E.—2.

Appendix D.

New College. —The foundation-stone of the new infant department at Kelburne was laid in October, and the new building will be ready for occupation early in 1914. Our old buildings at Thorndon are now quite inadequate for the College work, and we sincerely trust that the new College will soon follow on the very fine site now provided, for the division of the institution will entail a loss of time to the students and a very considerable increase in the work of the staff, more particularly in view of the fact that the increased number of students has already necessitated duplication of all lectures and laboratory work. In conclusion, I have again to thank the committee of advice for their valued assistance in the very numerous problems that have arisen during the year, and Mr. Webb and the staff for the ready way in which they have undertaken the increased duties of a very strenuous year. That these added responsibilities are not imaginary is practically shown in the fact that the recent College vacancies have attracted a very small number of applicants. I am pleased to see that the new College regulations have granted a substantial increase in the salaries of all the junior assistants. I have, &c. The Secretary, Education Board, Wellington. J. S. Tennant, Principal.

CANTERBURY. Report of the. Principal for the Yeak 1913. Sir, — Training College, 12th March, 1914. I have the honour to present my report on the work of the Christchurch Training College for the year 1913. During the 110 students were enrolled —twenty-eight men and eighty-two women. All of them, with the exception of four students in Division B, had previously completed a full term of service either as pupil-teachers or as probationers. Forty-four students completed their full course of training by attendance for a second year. Of the students of the first year, three graduates of the University, who devoted all their time to the study of their profession, attended for one year only. Twenty-two men and seventy-three women had passed the Matriculation Examination prior to their admission, and six men and nine women were admitted on the strength of other qualifications. The arrangements made for the intellectual training of the students have been very similar to those provided last year. With one or two exceptions, all the students attended classes at Canterbury College in two or more subjects. The more advanced scholars studied with the view of keeping College terms, but the large majority desired, or were advised, to confine their attention to such subjects as would satisfy the requirements of the Class C certificate, or would count towards gaining a certificate of Class B. A student's mental equipment needs to be somewhat more liberal than that represented by a bare pass in the Matriculation Examination to eriable him to do justice at the same time to the double demands of a Training and a University College. At the Training College, in addition to the varied course followed in previous years, there was given a series of lectures on school hygiene, delivered by Dr. Kerr-Hislop. This course dealt with ailments associated with school life, and also included practical demonstrations of the method of medically inspecting school-children, the students, in successive groups, acting as assistants to the medical officer. For many years past students' classes in drawing have been conducted at the School of Art. It has been found to be more convenient to have these classes taught at the Training College by the Director of the School of Art and a member of his staff, with consequent economy of time previously spent in transit from one institution to another. The temporary provision made for physical instruction of the students has been superseded since the close of the year by regular visits from expert instructors appointed by the Education Department. For the increased number of students it has been a difficult matter to provide at the Normal School sufficient opportunity for practice in teaching. The demand for additional facilities has been to some extent supplied by the operation of the recent regulations, which recognize visits paid to approved classes within a convenient distance of the Training College as satisfying in part the demand for training in practical efficiency. After consultation with the Chief Inspector and the head teachers interested, such daily visits were paid by many of the senior students at the termination of the Canterbury College term. To the teachers of the schools visited my thanks, are due for their valuable co-operation in affording facilities to the students for extending their experience of school-work. The Normal School has attained the maximum enrolment permitted by the regulations, and the headmaster has constantly to refuse applications for admission. Substitution of modern furniture in some of the rooms for the cumberous desks in use for so many years has greatly improved the working-conditions. It may justly be claimed that the discipline, while firm, is humane, and that in several of the classes corporal punishment is very seldom resorted to, and in some is conspicuous by its absence. The report of the Chief Inspector is distinctly encouraging, and recognizes that, while the school exists primarily for the professional training of teachers, the interests of the children are well safeguarded. The Model School (sole charge) is Yis'ted by many country teachers when opportunities for so doing are afforded them.

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