Teachers in Training.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 169, 21 July 1904, Page 2

Teachers in Training.

A writer in the Waitara Mail, in giving his impressions of the recent teachers' winter school, makes use of tho following If the interest talien teachers in the winter school recently held in New Plymouth be a criterion of their zpal in school life, the Education Board controls an eurnest, hard - working stnll. . . . Foremost comes the übiquity of the Chief Ins[>ector. A glutton for work, absolutely tireless, us: ready to hear suggestions from, as to offer help to the students ; much of the success of the school was due to his management. ... I belong to the school which thinks the only cook was "my mother." And surely mother is tho one to instruct her daughter In cookery ! However, the faddist who runs the education show thinks otherwise and so billets are found for chefs. But all my tickets are on the girl who learnt to cook, from mother. . . , 111 the woodwork class, I'm afraid that they took up benches from selfish motives—not so much to 'benefit the rising generation us to learn the use of tools to their own satisfaction, so that when in a position to bid farewell to tho back-breaking load of the new syllabus they may have a trade at hand. In New Zealand bush carpenters are always in demand, as tho men's prospects are fair. . . . The value of siuch education no one more thoroughly appreciates than I—but in its proper place and that place is, after the primary school course has been completed uivd the youth has settled upon his life's calling. Let our babies have their short life of happiness. Time enough for technical education when they start to bump against the snaggy woild. ... As a school subject tho importance of music is not sufficiently esteemed, and should it do no more than give to young New Zealand a hobby which will grow with him and keep him from the streets at night it will not have been taught in vain, ... If from their already over-burdened school day teachers could spare time to follow the lead igiven by Mr Tennant (botany instructor}, and start botany classes with their pupils, a new charm would bo given to school life, and an affection formed for nature, which, growing with the 'boy, would give him such love for the pure and the beautiful that life would take now aspects, refinement and taste would have fuller development, and a belter citizen be 'given to the State.