7

E.—lo.

two tutors are required, whose sole time can be devoted to lecturing in the various subjects at present taken by the staff of the Normal School, and to supervise private-study classes as occasion arises. In no other similar institution in the world that I have ever heard of—certainly not in the British Isles —is the attempt made to run a training college by means of a normal-school staff. It is a great pity to spoil a good ship for a barrel of tar, and an extra grant of £200 per year would make all the difference between mediocrity and real efficiency. The only point not touched upon of great interest is the question of providing suitable lodging accommodation for students who are required to live away from home. It is exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, for students to get suitable accommodation, where the surroundings are conducive to work, at a rate within their means. From newspaper reports this problem is being solved at Wellington by the building of a hostel. This scheme will be watched with interest, and, if successful, a similar one will be pushed forward here. The question of holding a special course for backblocks teachers was suggested by the Department in a letter of inquiry as to what was being done. It was decided not to hold one, for the following reasons : (1.) The Principal's time is very fully occupied at present, and any time devoted to such a scheme must of necessity be deducted from that given to the students in ordinary training. (2.) The regulations allow such backblocks teachers to come into the College for a course of one year's training, which is the least time in which anything but a mere smattering could be given. It is the personal contact that such teachers want more than anything. (3.) Holiday courses in nature-study and handwork are already taken by country teachers, under the auspices of the Technical School, and to take them from their schools for a further period would disorganize their schools seriously.

Report of the Pbincipal of the Training College, Wellington (Mr. William Ghat, M.A., B.Sc). Enrolment and Classification. —The enrolment at the commencement of the year's work was 77 admitted in the regular way under Division Aor B. During the year 4 more were admitted, ,'i of them under the teacher's special clause—clause 11—and one transferred from the Christchurch Training College, This brought the total up to 81, though as a matter of fact npt more than 80 were actually on the roll at any one time. The following figures show the numbers of students in the different divisions, and the number provided respectively by each of the educational districts represented by the College : — 1. Arranged according to terms of admission : — M. F. Total. Ex-pupil-teachers, Division A ... ... ... 9 41 50 Non-pupil-teachers, Division B ... ... ... 7 21 28 Teachers in actual service, clause 11 ... ... 1 2 3 17-64 ■ 81 2. Arranged according to year of training:— M. F. Total. Students in second year ... ... ... 12 34 46 Students in first year ... ... ... ... 4 28 32 Students from three to seven months ... ... 1 2 3 17 64 81 ■'5. Arranged according to districts : — Ex-P.Ts. Non-P.T.s. Teachers. Total. Wellington ... ... ... ... 21 13 0 34 Wanganui ... ... ... ... 18 6 1 25 Hawke's Bay ... ... ... 9 1 0 10 Nelson ... ... ... ... 0 7 0 ,' 7 Marlborough ... ... ... ... 1 0 2 3 Grey ... ... ... ... 1 0 0 1 From Christchurch Training College ... 0 1 0 1 50 28 3 81 In the number allotted to Wellington are included two or three whose homes are in other districts, but who have either served their apprenticeship, or have undertaken the last part of their school training in Wellington. Eventually, no doubt, these will settle in the districts to which they belong. Scarcity of Men. —Probably the most striking fact disclosed in these figures is the small proportion of men students in the College. It has become a commonplace now that teaching has ceased to be attractive to men. There is no gainsaying the fact, seek to disguise it how we may. A larger proportion of men must be found; and I believe that it is the uncertainty of promotion rather than the smallness of the remuneration that at present warns off men whose natural instincts would otherwise lead them into a profession that offers the prize not of wealth, but of a life of untold usefulness and influence. A starting-point as good as is given in other lines of life, security of tenure, reasonable and fair promotion independent of accidental circumstances, a fair competence for old age and infirmity—given these—and surely they can be given—and it is almost certain that men of brain and heart will not be found wanting even in an age and in a land which offers so large inducements in other directions.