3

8.—7

For many years at the Scottish universities provision has been made for instruction in subjects of professional interest to teachers; and at one of the most recent English universities—the Victoria University—lectures are given on the art and science of education. Under the South Australian Education Department all Training School students are required to attend lectures at the Adelaide University on mental science. Following in the same direction, the Royal Commission on Education, in a report recently presented to Parliament, has made some very important recommendations with regard to the training and education of teachers. They point out (1) that some of the literary work done at the training colleges might with advantage be done at the university colleges; and (2) that lectures on the history and principles and methods of education should be recognised as a part of the university curriculum. They say-: " More advanced instruction in theory might well be left to lecturers on the science of education in connection with university colleges." The Committee find a Very general expression of opinion among educational experts in favour of these proposals. It has been pointed out that the university colleges make no provision for instruction in subjects bearing directly on a teacher's professional work, as is done in the case of medical, mining, or law students. Your Committee are of opinion that in the interests of the University and the teaching profession something should be done to improve the present state of affairs. To give effect to the suggestions contained in the report, and to remove the disadvantages under which teachers and Normal School students are working at present, the Committee submit the following recommendations for consideration :— 1. It is advisable to bring University work more into line with the teachers' professional training; and to give effect to this the University Council should frame and adopt regulations recognising lectures on the history, science, and art of teaching as a part of the University curriculum, and accept attendance at such lectures as qualifying for the keeping of terms as provided in the University regulations. 2. That the Senate of the University of New Zealand be asked to amend its statutes so as to include the history, science, and art of teaching in the list of subjects of examination for the. B.A. degree. 3. That the Minister of Education be respectfully requested to take such steps as he may think fit to provide for a more liberal course of training for teachers, by means of an efficient relationship between normal schools and university colleges on the lines laid down by the Royal Commission in their report to Parliament. 4. In the event of any reorganization of the plan of study for training teachers, provision should be made whereby trainees may get the benefit of a university course of study, special importance being attached to attendance at classes in English language and literature, mental science, and in the principles and methods of education. 5. Your Committee view with alarm the recommendations of the Commission on Education re classification of teachers —namely, that only two grades of certificates of competency to manage and teach a school be granted ; and that no official recognition be granted for literary qualifications higher than the present C certificate. We recommend the Council to urge upon the Minister of Education the desirableness of continuing the recognition of University degrees in the classification of teachers. The recommendations of the Committee were approved by the Council, No. 1 to be given effect to if the Senate of the New Zealand University made padagogy a subject for degree work. This it did not do. School of Mines. —The new Director of the School of Mines, Professor James Park, F.G.S., having commenced work, the Mining School Committee had several meetings with him and the teaching staff of the school as to the working of the improved syllabus drawn up last year, and they reported as follows : — Your Committee having met with the teaching staff of the School of Mines and a deputation of students attending the same, has pleasure in submitting the following report to the Council:— The high character of the work done in the mining classes is generally recognised, and is demonstrated by the success which has followed the students trained in this institution. Many of them hold important appointments in this and other countries. But it is generally felt that the time has now come for the school to aim at bringing the teaching of all the classes into line with the B.Sc. requirements of the University of New Zealand, that our students may be in a position to complete their mining studies at the University by graduating in science. _ On this point the students speak strongly, and the teachers recognise the desirableness of meeting their wish, and in the amended course of study proposed by Professor Park this is to some extent aimed at. This amended scheme of study has been considered by your Committee, and, with a few slight amendments suggested by Mr. Waters, has been approved of. Professor Park also suggested that mechanical drawing be taught in the School of Mines. In making this suggestion he adds : " This suggestion has no reference to freehand and model drawing. The requirements of a mining engineering course are quite different from those of the workshop mechanic. Our students must be taught to prepare working-drawings of machine-parts, battery-foundations, mill-frames, stamperbatteries, head-gear, poppet-legs, ore-bins, trestling, fluming, leaching-plant, furnaces, and other requisites and appliances used in modern mining, as well as the making of tracings and blue prints, drawings, &c, in a workmanlike manner." The attention of your Committee was also called to the present requirements in regard to biology. Students in the Mining School have been required to give ten hours per week to lectures and laboratory in this subject, which enters but little into the mining students' course of study. This has been recognised by Dr. Benham and by the staff of the Mining School, and in the amended