2

E.—lβ.

No. 2. Eepoet on Training Colleges foe Teachees by the Education Committee. The Education Committee, to which was referred for consideration the subject of training colleges for teachers, has duly considered the same, and recommends that— (a.) A Training College for Teachers be established in each of the four principal centres of the colony—viz. : Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin—being the University centres, and in order to avoid the expense of duplicating instruction in subjects which are taught at the University colleges, and to secure for teachers a greater breadth of view, the training of teachers in literary and scientific work should, as far as possible, be provided by the University colleges. (b.) The training colleges should be subject to the control of the local Education Boards. (c.) The curriculum of the colleges should be subject to the approval of the Minister of Education. (d.) The Inspector-General should inspect each college from time to time, and report annually to the Minister. (c.) A two-years course of training for each student should be aimed at. (/.) It is desirable that the lecturer on education at the training colleges should be given the status of either a lecturer or a professor at the University College in order that his lectures may count in the University course of the students. (g.) The practising department of each training college should include a model country school with a single teacher. (h.) In addition to the personal and boarding allowances granted to students of the training colleges who have been pupil-teachers, reasonable University college fees should be paid by the Government. (/.) Local Boards of Education are recommended to set up a Committee of Advice in regard to matters concerning the Training College, consisting, say, of the Chairman or other member of the Board, an Inspector of the Board, a representative of the Professorial Board of the University College, and a representative of the other Boards of Education, if any, in the same University district. (k.) In order to allow training colleges to prepare teachers for district high school and other secondary work, clause 35 of the Standard Eegulations should be amended as to the second paragraph by inserting after the words "district high school" the words "and in schools attached to training colleges." Tuesday, 27th October, 1903. Feedk. E. Baume, Chairman.

No. 3. Lettee from the Secbetaby foe Education to the Education Boaeds of Auckland, Wellington, North Canterbury, and Otago. (Memorandum.) Education Department, Wellington, 10th February, 1904. I have to inform you that the Minister is desirous of carrying out as far as possible, and at an early date, the recommendations of the Select Committee on Education of the House of Bepresentatives in regard to training colleges. He would therefore be glad to have the expression of the opinion of your Board with regard to the control of the training colleges—(clause (b) of the Education Committee's report) —and to any other points that seem to call for special consideration. With a view to enabling you to arrive at a decision, the following details as to the management and maintenance of the training colleges are given : — I. Entrance to Training College. It is proposed that the following shall be the conditions—students to be admitted under clause 1 or under clause 2 :— Clause I. — (a.) That the candidate shall have completed the pupil-teacher course in some education district of the colony. (b.) That he shall have passed the Matriculation Examination of the University of New Zealand. (c.) That he shall give satisfactory evidence as to health, character, and ability to teach. (d.) That he shall make a declaration of his intention to become a teacher in a public or secondary school in the colony. [N.B. — (b) may be modified for one or two years with the approval, previously obtained, of the Minister of Education.] Clause 2. —That he shall have kept terms for at least one year at the University College, or have gained credit at the Junior Scholarship Examination of the University, and satisfy conditions (c) and (d) of clause 1, and such conditions as to probation in teaching as the Principal of the Training College, with the consent of the Minister, may require. That the following allowances shall be paid to students at the Training College :— For the first year— To those under clause 1, the salary and allowances of a fourth-year pupil-teacher, together with University College fees ; To those under clause 2, nil. For the second year— To every student, whether under clause 1 or 2, who keeps terms at the University College during the second year, a bursary of £10, payable at the end of the University year on a favourable report from the Principal, together with University College fees.