E.—2.

Appendix D.

Bond. —The problem of enforcing the student's bond is an extremely difficult one for the Education Board, and it would in every way simplify matters if the bond were made one as between the student and the Education Department. Districts. —The various districts were represented as follows : Wellington, 40; Wanganui, 25; Hawke's Bay, 20; Taranaki, 6; Nelson, 8; Marlborough, 5; Grey, 5; Westland, 3. Taking as a basis the number of pupil-teachers and probationers employed, it will be found that quite a reasonable number of student teachers in the middle district complete their training as provided by the State. The high percentage, however, is really maintained by five of the eight districts included. In two of them the percentage falls as low as 70. Every year we have applications for admission from young teachers who have, willingly or otherwise, not conformed with the very clear regulation bearing on that point. (Vide section lla of the Training College Regulations.) As a consequence the College authorities incur blame which properly belongs to the local education authorities. Lodgings.—l have again to express our indebtedness to the Women Students' Hostel and the Friends' Hostel for the great assistance they render the College in providing good accommodation and general supervision for students obliged to live away from home. Curriculum. —The prescribed course of study was followed and the subjects allocated as under : History and principles of education, hygiene, child-study and nature-study—the .Principal; method —the Headmaster; science—Mr. Morgan; kindergarten methods —Miss Fitch; domestic science-—Miss Kilroe and Miss Mcßae; handwork—Mr. Howe; music—Mr. Parker; drawing—Mr. Smith and Misses Gooder and Williamson (of the Technical School staff).; physical culture —Mr. Kidson, Miss Hitchcock, and Miss Mcßae. The standard set is, as far as possible, that prescribed for the teachers' C or Public Service Senior Examinations. University Work. —The usual difficulty was met when the matter of allocating the University work had to be faced, but, acting on the experience of previous years, 'about 50 per cent, of the students were strongly advised to take not more than one class. The actual attendances were : English, 79; Latin, 26; French, 4; German. 2; education, 50; mental science, 17; history, 5; biology, 16; geology, 4; chemistry, 2; physics, 1; mathematics, 2. The results were that, twenty-three students kept first year's terms, nine second, and four third year's terms. Sixteen first, twenty-eight second, and seventy-eight third-class passes were gained. One student sat for honours, two for the final, and seven for the first section of the B.A. degree. In view of the somewhat general feeling that overmuch time may easily be devoted to University as opposed to professional work, I feel perfectly confident in saying that the best teachers will, with few exceptions, be found amongst those who have sufficient ambition and interest in their profession to take every opportunity of improving their general education. The University provides that opportunity in its highest form. Teaching Practice. —With the very large number of senior students it was found exceedinglydifficult to provide sufficient teaching practice, and a much larger number of demonstration lessons were given by the senior members of the staff. This in itself was good, but it left comparatively little time to either the headmaster or myself to supervise the ordinary teaching-work of the students. The visits to associated schools again afforded a very valuable experience to the seniors. Certificates. —Sixty-two students completed their course of training in December, and the joint result of the departmental examinations and Training College recommendations was as A follows : Full D certificate, 24; full C certificate, 29; full B certificate, 2; partial D certificate, 4 ; partial C certificate, 20. The War. —The war deeply affected the social and professional life of the College. While it undoubtedly interfered seriously with our conventional course of studies, 1 feel that we gained much in the more lively appreciation of our national responsibilities. I am very proud to say that every man in the College did something in the way of military service. Many of the women volunteered to relieve teachers called to serve at the front, while all did what they could for the various relief funds and the providing of soldiers' comforts. Nine students volunteered for the Samoan Force, five joined the Main Expeditionary Force, four volunteered for the Reinforcements, and nine undertook local military duty of some description. Twelve students left the College to relieve teachers who had volunteered for the front. Excursions. —During the year excursions were made to the State farm at Levin, the Dominion Observatory, Plimmerton, Lyall Bay, and the Botanical Gardens. Socials, &c. —Regular social meetings were held during the year, but the old students' reunion in September was abandoned on account of the war. The Debating Society and ladies' hocke}' club had each a particularly successful year: Lecturers. —During the year lectures were delivered by Mr. Tregear, 1.5.0.; Mr. Piexotto, of San Francisco; Professors Davis and Hanus, of Harvard; and Professor Findlay, of Manchester. The visit of the British Association to Wellington was much appreciated, though, unfortunately, many of the lectures were delivered during the College vacation. Mr. Robert Lee, late Chairman of the Education Board, delivered a valedictory address before leaving for England in June. Kelburn. —The new Infant School at Kelburn was opened on the I.sth April, under the charge of Miss Fitch, with Misses Thornton and Armitage as assistants. According to arrangement with the Education Department pupils were admitted up to and including the Second Standard. When parents discovered, however, that we could give no assurance of being able to provide for the upper classes all the Standard II pupils were withdrawn. The matter was represented to the Inspector-General, and though he could give us no definite information about the completion of the main school we received his permission to include a Standard ITI class. This it is hoped will enable the majority of our pupils to complete their school course with us instead ol' having to leave for one of the neighbouring schools.

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