E.—2.

[Appendix D.

After the conclusion of the second term of Canterbury College short courses were provided in swimming and ambulance. Owing to the enthusiasm of the students and their capable instructor, M*. G. Billson, a good many lessons and practices in swimming were arranged for, and several of the students passed a good examination in swimming and life-saving. It is to be hoped that during the current-year arrangements may be made to hold a swimming-class for women students. '"- " The class in ambulance and first aid was held in connection with St. John's Ambulance Association, which kindly provided a special short course for the Training College students. Several of the latter qualified for the association's certificate, but many others could not sit for examination owing to their inability to attend the full number of lectures prescribed for intending candidates. The Normal School has had a successful year, and, owing to additions to the staff, has been conducted under improved working-conditions. Miss Inkpen, appointed to succeed the late Miss Starkiss as kindergarten mistress, possesses a wide knowledge, obtained in a Training College and schools of high repute in Scotland. The appointment of Mr. S. McCullough as additional assistant, has set the headmaster free to exercise more general supervision of the school and students, a duty he has discharged with tact and zeal and marked professional skill. At the end of the year Dr. J. W. Mcllraith resigned the charge of the secondary department to take a position on the Auckland Inspectorate. As the new regulations permitted the establishment of a junior kindergarten class of pupils from three to five years of age, a beginning was made in this direction during the year. Owing to lack of suitable accommodation, this class is not conducted under such favourable conditions as may be hoped for in the future, but the growing demand for kindergarten schools justified the establishment of such a class without further delay. The large number of probationers in the employ of the Kindergarten Association who have availed themselves of the opportunity to observe the working of this class represents only one phase of its value to the district. The management of this class has been intrusted to a specially qualified teacher, Miss Helene G. Schmidt, a former student of the Training College, who previously had attended a course at the Breslau Kindergarten Seminary, and subsequently had considerable practical experience in organizing kindergarten classes in Wellington. Most of the women students of the second year gained some knowledge of the working of the class. It is proposed that during the current year all women students of the second year shall have much wider facilities for observing the working of the system. Such training is the more important inasmuch as the generally accepted main principles of Froebel's work supply the basis of the teaching in the infant departments, and at least the lower classes of approved schools in the Dominion. By the death of the Principal, Mr. Edwin Watkins, 8.A., a notable landmark in the history of education in Canterbury has been removed. He has been connected with the Christchurch Training College for thirty-five years, at first as tutor, and for seventeen years as Principal. Hundreds of teachers throughout New Zealand remember with gratitude the kindly interest he took in their welfare and the high standard of conscientious devotion to duty that he constantly placed before them. Those who were more intimately connected with him had abundant evidence of the broad sympathy that characterized all his actions when dealing with his fellow-workers. His high moral character and his concern for the welfare of others will be recorded in the grateful memory of those who knew him best. Among his notes I find a record of his warm appreciation of the loyal support accoided to him by the members of his staff. To Mr. C. T. Aschman a special meed of praise is due for the capable manner in which, in addition to his own responsibilities as headmaster, he also, at a critical period, took the general management of the College for several weeks during the absence of the late Principal. I have, &c, T. S. Foster, Acting Principal. H. C. Lane, Esq., Secretary, Education Board, North Canterbury.

OTAGO.' Sir, — '" Training College, Dunedin, 19th December, 1911. I have much pleasure in presenting the report of the work of the Training College for the year 1911. Attendance and Classification of Students. —We opened with a full attendance of 100 students —fifty-eight women and forty-two men. It is a matter of congratulation to see so many men on the roll; it is the largest number on the roll in any one year since the College was established. Of the total roll this year, forty were in the second and sixty in their first year. The educational status of the students may be gathered from their classification as follows : Seventy-nine in Division A, nineteen in Division B, and two in Division C. According to our regulations, students are admitted from any education district. The numbers from the different centres were : Otago, 58; Southland, 20; and South Canterbury, 8. The attendance at classes has been very good, and the health of the students quite satisfactory. College Classes and University Glasses. —We have this year added the following branches of instruction in the case of the juniors : Elocution, cookery, practical agriculture, first aid and ambulance work, and for both junior and seniors school gardening and military drill. The new regulations provide for woodwork and hygiene. We shall add these to our curriculum next year. I am very much dissatisfied with the course of training given in science at the Training College. We dabble in far too many sciences. The course ought to be simplified so as to give a training in scientific methods of teaching rather than trying to overtake a smattering of the whole circle

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