E. —2

13. REPORTS (EXTRACTS) OF PRINCIPALS OF TRAINING COLLEGES. AUCKLAND. Students taking University College Lectures. —The University work has been somewhat disappointing, though students have worked steadily throughout the year. A number entered having, previous to entry to Training College, commenced University work as extra-mural students. I feel that while it is desirable that the Department should encourage our men teachers, in particular, to gain degrees, it would be a very great advantage if it were made impossible for students to attempt University courses concurrently with Training-college work. We should encourage those students who wish to enter the post-primary or intermediate schools to complete their graduate course before entering the Training College. It would be very interesting to follow up the careers of those students who commence University work in their first year in College and then go into the country for some years. I believe that the majority of these students have only interrupted their two years' training without securing any advantage from University work. Training for Post-primary Work. —This department of our work has been steadily developing. With the help of Dr. H. B. Wallace it was very greatly strengthened on the modern language side. His resignation unfortunately left us in mid-year in a very difficult position. Next year I hope to have the help of a lecturer well qualified to carry on the language work of this secondary department. With an increasing number of gradiiate students coming forward it would seem desirable for us to give close attention to the matter of strengthening the College on the secondary side. Our staff, with a modern-language specialist appointed vice Dr. Wallace, will be able to give an attractive one-year course leading to post-primary work. We can provide, too, an interesting and valuable course on psychological foundations of the education of the adolescent. There remains the need to provide for adequate teaching practice, well graded and equally carefully supervised. Though Ī have to record my appreciation of the help given by Seddon Memorial Technical College and by some of the local secondary schools, I must say that the Board and the Department will ultimately require to provide its own practice school for this work. With the advent ,of the general purposes post-primary school, where attention is being rightly focused on cultural as well as on purely academic work, and with the needs of the intermediate school reflecting upon the College, it would seem that we must go on developing our Department for training teachers for post-primary schools. Grounds and Equipment. —The College and Normal School grounds are now reaching a stage where it is possible to regard our facilities for athletic work as complete. We are able to provide on our grounds those athletic activities which should find a place in any good school. All our students personally participate in games, reaching a good standard of proficiency. In the College baths we are able to ensure that every outgoing student is able to reach the standard of the bronze medallion of the B.oyal Life Saving Society. This year we have laid down at a cost of £20 a first-class cricket-pitch in grass. It is already in use, and has been so successful that we hope to lay down several more next year. Due to the help of the Auckland Cricket Association we have, each week, the valuable services of Mr. Townsend, the Association's coach. This is possible only now that we have a really good grass wicket. With the generous help of the Education Board and the Department we have steadily pursued our grounds plan until to-day, with facilities for tennis, cricket, hockey, football, basketball, and swimming in our own grounds, the Board may look with confidence to the young teacher leaving College and taking his place in the school and community with gifts of leadership developed in a department of life that is every day becoming more important. In connection with these extra-curricular activities of College, I must express my indebtedness to members of my staff who generously give up Saturday afternoons and after-college hours during the weeks in order to give their individual help and encouragement to this part of our work. The Board will be pleased to know that several adjoining schools use the College grounds for their football and cricket games. In the work of coaching and controlling these games, our students give ready help. Lectures for Relief Workers. —For several years the College staff has provided each week a lunchperiod. lecture for the relief men who have been at work on our grounds. The lectures have been given on Fridays, from 12.30 to 1 p.m. (in the men's own time), they have been largely attended, practically every man available being in attendance. History, art, literature, agriculture, sociology, geography, travel, international affairs, science, and education have formed our syllabus of study. The interest taken in the lectures and the subsequent discussions by the men have proved conclusively that there has been a fine field for adult education amongst our unemployed people. Standard of Work. —I have to report that 1935 has marked a year of very successful work. Students have been somewhat older than formerly, due no doubt to the break in the entry of students in 1933-34. The entrants, however, have been conscious that the rigid selection made for 1935 was in the nature of a challenge, to which they have responded with very good results.

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