THE AUCKLAND TRAINING SCHOOL

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1671, 26 June 1875, Page 3

THE AUCKLAND TRAINING SCHOOL

The Auckland Model Training School has been thrown open during the present week to the public, and has afforded much pleasure to visitors —the method of impartiug instruction in the various branches of educatiqn being so novel and different from common systems. The masters of this new school in the Choral Hall, which averages 120 scholars, are Mr Josiah Martin, who heads the departments of science, commerce, and manufactures; and I'ev. E. Browne, who superintends the classes for instruction in languages, music, drawing, mathematics, and classical literature. Order and discipline prevail in every department, and each boy is taught to concentrate his thoughts upon the particular object of his immediate study. A programme of easy comprehension is prepared for the week, so that each pupil can at a glance see the work of each day, and be prepared in a measure for it; also, the division for the occupation of one hour in the evening. The system of teaching singing is interesting. One boy stood forward and recited the introductory stanza of the lyric selected for practice, as, for instance, the pretty ditty, "Bird of the Wilderness," from the pen of the Ettrick shepherd, which. was well rendered. The object lessons of this school are not the least interesting part of the programme. An illustrated les9on-book or an object exhibited has the greater influence upon the young mind, inasmuch as by presenting the object to the eye, and judiciously explaining it, a durable impression of the central object and its radiating associations is made upon the memory whioh forms a perfect, history of the object, and adds pleasantly to the accumulating store of knowledge. Mr Martin's school was opened on the 19th January, with 30 pupils, which number has gradually increased to the present attendance. The instruction imparted is based upon scientific principles in accordance with the most advanced systems of education, and opportunities afforded for study in either literary or scientific subjects Mental training cultivates the faculties of observation and reflection and educates the judgment; music and drawing refine the taste, and develope resources of life-long pleasure. There are other features ia the training school well worthy of note, but the space at our command necessarily limits our remarks and leaves us bnt room to say that the Auckland Training School possesses mental and physical advantages calculated, without cramming, to ensure a " sound mind in a healthy body."