11

E.—lc.

Of these, 8 were males and 30 females. This gave a total of 72, but of these, 4 withdrew before the completion of the year. At the end of the Canterbury College year in October, 35 students passed an examination at that institution, of whom 9 gained credit mention and 2 obtained exhibitions. There were 3 failures, and 5 were absent from examination through illness. The students' studies, 1 may note, were considerably affected by the prevailing influenza epidemic. Students' Studies. —The courses of study followed by the students have been much the same this year as last, Canterbury College having been taken advantage of to the fullest extent. The range of subjects taken has been very wide, nearly all, if not all, of the subjects taught at Canterbury College having been taken by some of our students; and in this choice of subjects 1 have allowed the students unrestricted freedom. In addition to the subjects taken at Canterbury College, the students have to take other subjects of study at the Training College, and in this part of the work our course has been amplified this year by the inclusion of physical culture, woodwork, practical agriculture, and experimental science and nature-study. The whole number of subjects taken by those students who aim at a University course and who have also to take the special professional subjects is so large that time is not available for doing some of the above-named ones and others as thoroughly as might be deemed advisable; for if the University subjects are to be done well enough to satisfy the University professors and lecturers, the other subjects cannot have the time and attention requisite for their successful treatment. At the same time it may be said that what is done in these subjects, though limited in extent, will enable the students to follow out more fully, later on, any of them that they may take in schools where they become responsible members of the staff, it is satisfactory to note that the important subject of cookery continues a popular one with the students; they take great interest in the work they do at the School of Domestic instruction, and we may well hope that if facilities should, in the future, be afforded to teach the subject in the primary schools, they may be found qualified to undertake the work. Teaching-practice. —Owing to the students having to carry on at the same time University studies and training in teaching, no little difficulty is found in arranging a scheme which will give students practice in teaching that shall be reasonably sufficient in the various subjects of the school standards and in the various stages of a child's school life. 1 have endeavoured to find out what methods are adopted in training colleges in other countries, and it seems to me that wherever courses of study and practice in teaching are carried on together, the practice in actual teaching is a weak point. The time given to actual teaching, or observation of teaching, in this Training College—viz., from three-quarters of an hour to an hour per day—is, I believe, more than is usually given in training colleges. This may be sufficient for the students of Division A, but 1 doubt whether it is enough for students of Division B (i.e., those who have not been pupilteachers), though they do some additional continuous teaching during Canterbury College vacations. And yet, if more teaching be required from the B students, it will militate largely against their being able to maintain their standing at Canterbury College. Of the B students, however, many give promise of becoming good teachers when they have had more practice with classes. Last year students all took their practice in teaching between 9 and 10 a.m., the subject taught at that hour being changed at intervals so that practice might be obtained in the various subjects of the school course. The classes of children were broken up into drafts at that hour, but for the rest of the day were, for the most part, left to the teachers of the permanent staff. This prevented the children's work suffering to any great extent, as it might do if the children were handed over for much of the day to the students. A change in the Canterbury College time-table prevented the continuance of this plan. Accordingly the students were divided, so that some took their teaching at one part of the day and others at another part. For the greater part of the year two "criticism lessons" per week are given in the presence of the whole body of students. Some objections have been raised against " criticism lessons," but they are included in most trainingcollege schemes, and 1 regard them as a valuable part of the training-college course. Although, here and there, the desire to give their energies to University work preponderates too largely, I am glad to say that on the whole the students have shown themselves in earnest in endeavouring to qualify themselves for their work as teachers. Staff of Training College and Normal School. —Principal, Mr. Edwin Watkins, B.A. ; tutor, Mr. Joseph H. Wilson, M.A.; headmaster and instructor in method, Mr. Christopher T. Aschman ; headmistress and kindergartner, Miss Harriet E. Starkiss; first A.F. and instructor in needlework, Miss Gertrude M. Glanville; second A.M. and instructor in science, Mr. George H. White; third A.M., Mr. Wilfred W. Garton, 8.A.; second A.F., Miss Ellen Grand; third A.F., Miss Annie Ansley; four A.F., Miss Elizabeth E. Bevin; master of Secondary School, Mr. James W. Mcllraith, M.A.; master of Model School and instructor in agriculture, Mr. Michael J. Lynskey. Statistics. Number of students remaining from 1906, — M. F. Total. Division A ... ... ... ■•• •■• •■• 8 18 26 Division 8... ... ... ... ••• ... 1 7 8 Total ... ... ... ... 9 25 34 Number of students who entered during 1907, — Division A ... ... ' ... ... ... •■• 5 24 29 Division B ... ... ••■ ••• ••• ... 2 6 8 Under clause 11 ... ... ■•• •■■ ... 1 0 1 Total ... ... ... ... 8 30 38