WELLINGTON TRAINING COLLEGE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2732, 29 March 1916, Page 8

WELLINGTON TRAINING COLLEGE

.'ANNUAL EEPORi .' The Principal's annual report of the Teachers' Training College for the year ended December .10 was,'laid on the table'.at.-'the monthly' meeting of the .Wellington. Education Board yesterday afternoon. In his report Mr. J. S. Tennant says:— "The number of students at the beginning of the year was 100, made'up as follows: —Fii-sfc' year, ' 18; men, 43 women, 61; second year, 17 'men, 31 women, 48.' : Seven students left duril!"' ;the year—two graduate students, conv pletod a broken year, two were awarded Jacob Joseph \ Research 1 Scholarships, two' accepted country positions, and one : left the service.

"Tho scarcity of efficient teachers was given. as the reason for the falling off ■in the number'of students sent from some, of the districts. The drain on the youth of the country made by the war has been undoubtedly heavy': in the teaching profession, but not less so in Wellington, which' actually showed an increase of,students. , ■ ■ f "During thp year the question of our work overlapping that of other educational institutions was raised. In one sense there may bo overlapping—for instance,' in- the' teaching of' .Science at.the three colleges (Technical, Teachers', and University)—but in the'truer'sense each institution, has, its own peculiar function to perform. Wo are concerned with the subject not "qua" science, but rather as an exposition of tho scientific' method' in its general application 'itd teaching. •■■ The , Technical College will naturally trcat.it from the industrial standpoint, leaving to the University the cultural, as opposed to the vocational/ aspect. Tho rideally trained j teacher should be'able to ' attack his subject from;all three sides.- Students under thV present regime- of close relationship .between the. teaching'..institutions are encouraged as far as is possible to do so.

"Fifty students completed their term of training in December last, and the joint result of the .Departmental examinations and the Training College recommendations w«6 as follows:—Full "D," 3; "D" and partial "O,"' 21; full ",O,'V 18; full "B,"\ 6; full "A," 2. "The new library.is how one of the most, important ( l epartments of the college,' though there is still ample room for more books. ... The librarian desires to acknowledge gifts from: Messrs. G Hogben, C.M.G., .Robert Lee, T. R. Fleming,. M.A., LL.B., Messrs. Whitcombo and Tombs, and from three old students—Miss Mudford, Mr. J*. S. Mac.kenzie, and Mr. W. H. Stevens. ■"The special grant from,the Education Department is given .for the specific purpose of assisting "back-block" teachers to obtain their certificates.,. Some boards appear to think.that wo should devote the time to professional training. My- instructions . are, however quite explicit, and however worthy the latter object may be, both cannot be compassed in ono 6hort month. Sixteen students were absent during the whole Or part of the .year on military service,, and fourteen loft during the latter part y ■ of the year to undertake relieving work. "Since tl* opening in 190 C, 112 men have passed through .the college. Ofthat .number 61 havo enlisted, 7 have lost their and 11 havo Uecn wounded or'invalided on account of sickness. Thirteen of' our students have gained commissions, with ; th<> 'Reinforcements— a record which speaks well for the old cadet system, and the Officers' Training Corns, which formed an essential part .of -it; .■■•■■

"The! close of the year was saddened for us all by the sudden illness and death of our assistant lecturer., Mi\ ■F. J.' Morgan,. M.Sc, of Liverpool University, was a most capable science master, a zealous teacher, and one whom the students could in every way respect and imitate. Tim Board of Advice have appointed as his successor, Mr., E. K. Lomas, M.A., .M.Sc.,' a! former .much .esteemed member of the staff." ' '