TRAINING TEACHERS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2526, 29 July 1915, Page 3

TRAINING TEACHERS

NEW COLLEGE OPENED

BY HON. SIR FRANCIS BELL

The new Teachers' Training College at. Kelburn was formally opened by the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. Sir Francis Bell) yesterday morning, in tho. presence of the staff, tlio students, and a. largo number of visitors. '.Hie Hon. J. Ci. W. Aitken, chairman of the Wellington Education Board, presided. Tho Minister of Education (the Hon. Jas. .Alien) was unable to attend, and wrote apologising. Apologies were also received from the Primo Minister ' and tho Mayor.

The ceremony openo_d wit'i the National Anthem, and several short addresses were giveu, interspersed with musical items from the students.

In welcoming the Minister, Mr. Aitken said that the day would be one to remember for many years, for the college had been a long-felt need in the education system of the district. The Wellirgton Education Board and those who conducted the college were thoroughly alive to the work being done by the Principal (Mr. J. S. Tennant). The work done by Mr. Tennant was of tlio very first importance, and should be thoroughly recognised and appreciated by the people of the district. (Applause.) Sir Francis Bell said that up to within an hour of the time appointed the Minister of Education had hoped to perform the ceremony, to which he had looked forward. He wrote to say that owing to a cold and loss of voice lie found it impossible to be present. He conveyed his regrets to the Education Board, the Principal, and the staff of tlio Training College, and to the public. He trusted that the building would be found suitable, _ and wished the staff every success. Dealing with the growth of the education system, Sir Francis Bell said that perhaps the public did not fully realise the rise of' the universities. The Training College had been placed in close proximity to the Victoria College, where classes could be attended, but the students would find the Training College an adequate training place for the profession ■ they were about to enter. He congratulated them on having such a homo for their learning. He had heard with pride of the proof the men and women of the college' had given of their loyalty. Out of sixty from the four colleges who had gone to the,front thirty-nine were from that college. (Applause.) Sir Francis Bell then formally declared the college open. "May it prosper, and you also, who have its charge now, anl those who are to carry on the work in the future." (Applause.)

Mr. G. Hogben (late Director of Education) addressed those present on the aim of education. The war, he said, was going to change many of our ideas of modern life. If it was going to make them form a revaluation of human life it would necessarily cause them to change their method of education! They had entered into the war with a noble ideal, and he hoped they would keep that ideal to the end, and prove that virtue was no weak thing, but could strike hard. If they did that ho was convinced tho war would have brought a clear and bright outlook. With all his heart he wished success to the training colleges, and hoped they would always train teachers to build ■up tho highest traditions of our race. (Applause.).

fir. Anderson (Director of Education) stated that good work had been done with the inadequate facilities for training iu New Zealand in past years, and r.ow that they had better facilities even better work would be looked for. In 1906 tho training colleges in t'ho four centres were in operation, and .£22,000 per annum was spent. Now, eight years later, he found that the expenditure had increased to <£47,000 per year. That sum "was expended to train tho teachers. A heavy responsibility rested on them, aud ho thought a wide field was ahead of them. If we were to be kept in touch with other nations, both primary and secondary education had to bo broadened, and brought into close touch with the people of tho nation. On the primary teacher rested tbe greatest responsibility, both in moral-training and in fixing in tho mind of future generations the need of keeping the country's ideals in. view. We in this part were greatly concerned iu the present struggle, because wo had to choose between freedom *-that freedom which wo had ceased to value—and the elavery of tho political system of tho most noted of our foes. The function of tho teacher would very likely undergo change in the future. The teacher would be rather the guide of the pupil in investigations carried out by the pupil, but training would be perhaps more necessary than- iu tho past. Professor Brown, representing the Board of Advice, Mr. T. E.. Fleming, Chief Inspector of the Education Board, and Mr. J. S. Tennant, Principal, also spoke. The last-named thanked those responsible for the. school, und said that it marked the public's appreciation of the work of the teacher.

Mr. Aitken invited those present to inspect the building, and the Infants' School adjacent to it. Mr. W. Gray loung had been the architect, ! e said, and a generous Government had provided for the Training College, which had been faithfully and well erected. The whole of the furniture and 1 fittings were supplied by Scoullar and Co., Ltd. The builders, Messrs. J. H. Mayer and Co., provided a souvenir key for the opening ceremony. • ,