THE TRAINED TFACHER.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43213, 10 August 1907, Page 4

THE TRAINED TFACHER.

In the course of some introductory remarks at Dr Mason’s lecture at ;the Training College., Wellington., Mr R. Lee (chairman of the Wellington Education Board) has some interesting remarks to make about, what was required in. teachers to make them of use and influence in the furtherance of education:. Looking back over' 40 years he could see that the great want until now had been the “trained” teacher. Not., that, we had been altogether without them,. He .mentioned certain gentlemen who he considered owed their present high rank in the ;teaching profession to the fact that they were thoroughly trained men, with all that was necessary in the making of a teacher at their finger ends. He noticed that at the late conference in Etngland. the. best, speakers bad said that what was wanted in teachers was “the power to teach.” Though a great, deal depended, of course, upon the teacher’s ability and aptitude, a great deal more; depended upon training—in other words upon the guidance, knowledge and information, which was given to any person to fit him for any walk in life. A'teacher had to study the minds and different characters of the children he taught, and to ascertain their particular aptitude for learning. He must be able to stoop down to them and ! show them clearlv what to do. Unless lie had these qualities he was more or less a failure.