141

E.—2.

Number of Students, &c. During the year there were 47 students in training—23 men, 24 women —and, of these, 9 women and 7 men were in for one year only. According to the new regulations the College should have 100 students in training ; but I see no prospect whatever of having more than fifty for the current year (1909). As the regulations threaten ajreduction in staff if the full numbers are not reached, the position needs careful consideration. According to the last departmental report available, that for 1907, there were 159 pupil-teachers in the Auckland District. At a fair estimate about fifty of these should have been in their , last year, and therefore available for entrance to the Training College. As a matter of fact, only eight students were admitted under Division Aas having just completed their apprenticeship. That is to say, the remainder were presumably appointed to assistantships, with no further training than was obtained during pupilteachership. It is obvious that, if this is allowed to go on, the schools will be staffed with poorly, certificated and badly equipped teachers. Out of the 758 adult teachers in the employ of the Board, only sixty-five hold C certificates ; the rest hold lower certificates or none at all (vide report, 1907). Unless steps are taken to compel all pupil-teachers to come to the Training College for at least one year, I see little prospect of an improvement in status ; and to have 8 per cent, only of the teachers holding what is now regarded as a necessary certificate cannot surely be regarded as satisfactory. The pupilteachers themselves cannot realize that it is to their ultimate good to enter the College, and so forego an immediate rise of salary which often doubles their allowance as pupil-teachers. That they recognize it three or four years later is shown by the fact that last year sixteen students gave up their posts, carrying good salaries (in one case £180 a year) to come to the College for one year's training , to try and raise their certificate to the C standard. A pupil-teacher living away from home receives £60 per annum in his last year. On entering the Training College he is entitled to £60 per annum plus.all|University fees, equal to about another £10 per annum. This is very generous treatment indeed, andjjl have no hesitation in strongly urging the Board (if it is possible) to alter their Pupil-teacher Regulations, and compel at least one year's training. For the same reasons I would advise that all probationers, should be required to take the two-years course at the College without any option being allowed- This seems to me to be the only way to insure that there is an upward movement. Large sums of money are being. spent on education, and this is only justifiable when the State gets a fair return for its outlay, with evident signs of improvement. Are these signs apparent ? Curriculum, &c. Of the forty-seven students, seventeen were advised to read for a degree ; the remainder devoted, their energies to the C certificate. The students reading for a degree work for the C certificate in addition, the aim of the College being to equip every student who comes for two years with this certificate on leaving. Of the seventeen who sat for the University Terms Examination, eleven succeeded in. passing. The subjects selected for University work by the seventeen students were as followp : Latin. 12; English, 15; education, 15; mathematics, 8 ; mental science, 2 ; geology, 1 ; chemistry,, 1. The other subjects included in the curriculum are as follows : — Reading, taken by the Principal. —Though nearly all students have satisfied the Department's examinational requirements in this branch, I still find it necessary to have a regular course of lessons. Indistinct speech, talking with closed teeth, clavicular breathing, &c, are rife, and are by no jnenus eradicated, despite vigorous onslaught during the two years. The reading circles held on alternate Saturday nights are invaluable in putting good models before the students ; and I would like to take this oportunity of thanking all those ladies and gentlemen who have given their services to the cause— viz., Mrs. Baume, Mrs. Forsyth, Mrs. C. Phillips, Mr. Baume, Mr. Montague and his cast from the Auckland Shakespeare Society, and Mr. T. H. Gill, and the Inspector-General of Schools, Mr. G. Hogbcn. This year " She Stoops to Conquer " was given by the students in costume. This branch of work seems to be commonly misunderstood. It is not with the idea of making actors and actresses that tjhis is undertaken, but to give those taking part an opportunity of facing an audience, of keeping their self-possession, and, above all, of speaking out clearly and decisively their lines, 'tie students acquitted themselves well, , and, though the cost is considerable, and the amount of overtime required to work up to the necessary standard hard to find, still the value to the students warrants all. I have been very pleased to hear that an ex-student, who took part two years ago in " The Rivals," has worked up a play in his district very successfully, and provided intelligent occupation for the young 'settlers stationed near. Writing, taken by Mr. H. 0. Cousins, headmaster of the Normal School. Arithmetic, taken by Mr. H. G. Cousins. Music, taken by Mr. S. Green, assistant in the Normal School. Besides the ordinary class-work, a musical society was formed, and more advanced work attempted. The College band, under the leadership of Mr. A. J. Cottrell, comprised eleven performersj and did yeomen service on the night of the play, and on social evenings generally. Drawing. —There were two sections, A and B. Section A consisted of students preparing lor examination, and was taken by Mr. Cockburn, of the Technical School staff. Section B consist o<l of students who had already passed the necessary examinations. They were taught by Mr. liarry Wallace, art master at the Technical School, who took more advanced work, special attention being given to blackboard work. A large number of the diagrams done by students in this class w : ere on view on the opening-day, and excited very favourable comment. Physiology, taken by A. J. Cottrell, M.A., M.Sc, science master at the College. This subject is compulsory for all students taking the C certificate. The syllabus requires too much microscopic work —work which is far too detailed for school purposes. What is required is a syllabus containing