E.—2

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(v) a junior kindergarten. Provision is made for the staffing of classes for backward children and for public schools established as model schools, a class for backward children being in operation in Auckland in a specially designed modern building erected at the cost of a private donor. Students receive their theoretical instruction from the training-college staff, and also attend University college classes to a considerable extent. A certain proportion of students attempt degree work in conjunction with their trainingcollege work, although this double course is discouraged except in cases of specially suited students. Divisions A, B, and C students satisfactorily completing the prescribed course of work at the training college may, on the recommendation of the Principal, receive without further examination a trained teacher's certificate ranking with, the Class C or Class D certificate, as may be determined. Of the students beginning a twoyears course in 1918, 4 held Class C certificates, 129 Class D certificates, and 87 held partial successes towards teachers' certificates at the time of entry ; and at the end of the course, out of 252 students, 1 held a Class A certificate, 13 Class B certificates, 144 Class C certificates, and 68 Class D certificates, the remaining students having secured sectional passes. Still further increases were made in 1919 in, the allowances payable to trainingcollege students. Division. A and Division C students now receive an, annual allowance of £85, and Division B and Division D students, £65 ; all receive in addition University class fees, and, when necessary, a boarding-allowance of £25 per annum or a travelling-allowance. The amounts paid to Education Boards in 1918-19 and 1919-20 for the training of teachers were as follows : — I. Training colleges— 1918-19. 1919-20. Salaries of staffs (two-fifths charged to public-Bohool £ a salaries) .. .. .. .. .. 16,741 21,418 War bonus to stafi (£261) and students (£8,903) '.. 4,164 Students'allowances and University fees .. .. 32,110 56,967 Special instruction, libraries, and incidentals .. 1,437 1,420 Buildings, sites, and equipment .. .. .. 140 3,344 54,592 83,149 IT. Other training — Grants for special instruction in certificate subjects of teachers other than training-college students .. 1,800 3,162 Railway fares of teachers . . .'. .. .. 3,529 2,759 5,329 5,921 Totals .. .. .. .. £59,921 £89,070 Provision for Uncertificated Teachers. Apart from the provision for training colleges, a sum of £5,921, as shown above, was expended upon the maintenance of training classes for uncertificated teachers, and upon the conveyance of the teachers to the classes. The purposes for which the grants were made were : — (1.) Central classes for the direct personal tuition of uncertificated teachers (exclusive of pupil-teachers and probationers) in subjects required for the D certificate. (2.) Tuition and training in. Class D subjects of uncertificated teachers (exclusive of pupil-teachers and probationers) by means of correspondence classes under the control of Education Boards, in cases in which it is found highly inconvenient to bring teachers to classes. Under this heading, however, no correspondence classes in science subjects are recognized unless the Board makes adequate provision for practical work. (3.) Courses of practical work in physical and natural science, in subjects of manual instruction other than those usually taught by special instructors, in vocal music, and in drawing. Grading of Teachers. During the year the third revision of the graded list of certificated teachers was duly completed under the amended regulations. Several improvements in the system have been made as the result of experience, and it is considered that the regulations now fairly meet nearly all the requirements of the situation. Though there have been general and theoretical criticisms of the system and its results, it has been found that with few exceptions the criticisms cannot be justified when an appeal is made to the actual facts of the case and a specific instance is called forth. Many criticisms are due to want of careful reading and study of the regulations, remarkable ignorance of the system being often