E.—2.

Refresher courses : Art and craft courses for Wellington teachers continued this year, and, in addition, a course in music by Mr. Young. At the request of the Hutt Valley Headmasters' Association a course for teachers of Petone and Hutt Valley was started in art and artcraft on alternate Thursday afternoons by Mr. Hipkins and Miss Hanham. lam assured that these courses are producing very pleasing results. Exhibition : I am pleased to report a much greater attendance of teachers and pupils at this year's Art and Craft Exhibition. It was also well attended by the public. The teachers and general public of Blenheim and Nelson expressed their appreciation of the Board's action in transporting a large part of the Exhibition to those centres. The College Library. —We are indebted to the Carnegie Corporation for a gift of an art set, a comprehensive collection of books and prints, which will be of inestimable value in the training of students and, we hope, will also be at the service of schools and colleges. We have within the last twelve months purchased over £200 worth of books. The library can be kept up to date in the future thanks to the provision this year of an annual capitation allowance of ss. Visual Education. —After careful study of the various kinds of film-projection, taking into account costs and convenience in use and in general educational suitability, we have come to the conclusion that the film-strip projector offers the widest possibilities. We made, therefore, purchases of two projectors and photographic equipment for the production of film strips. The manipulation of the projector calls for no special skill, but the making of films requires technical knowledge as well as an appreciation of educational needs. This is a work which will make considerable demands on the extracurricular time of the staff. Dental Students.—Wo have continued our short courses with dental students, who receive instruction in lesson presentation. They are given six periods of one and a half hours in which some theory, observation, and practice of teaching is provided for. Plans for the New College.—Our recommendations for the new building were the outcome of exhaustive reading and planning by every member of the staff. The Board's plans incorporating these suggestions will, we believe, enable the college to develop normally in efficiency and in usefulness to the Education Service, and at the same time provide for growth in all the directions foreshadowed in modern educational thought.

CHRISTCHURCH. The year has been notable for the exceptional amount of sickness. Many students suffered from measles, especially in the latter part of the year. In addition, there were several cases of severe illness due to appendicitis or mastoid trouble, and I regret to state that one first-year female student passed away as a result of sudden illness. Nevertheless, the year may be considered a successful one. There has been a pleasing spirit of co-operation between staff and students, and extra-curricular activities of the college in the form of clubs, sports, social activities, &c., have been well organized and fully supported. The responsibility of organizing most of these is thrown entirely on the students, who elect their own executive and committees, though a member of the staff is associated with each in an advisory capacity. This responsibility has been fully justified, and the studeflts' executive and sub-committees have done very good work. Some innovations were inaugurated this year. To conform to the spirit of greater freedom in education to-day and to break down to some extent the old lecture system, the experiment was tried of giving second-year students an opportunity of individual research work on one half-day each week while in college. Lecturers whose subjects were suitable for this purpose prepared assignments on a section of the field to be covered, and the students were free to work out these projects on a modified Dalton plan, arranging their time-tables to suit themselves. They were free to work either in our own library or at other places where books and materials were available such as Canterbury College library, the Public Library, or Museum, &c. The only stipulations made were (1) the results had to be completed by a given date, and (2) a log-book had to be kept showing the nature of the research each week and the place where it was carried out. The members of the staff were available for consultation if required, and notified the students of sources of information. On the whole, the scheme justified itself sufficiently to warrant its continuation. The main difficulty was the paucity of books of reference and the general inadequacy of facilities for full research. The students appreciated the innovation, and with one or two exceptions completed their task by the stipulated time and generally did quite satisfactory work, some of the work done being exceptionally good. A further innovation was to bring all students on teaching-rota into college for a whole day instead of half a day each week. On this day, in the morning, one period was devoted to discussion of practical problems arising out of their teaching, one period for discussion and preparation of lessons to be taken during the next week, and two periods to " clubs " or cultural work of several types. This year the clubs included a Choral Society, a Drama Club, a Debating Club, a Microscopic Club, an Art Club, a Current Events Club, a Modern Literature Club, and a group known as the Industrial Visits Club. The last-mentioned group visited some industrial concern, such as a printing firm, a pottery-works, or a tannery, &c., in successive weeks, and the following week discussed and worked out ways and means by which the knowledge so gained could be made available to schools. Vocational guidance was one of the main aspects studied, and the course was of undoubted benefit for students who may become " careers " teachers. Next year it is expected that a Camera Club and Crafts Club will be added. These clubs not only made a welcome break in the week's work, but proved highly educative.

B—E. 2.

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