to teach in the schools ; during the latter half of each term the position is reversed ; on Thursdays and Fridays all students work at academic work throughout the year, and on Saturday mornings first-year students attend lectures at College. University Work. —The University work of our students has been on the whole admirable. As in former years, a number have shown themselves capable of carrying on a good University course without failing in their obligations to the Training College. Each year a number who enter enthusiastically upon a University course find themselves overweighted before they heave progressed very far. This year the same fact is evident in several cases, and I think each year there will inevitably be some. However, on the whole the University successes of our students have been very creditable. Of the Auckland University College students who graduated during the year with a B.A. degree three-fourths of the number were past or present students of this College (thirty-nine out of fifty-two). One of our students won the only Senior University Scholarship that fell to the lot of Auckland this year. Emphasis on Music. —The most gratifying feature of our College work this year has been the success attending the fuller treatment of music as a College subject, made possible by the appointment of a full-time lecturer in this subject. Mr. Hollinrake came to us at the end of 1926 directly from Cambridge University, England, where he had just completed his own academic course. He has proved himself the possessor not only of tact and ability for his work, but also of unbounded enthusiasm for his subject. The result is highly satisfactory, for not only is good work being done within the walls of the College, but there is also evidence that its effect is also being felt in neighbouring schools which Mr. Hollinrake visits from time to time. Specializing. —lt is a matter for regret that it has not been possible this year to organize the work of the College in such a way as to provide for .students specializing in certain subjects. Life-saving. —I regret that it has not been possible to comply completely with the request of the Director of Education that all students should be taught life-saving. However, considerable work has been done in this direction. All the women students have learned (1) the method of resuscitation, (2) the land drill for rescue and release. In addition to this a very considerable number of women and men have received recently from the Life-saving Association certificates and medals in recognition of their efficiency.

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