E.—l

Training of Teachers. (E-2, Appendix D.) There are four training colleges situated in the four principal centres of the Dominion, which are open to four classes of students, as follows: Division A, ex-pupil-teachers, ex-probationers, or ex-trainees of recognized kindergarten schools who have obtained the necessary educational qualification ; Division B, other students who have passed Matriculation or obtained a higher leaving-certificate ; Division C, University graduates admitted for one year ; and .Division I), teachers entering on short-period studentships. The numbers of students in attendance during the last quarter of 1917 under the various divisions were Division A, 414 ; Division B, 32 ; Division C, 1 ; and Division I), 4: the total being 45.1, as compared with 442 for the previous year. These figures do not include students absent with the Expeditionary Forces. The numbers of students at each training college during the last quarters of 1916 and 1917 respectively are indicated in the following table : — , 1910. i , — -1917. , Men. Women. Total. Men. Women. Total. Auckland ... ' .. ..20 85 111 20 1)7 117 Wellington .. .. ..I! 91 102 12 101 Ll6 Christchurch .. .. ..18 92 110 L6 87 103 Dunedin .. .. ..21 95 116 20 95 115 Totals .. .. 79 363 442 68 383 451 The number of students has advanced from 390 in 1915 to 451 in 1917, the increase being in the number of women students. The ordinary course of training is for two years, so that if the training colleges had their full, complement of students (125 in each case) the number of students annually completing their training and passing into the schools would be about 250. tinder certain conditions a one-year course is provided for in the case of University graduates or matriculated students who have completed a two-years course at an agricultural college or a school of home science recognized by the University of New Zealand. In addition, there are short-period studentships, of not less than three months' or more than one year's duration, for the benefit of teachers who have been already employed in teaching and are deemed worthy of further training in professional work, the allowances payable to such, students being the same as those payable to students under Division B. The actual number of students completing one or other of these courses at the end of 1917 was 211. For the teaching practice of students the normal practising schools forming part of the training college in each case are available, and opportunities of observation are also extended so as to embrace specially selected teachers and classes in neighbouring schools. The reports of the results of the latter aids to training are very favourable, and the extension of the system is recommended by Principals. Each normal school includes— (a) a main school, organized as a " mixed school " ; and {!>) such " model schools " as may be approved by the Minister, each model school being of one of the following types : (i) A rural public school under a sole teacher ; (ii) a, junior school under one teacher with not more than 45 children of classes I* to S2 on the roll ; (iii) a class representing the secondary department of a district high school ; (iv) a class for backward children ; (v) a junior kindergarten. Special legislation was passed in 1917 providing for the staffing of classes for backward children and for public schools established as model schools, and a class for backward children was opened in Auckland in a specially designed modern building erected at the cost of a private donor. Students receive their theoretical instruction from the training-college staff, and also attend University college classes to a considerable extent. A certain proportion of students attempt degree work in conjunction with their training-college work, although this double course is discouraged except in cases of specially suited students. •

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