TEACHERS' TRAINING COLLEGE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1924, 5 December 1913, Page 10

TEACHERS' TRAINING COLLEGE

BREAKING-UP CEREMONY. The students attending-tho Teachers' Training Coliejo held their breaking•up ceremony yesterday afternoon., They assembled in the main schoolroom nnd were addressed by tbe Minister of Education (the Hon. J. Allen), nnd others. Mr. R. Lee, who presided, made a short opening speech, after which th-o Minister of Education spoke.

Sir. Allan dealt primarily with the equipment of the collcto. He stated that something should be done for the college in this direction. Slore accommoclation should and rrmild be provided. That was all lie.could say about tho matter at present. Ho went on to remark that inoney-maliing should not be tho only thins; in iho lifo of a teacher.' Nothing should £"'o greater pleasure to them than the knowledge that they had done their own duty in holn-ing to build a vigorous community. Referring to the Superannuation Act Mr. Allen remarked that some littlo had been done to improve it, and thero was a promise that a little more would be done. Sir. Allen also remarked on the, benefits followinc on the interchainie of teachers from one district to another. They would be able to do sometliinp; m this direction some day.

Sir. G. 51. Thomson, M.P... ..chairman of the Parliamentary Education. Committee, then spoke, nnd referred to Mr. Allen's remarks with regard to tho equipment of the college. The.speaker confessed that this was not ideal, yet the equipment was not everything, as some of tb.o best work in the past had been done under adverse conditions. The speaker went on to remark about the attributes that make n good teacher. Ho mentioned that there was a very strong prejudice against tho teaching of natural history in rural districts, ami it was for thejn to overcome this prejudice.

' The Mayor (Sir. J. P. Luke) also touched upon tim question of the equipment of the co!!e2e. Tho prime basis of tho education system of any country, lse said, lay in its training college, and he had been simply appalled at their carrying on work in such uncongenial surroundings. He knew that finance was difficult at this time, but this was no answer to,the question. He considered that a (raining college should bo sufficiently endowed.

Professor Brown also referred to the equipment surroundings. He agreed with Mr. Thomson in that too muck importance should not be attached to the surroundings. It was not the surroundings, but the human being who made success, the same, way as .it was not the gun but the man.behind it who played the important part. Referring to the main topic in the previous speeches, Mr. Tennant, the headmaster, remarked that ho would have dealt with the matter more fully but for the departure of the Minister, who had left subsequent to his address on account of pressure of business. Mr. Tennant went on to remark that they had not, even elbow room to work in at the college. They had to prepare, the fourteen subjects in tlifr iivc classes in the meagre room at their disposal. Mr. Clement Watson also spoke. Occasion was taken to present W. H. Stainton with a medal for music, which was given by the instructor in that department, Mr. E. Parker. The pupils sang some choruses during the proceedings.