MATRICULATION

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 153, 2 December 1938, Page 13

MATRICULATION

NO ONE WANTS IT

MINISTER'S OPINION

TRAINING COLLEGE BREAK-UP

The hope that the matriculation examination would not last much longer, as no one wanted it, was expressed by the Minister of Education (the Hon. P. Fraser) when speaking at the break-up ceremony of the Wellington Training College, Kelbu'rn, today. Besides the Minister and Mrs. Fraser there were present at the ceremony the Director of Education (Mr. N. T. Lambourne) and other departmental officers, and representatives of the Wellington i Education Board and other educational bodies associated with the work of the college. The cnairman of the Education Board (Mr. W. V. Dyer), who presided, expresSed their gratitude to the Minister for his continued interest in the college and to all others who had assisted the board in the conduct of the college. The members of the staff had given very loyal service and he thanked them for the cordial relationship they had established between the schools and the board. Wonderful work had also been accomplished by the Students' Association. Mr. Dyer conveyed the best wishes of the board to Miss M. J. Browne, the women's warden, for an enjoyable and profitable trip abroad, and congratulated the students on their year's work. To all associated with the college he extended the compliments of the season from the board. "STUDENTS IN REALITY.!' The principal of the college (Mr. F. C. Lopdell) said that they had had a good year. In the spirit of the New Education Fellowship they had advanced along some definite lines. In the first place, the aim was for the students to be students in reality as well as in name, and to that end lecture note-taking had been reduced to a minimum and more opportunity given for reading, thinking, and discussion. That had undoubtedly made for a more active learning. The college aimed to make the students real students without physical or mental strain, and there was no feverish cramming of the notes of a year and no loss of health. The physical education periods and games occupied more than twice as much time as any subject in the curriculum. Equal regard had been had for social development as for mental and physical development, said Mr. LopdelL ' Staff and students t alike had come to a fuller understanding of selfdiscipline, self-government for the individual and for the college as a whole. There had been a great growth in the ideal pf government by and for the group itself. On behalf of the students he could say that they had been keenly conscious of the living world around them and had tried to understand modern trends of civilisation and fit themselves for leadership in making a better world. They would go into their life work prepared, with a zeal to influence the lives of boys and girls who in their time might have to defend a freedom they themselves had enjoyed. The development of personality and responsibility was regarded-as fundamental. It was recognised that any appreciable progress in education must be made on a wide front and it had been Vc c \ policy of the college to-widen its contacts and give what assistance it could to other branches of education. Mr. Lopdell thanked the staff for zealous work and loyal work, and the Minister of Education, the Department, the Wellington Education Board, and the Board of Studies for support in many directions. The college had the feeling that its welfare was a very genuine interest of its governing bodies. To Miss Browne, Mr. Lopdell extended the best wishes of the . college for a happy, profitable trip and to all associated with and interested in the college he extended the compliments of the season. QUALITIES OF A TEACHER. Professor W. H. Gould, chairman of the Board of Studies, said that the board's job in the main was to secure co-ordination of the students' studies in the Training College and in the University. Owing to the short period of training the student was required not only to pursue a professional course of training but to advance his or her .general education, and the board took the view that where the student was capable of doing it some work at the University should be added to that at the Training College, It was undoubtedly a big task for any student to perform, and the way some of them had stood up to it deserved every commendation. It was 19 years- since-he had first attended a break-up ceremony at the college, and he, had no hesitation in saying that each succeeding year seemed to bring forth a better type of student, because of the gradual improvement in the education service and also because the selecting authorities were taking a more rational view of the qualities that went to make a teacher. Scholarship and intelligence were needed, but, above all, there should be personality and physical vigour. BETTER OPPORTUNITIES. It was only to be expected that pre-sent-day students, should be more capable than those who had gone before, since they were getting better opportunities educationally than their predecessors, said Mr. Fraser, in his opening remarks. He expressed high appreciation of the work of the college, particularly in respect of art. Mr. Fraser added his good wishes for the success of Miss Browne's visit overseas. He dealt with Maori education, and said it had been decided that any student desirous of closer study of the subject should have the opportunity of a third year of study. % Nothing" was more important for the country's future and democracy than that they should all learn to think out things for themselves and not accept ready-made opinions blindly, Mr. Fraser continued. He believed that that principle was being followed in the schools of New Zealand. In the training colleges at present there were more students than ever before. This year the number was 1526 and next year it would be 1600. the reason .for the increases being that it was desired to reduce the size of classes in the schools. MATRICULATION NOT WANTED. - Developments and improvements made in regard to the training colleges were referred to by the Minister, who said that a matter of importance to future students was the abolition of the Training College entrance examination which was regarded as unnecessary when students had passed the matriculation examination. He hoped that the latter examination would not last much longer either—< applause) — and that members of the University Senate present would convey his earnest wish to that body that consideration of the abolition of the examination would be tackled at the

next meeting. No one wanted the examination.

As Minister of Education he had derived great pleasure and gratification from seeing the enthusiasm and devotion given to the colleges and the schools by the principals arid staffs and students. To those who were leaving to undertake a most important work he would say that efforts were being made to give the children better opportunities than ever before. Education was on the march and progressing in New Zealand, and so far as its benefits could be brought to the children so far would the country progress and a valuable contribution be made to freedom and democracy and to the welfare of humanity.

Several enjoyable vocal items were contributed by the students.