51

E.—2

Skill in Teaching. —It is witli great pleasure that I note tlie great promise shown by a majority of our students in the practical work of teaching. One cannot doubt the enthusiasm, in many cases backed by considerable ability and in some by great originality, that is being put into their teaching by these young people. Very gratifying reports reach me from critic teachers and others testifying to the good promise that is being shown, a promise that finds endorsement in the comments by Inspectors on those who have recently left the College to accept responsible positions as teachers. Without enthusiasm we shall get nowhere ; with it we may go far. Apropos of this, I consider that the time is opportune for the organization of regular short refresher courses at the training colleges for ex-students who have served, say, five years after completing their course in college. The trainixig colleges have developed considerably, more especially in capacity to help in specialization in certain directions, and there is a strong desire on the part of such young teachers to keep abreast with the culture that is obtainable. If they could return, for, say, three weeks, in parties of fifty, it would be possible to keep more steadily burning in the teaching service the flame of enthusiasm for skill and culture. Students' College Life. —Once again I desire to record my appreciation of the students' capacity and willingness for organizing their sports and general social life. During the year £.1,500 has been received and effectively spent by the students' executive ill catering for the happy social well-being of nearly four hundred students on the basis of a healthy mental and physical life. The standard of sport in our various College games is high among- our senior teams, but there is much work ahead before a due appreciation of the value of school games will show itself in better performance on the part of a minority of students who lag considerably behind their fellows. I conclude this report with an appreciation of the consideration and courtesy extended to the College and myself by the Chairman and officers of your Board, and of the officers of the Education Department. Once again I express appreciation of the unity and good-fellowship of my staff as the strongest factor contributing to efficient College work. WELLINGTON, 1 have the honour to submit the following report on the work of the College for the year 1928. Accommodation.—The Wellington Training College is still handicapped through want of sufficient accommodation, a condition of affairs that has existed now for many years. Two additional difficulties arose during the year —first, to provide a permanent room for Mr. Jenner for music, and, secondly, to provide a room for handwork for Miss Thornton. It has been found impossible to provide this accommodation. Mr. Jenner conducts his music lessons partly in the geography-room and partly in the gymnasium, necessitating a constant carrying-about of material. Miss Thornton shares a room with Mr. McKinnon, who takes nature-study. This room has no heating-apparatus for glue or hot water, and no sinks in which the students may clean up-; therefore, these two additional members of the staff conduct their work under many inconveniences. Staff. —The following changes in the staff have taken place, during 1928 : Mr. Parker, part-time Lecturer in Music, severed his connection with the College after thirty - six years' association with the training of teachers under the Wellington Education Board, and his resignation was received with deep regret by all familiar with the excellent work which he has performed so faithfully for so many years. This report can but add its inadequate recognition of his services, with which the Board is familiar. The retirement was rendered necessary by a forward movement on the part of the Department for the appointment of a full-time Lecturer in Music, which was accepted by Mr. Jenner, A.RA.M., L.R.A.M., of the Royal Academy of Music, London, who reported for work during July. Mr. Jenner has subsequently organized a full course of study in music, giving this subject its adequate recognition on the College curriculum. At the beginning of the year Mr. McKinnon was appointed Lecturer in Nature-study, in place of Mrs. Martin-Smith ; Miss Thornton, Lecturer in Infant-room Method ; and Mr. A. D. Priestley, lecturers' assistant. University Work. —The University classes attended by students were as follows : English, 8 ; Latin, 13; French, 29; Italian, 3; education, 61; philosophy, 58; history, 57 ; economics, 9 ; Greek history, art, and literature, 6; geography, 10; mathematics, 9 ; applied mathematics, 4; geology, 3 ; chemistry, 7 ; physics, 3 ; botany, 8 ; zoology, 4 : total, 292. These classes were taken by a total of 133 students, while 96 students obtained their full course at the College. Students taking science at the University have great difficulty in completing a full training-college course because of attendance at the University during the daytime. This difficulty has been in evidence for some time. Every effort is made to fit in the essential subjects, but some omissions are inevitable. Students' Teaching Practice.—We are again greatly indebted to the headmasters and the staffs of many schools in Wellington for expert co-operation in the teaching practice of students. The system of sending students out into the schools is an excellent one, for they receive their practice under natural conditions ; however, there are still difficulties to overcome. The greatest one is that of estimating the value of the various reports received from so many different sources. This has. been met by sending out the members of the Training College staff to observe the students at work and to discuss with the class-room teacher lessons given by the students. Another difficulty, mentioned in a previous report, is the absence of travelling-expenses, making placement of students in the schools a complicated nature. We would like to express our thanks to the headmasters for their assistance in this most important part of teacher training.