Appendix D.l

III

E.—2.

No. 2. EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORTS OF PRINCIPALS OF TRAINING COLLEGES. AUCKLAND. (IT. G. Cousins, Esq., M.A., Acting-Principal.) The work of the year has been difficult, and, although much has been achieved, the following adverse conditions have militated against complete success: (1) Unrest due to the war, students finding it difficult to settle to work with the prospect of an early call to camp ; (2) insufficiency of staffing and accommodation for the increased number of students, and lack of sufficient opportunity for training in the work of a sole-charge school; (3) The delay and difficulty in obtaining sufficient suitable associated teachers to supplement the Normal School staff in the training of students ; (4) interruption of work and subsequent closing of the College for five weeks on account of the influenza epidemic. The following table shows the number of students for the year:—

It is worthy of mention that of the eighty-five students admitted to College during the year four were returned soldiers, two of them having completed a first year in College three years ago. After their military experiences they have returned with pleasure to their civil work, and have fully appreciated, I believe, the opportunities that the College offers for their professional training and for happy social life. Following the plan of preceding years, a half-term alternation was arranged between the firstyear students and those of the second year for their practical training in teaching on the one hand and the more theoretical work in College on the other. Owing to the exceptional number of new students the balance of these two sections was not good. During the first half-term, for example, while fifty-six second-year students were being trained, in the Normal School, eighty-two first-year students were under instruction in College. Owing to the limitation of the staff little subdivision was possible, with the result that some of the classes were unduly large. During the second half of the same term provision had to be made for the practical training of the first-year students, while those of the second year were attending classes in College. The difficulty of accommodating so many (eighty-two) in classes for practical training had been anticipated. As early as December the Committee of Advice had recommended the appointment of sufficient assoo'ated teachers to supplement the staff of the Normal School for this purpose, but as late as April, five weeks after College opened, the appointments were not yet completed, and for a fortnight the College work was considerably disorganized as a result. A special difficulty during the year has been the obtaining of sufficient practical training in the work of a sole-charge school and in that of the lower classes of a two-teacher school, one only of each type being provided in the Normal School. Although the teachers of these schools were considerably overworked in helping me to meet this difficulty, a number of students have had to leave College with insufficient training in this highly important branch of school-work. The congestion in the College caused by the increased number of students was partly met by the use of a room in the Normal School as an additional women's common-room. On the whole it served its purpose well, but it is so far removed from the rest of the College that it can be regarded only as a temporary provision. It is gratifying to note that provision has been made for an increased staff by the amendments to the Training College Regulations, gazetted on the 17th December last. In order to provide a training as broad as possible the College activities have been very varied. Visits of observation have been paid to such places of interest as Mount Eden, the Museum, the Art Gallery, and the Institute for the Blind. Peripatetic parties, varying in number from twenty to one hundred and twenty, have engaged in many walking excursions. On the physical side generally College life has again shown much activity, more particularly in hockey, basket-ball, tennis, fives, and swimming. In spite of our efforts to maintain conditions suitable for good health, a number of cases of illness occurred during the year. I think the time has come for a hostel to be established in connection with the College, and for a medical officer to be appointed to watch over the physical welfare of the students. The advantages accruing from regular habits and wisely regulated diet should be utilized for such an institution as our College.

ii—E. 2 (A P p. d.)

Division A. Division B. Men. sn. Division Total _ Women. j ' ■ Grand Division Division Division ,„ , , Total. A. B. D. Xotal - Women. In College in 1917 .. .. .. 6 Admitted, 1918 .. .. .. 21 Re-admitted (returned soldiers) .. 2 I 1 7 22 2 47 54 2 6 i 49 61 56 83 2 29 1 1 31 i | 101 __ 8 i 110 141 Left during year— To New Zealand Expeditionary Force 6 Private causes 1 7 7 o ) » In College on 1st November .. .. 23 i 108 132 23 24 99