E.—l

90

to relinquish their purpose of adopting the profession of public-school teaching for that of private teaching, for which they were better adapted. My advice has generally been taken in good part, and has been acted on. A demand has always existed for trained teachers for private schools, and for families ; but our old regulations, as well as the requirements of the Otago schools, and the high rate of salary paid to public-school teachers, prevented our young teachers accepting private appointments. Were it known that the Training College regulations now provide for the training of teachers who do not intend to enter the public elementary schools, advantage might be taken of the provision, and a want—felt especially in the outlying districts—might be supplied. The students who were able to avail themselves of the classes of the Otago University have as usual done so, but the position taken by them in the final examinations was not so good as in previous years. This may be accounted for partly by deficient preparation for University work, and partly by an increased demand on their time for Training College work. We find that few of our students, and comparatively few cf the youug'teachers, engaged in the city and suburban schools are attending the Latin classes at the University. In view of this, we propose taking advantage of the resignation of Mr. Beuchler, German master, to drop his subject from the curriculum, and to substitute Latin as a compulsory subject, appointing one of our own staff as master. Even one year's discipline in Latin will not be without value to our teachers of English, and two years' discipline will place students in a position to prosecute the study by themselves, and will enable them, if necessary, to undertake the responbility of training male pupil-teachers. Should the Board sanction this arrangement, we shall still encourage those students who are sufficiently prepared and can afford the fees to attend the Latin classes at the University, and, in addition, we shall be able to carry them forward in their study during the recess. The practice in teaching has been arranged as follows : —(I.) Teaching small drafts from large classes in the Second and Third Standards. Draft is added to draft as the power of controlling numbers is developed, and the students are gradually prepared for the next course. (II.) Teaching classes in the Second, Third, and Fourth Standards, containing from 50 to 60 pupils. (III.) Conducting, with the assistance of a pupil-teacher, a school of about 40 pupils, divided into three classes, in the Second, Third, and Fourth Standards. (IV.) Conducting, without assistance, a school of about 40 pupils, divided into three classes, in the Second, Third, and Fourth Standards. (V.) Conducting, without assistance, a school of about 40 pupils, divided into four classes, in the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Standards, (VI.) Conducting, without assistance, a school of about 50 pupils, divided into five classes, two preparing for the First Standard, and one in each of the three lowest standards. Students who complete this course of practice before the end of their second year of training are placed in charge of an infant-room, containing from 60 to 70 pupils, and occasionally give lessons to classes in the Fifth and Sixth Standards. The whole of the needlework of the practising school is taught by the students, under the superintendence of the matron and female assistants. I have, &c, The Secretary, Board of Education. W. S. Fitzgerald, Rector.

Staff. Rector, Mr. W. S. Fitzgerald; Matron, Miss L. A. Fitzgerald ; Headmaster of Practising School, Mr. A. Montgomery. Training Department. —Mr. W. S. Fitzgerald: Theory and practice of school management, arithmetic, mathematics. Mr. A. Montgomery : English language. Mr. W. H. Kneen: Geography and music. Mr. S. C. Farnie: History. Mr. D. Mutton: Drawing. Mr. O.David: Gymnastics. Sergeant-major Stevens : Military drill. Miss L. A. Fitzgerald: G.eneral superintendence of female students, needlework, and domestic economy. Practising Department. —Class Teachers: Messrs. Kneen, Closs, Cattan, Farnie, Davidson, William Fitzgerald ; Misses Stevens, Huie, and Martin ; five male pupil-teachers, and three female pupil-teachers.

Regulations of the Dunedin Training College. I. Officers of the Training College.—(l.) The officers of the Training College shall be the Rector, the Matron, visiting masters appointed by the Otago Board of Education, and officers of the practising school appointed by the Rector with the consent of the Headmaster of the practising school. (2.) The Rector shall be responsible for the management of the Training College, and shall have a general superintendence of the practising school. The matron shall have the superintendence of the female students, and the control of the needlework classes of the practising school, subject to the arrangements made for them in its time-table. All the officers of the Training College shall, as such, be under the control of the Rector. (3.) The Rector shall receive a salary of not less than £500 per annum, and the Matron of not less than £200 per annum. The salaries of the visiting masters shall be according to agreement made with them by the Otago Board of Education. (4.) The Rector shall instruct the students of the Training College in the theories of education and methods of teaching, shall arrange for and superintend their practice in teaching in the practising school, and shall instruct them in at least two such other subjects as it may be necessary or convenient for him to undertake. He shall consult with the Headmaster about the management of the practising school, and shall furnish the Minister of Education and the Otago Board of Education with any information on the work of the Training College which they from time to time may require. The Headmaster of the practising school shall instruct the students in at least one of the more important subjects which they may afterwards be required to teach, and shall assist in arranging for and superintending their practice of teaching in the practising school. He shall also consult with the Rector on the management of the practising school. The Matron shall instruct the female students in needlework, and shall superintend their practice in teaching it in the practising school. She shall assist in superintending the practice of teaching in the infant department of the