145
E.—2
inadequate, and very much inferior to what should be expected in those who have gone right through the primary-school course, and in most cases have spent at least two years at a secondary school. For the most part students would avoid science subjects, both at training college and at university, if they could, and. not infrequently express dislike to the practical side of such subjects. In framing the University course I find it is the few who wish to take up science subjects. All along the line the desire seems towards what can be got up from text-books or memorised from lectures ; and I can only put this down to habit—a habit of many years' growth. The mind has become so accustomed to imbibing from text-books and to depending upon statement and lecture that it is only with difficulty it can be roused to independent effort in investigating facts. Coming to the Training College with so poor an equipment in science and in observational geography, the students have a great deal to do in their two-years course, even along this one line, if they would prepare themselves for the demands that will shortly be made upon them as teachers. The most elementary notions in physics, in chemistry, and in the phenomena of nature are often wanting. Surely it is a reflection on a good deal of the education that has gone before that it is so, and constitutes an additional reason for equipping this part of the College-work as fully and adequately as possible, and of providing for it the services of a specially qualified science master, who can give his undivided attention to the subject. The students are classified according to University standing, as follows : Passed the M.A. degree, 2 ; passed the B.A. degree, 8 ; passed the first section of the 8.A., 6 ; passed first or second terms, 42 ; matriculated, 16. Some four or five students have not matriculated. Two of these sat for this examination in December last, and both were successful. Of those who have not kept terms the majority have passed the University exa/ninations in one or two subjects. Where it is at all possible, and in keeping with other demands made upon their time and attention, it is expected that students will present themselves for the term's examinations. The Professors' reports show that the majority of students exercise diligence in their work at the University. Fifteen students entered for the degree examinations in November : for the M.A., 3 ; for the B.A. final section, 4 ; and for the B.A. first section, 8. Attendance was distributed among the classes at Victoria College as follows : English, 51 ; Latin, 38 ; mental science, 11 ; education, 37 ; mathematics, 16 ; French, 8 ; biology, 14 ; German, 8 ; chemistry, 4. Two students took 4 classes, 26.t00k 3 classes, 49 took 2 classes, and 1 took only 1. This works out at an average of 2-25 classes per student. The students who took four classes were well prepared by previous study in most of their subjects. The student of average ability cannot do justice to more than two classes and at the same time give proper attention to the practical side of iis training, which has the foremost claim upon his time and strength. The question again arises, is it possible for students to pursue their academic course and at the same time do justice to the many other requirements of their professional training ? First, I think it would be better —and I advise this course —that degree students should finish their degree before entering, and then during their training year (for one year at the Training College in such cases would be sufficient) give the whole of their time to strictly professional subjects. To take a typical example, one of the 1908 entrants happened to be an honours student. Of necessity by far the greater part of her time had to be given to her honours studies. To have given her undivided attention to this work during the whole year, and then to have entered the Training College in 1909, and then to devote her whole time to her professional training, would have been the better plan. We have had experience of students running their last two University years side by side with their Training College course. This has not worked for the best. It is, I believe, quite possible to combine the first two years of the degree course with the Training College course if the students are well prepared, but in the main the better course is to complete the degree course before the Training College course is begun. If this be done, then one year at the Training College should be sufficient. Then, leaving aside the degree students, and looking at the requirements of the majority, the question arises, are the interests of their future educational careers best met by a combined course such as we contemplate ? The answer, I think, must be Yes, if the proper courses of study can be provided. A glance at the attendance figures given above would seem to indicate that the best selection of subjects is not made. Latin figures very conspicuously, though a comparatively small number will be required to teach the subject; and biology seems to claim a much smaller number than its importance in the elementary-school programme would require. The line must in future be drawn more strictly between degree and non-degree students ;if this were done more would probably take up the science subjects, which should be regarded as essential. First-year Students. —Their subjects and the time devoted to them were as follows : Methods, observation, and practice, 5 hours per week ; physiography (compulsory), 2 hours per week'; physical culture (compulsory), 1J hours per week ; course of modelling in plasticine (compulsory), about 20 hours ; course of modelling in cardboard (compulsory), about 30 hours ; course of blackboard drawing (compulsory), about 20 hours ; certificate drawing (optional), 2 hours per week ; certificate singing (optional), 1 hour per week ; certificate sewing (optional), 1 hour per week ; certificate physiology (optional), about 30 hours. This programme analysed shows that the first-year students were employed at the Training College for a minimum of about nine hours and a maximum of about twelve hours per week during the year. The special courses are taken when the University is not in session—viz., in March, October, and November. The work has been so arranged that students of the first year have half of every day and the whole of Thursday free for study. No demands are made on their Saturdays. An extra hour per week could well be given to singing and to sewing ; and, in view of what I have said in another place about equipment in science, much more time should be given to this and to physiography. Second-year Students. —Methods, observation, and practice (compulsory), 7 hours per week ; naturestudy (compulsory), 1 hour per week ; kindergarten (women), 2 hours per week ; physiology (C) (optional), 2 hours per week ; physical culture, 1|- hours per week. In this section allowance has to be made for the time required in preparing for teaching. Each student must spend from four to five hours per week in the class-room, and at least half of this time is devoted to actual teaching. The 19— E. 2.
Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.
By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.
Your session has expired.