Appendix D.j

E.—2

IX

oourse, and of these one obtained his M.A. degree and a B certificate, twenty-five a full C certificate, and thirteen a D certificate, together with a partial C certificate, requiring one or more subjects to complete the full C. The percentage of students who worked for a degree was smaller than usual, being about 12 per cent., and of these four failed to keep terms. One student obtained his M.A. degree, being the second to do that since the College opened— i.e., during his Training College course. As in past years, the biggest stress lias been laid on practical teaching, and I think this work has been very satisfactorily done. The students are whole-hearted in their efforts to improve, and the eagerness with which they listen to their reports, and the discussions that ensue, make "report days" the hardest during the term. The_ work, too, was rendered more difficult this year by virtue of the various changes in the Normal School. One teacher was away in Europe, the second assistant received promotion elsewhere, while a third teacher left in the third term to pursue a further course of study at Columbia University. The whole of the second-year student* were seen at work in the Normal School by the Board's Inspectors for a half-day. This is an excellent thing, as the students realize that they learn nothing in the course of training which cannot stand the sort of test that they will face after leaving the College. I'he social side of College life has been attended to as in past years. Every alternate Saturday a social gathering is held. The usual form these take is a lecture or selected readings "from 8-9 p.m., followed by supper and dancing. The improvement in social bearing is very marked, and the evenings fill a distinct gap, particularly for those students away from home. Our thanks are due to Mr. P. Luckie for his lecture on "Kipling," to Mr. Carter for his account of life in Ceylon, to Professor Johnson for his musical evening, and to Mr. Mulgan for his address on the syllabus. Addresses were also given by Mr. Priestly and Mr, N. R. McKenzie, both of which were highly appreciated by the students. The usual sports were* in full swing, and 1 attribute the general good health of the students to the attempt that is made to get every student to play some game. The women, had three basket-ball and two hockey teams taking part in the local competitions, so that there were fortynine actual players apart from reserves. The men had two hockey teams., and, in addition, a few others played football, so that altogether some eighty students were .playing regularly in matches. Every effort is made to get the students to realize that games are not an end in themselves, but are a means to an end —namely, to give health and happiness in order that work may be tot/is virihus. There is apparently always a lurking suspicion, about that if games are mentioned there is a danger of the "too much sport" bogey cropping up. Properly understood, games are, in my opinion, an absolute necessity of scholastic life, so that 1 make no apology for constant reference to them. All the students learned to swim, and took part also in life-saving drill. The glee club, under the conductorship of the senior prefect, Mi. G. S. Coldham, gave the annual concert at the end of the second term. Iv addition to solos and choruses there was a dramatic representation of portions of "The Rivals." Three performances were given, and the proceeds, about £7, were devoted to providing sports material for the children of the Papatoetoe Orphan Home. The annual reunion during Easter week was as successful as ever. About 90 per cent, of the old students were present, and in addition to addresses on school matters by Miss Newman ,/The Sewing Syllabus) and Mr. McClune (The Country School Time-table) there were several social functions —viz., a tennis tournament, swimming (past v. present), a Cinderella dance, and afternoon tea and talk—each day. The outgoing students presented three large engravings as a memento of their stay in the College, and these make a fine addition to the walls. Tlie College magazine, the Manuka, was published in April. As the addresses of all students are recorded since the opening of the College it serves as an official register. The following old students have joined the Expeditionary Forces,, and are either in Egypt or on the way there. [Names not printed.] 1 have, Arc., The Secretary, Education Board, Auckland. H. A. E. MiLNBS, B.Sc. (Lond.).

WELLINGTON. Report qf Prihoipal' for thi Year 1914. Str, — Training College, 11th March, 1915. I have the honour to submit the following report on the work of the Wellington Training College for the year 1914 : — Sessions. —The College opened on the 24th February, and in order to make the vacations conterminous with those of Victoria College the year was divided into three terms —an arrangement preferable in many respects to our usual two terms, as the breaks caused by the school holidays were avoided, and the students were saved the strain of a five-months period of continuous work. The College closed on the Bth December. Numbers. —The session opened with a roll of 112 students, of whom sixty were second-year and fifty-two first-year students: First ;year, seventeen men, thirty-five women; second year, ten men, fifty women. Of this total, 102 belonged to Division A —that is, had been pupil-teachers or probationers —six to Division B, while four were graduate students. During the year five students resigned—two on account of ill health, two to take up teaching positions, and one to leave the profession,

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