E—2.

[Appendix D.

as a purely temporary measure only to meet immediate needs, permission has been given by regulation to the education authorities controlling the training colleges to admit at their discretion a certain proportion of the students for a course of training of one year only. Except in the case of graduates or persons of similar status so short a course as one year cannot be recommended, nor can it in any sense be considered complete ; but as the permission is confined to a limited number of entrants who have already served in the school as pupil-teachers or probationers, many of whom doubtless are only too anxious to enter upon permanent positions as teachers with as little delay as possible, circumstances appear to warrant recourse to the expedient. So far, only one of the colleges appears to have made use of the permission, and that it should have a much wider application is not particularly desired. The more regular outflow from the colleges of two-year students out of the increased number for which provision is now made, together with the customary supplementary accessions from other sources to the ranks of teachers in the Dominion, must soon prove sufficient to meet ordinary requirements. That the supply would be sufficient, however, to meet exceptional demands arising out of the increased staffing of schools for which statutory authority has already been obtained is not so clear. Obviously, if competent assistants are to be secured, the steps of the process by which adult teachers are being substituted for pupil-teachers must be made very gradual. For the teaching practice of students the normal practising schools forming part of the training college in each case are available, and by a recent amendment opportunities of observation are now extended so as to embrace specially selected classes or teachers in neighbouring schools. By regulation it is provided that each normal school shall include (a) a main school, organized as a district high school, and having an average attendance of not more than 450 pupils, and (6) a " model school," arranged on the lines of a small rural school, with an average attendance of thirty-five to forty. If the Minister approves, there may be also (c) a second " model school," organized as a rural school of two teachers, with an average attendance of seventy to eighty, or as a junior school with thirty-five to forty children of a standard not higher than S2, or as a rural school with thirty-five to forty children in attendance and under the charge of a sole teacher; and (d) a junior kindergarten class containing not more than forty children between the ages of three and five. For the secondary department of the main school a maximum attendance of not more than fifty is permitted. The following gives the actual average attendance at each of the normal schools, the main schools and thair adjuncts being separately given : —

In each of the normal schools a junior kindergarten class with a special teacher in charge has also been provided in terms of the regulations. Much information in regard to the courses of instruction taken by students at the training colleges may be obtained from the tables attached. The following matter is summarized from the tables : — Table P2 shows the University work undertaken by students. At the University college students are required to take at least a course in English in addition to the

II

Auckland Wellington Christchurch Dunedin Main School (exclusive of Model Secondary Schools and Second- Department. ary Department). 379 30 277 17 429 15 402 28 Model Junior 0 , , Model School School. (p tQ g2) 29 31 29 37 34 37 36