]£.—2,

53

11. EXTRACTS FROM REPORTS OF PRINCIPALS OF TRAINING COLLEGES. AUCKLAND. I have the honour to submit my report for the year 1926. Staff. —There have been several important changes in the staff during the year. Dr. Clinch, who spent 1925 abroad, returned at the beginning of the year and took up his work again. Mr. R. A. Falla, 8.A., an old student of the College was appointed Lecturer in Nature-study, and had already made his subject an important part of the students' training. Mr. H. Becroft, M.A., also an old student, who has been acting as temporary Lecturer in Psychology pending the appointment of a permanent lecturer, has carried on his classes through the year with enthusiasm and success. Dr. Slocombe, who was appointed to the psychology lectureship, has been compelled to withdraw through ill health. Mr. H. Wallace, who has most capably filled the dual position of Lecturer in Art and Lecturer in Music, reached the age-limit and retired towards the end of the year. Mr. Wallace was a most popular figure in College, a favourite with both staff and students. His fine abilities, his specialized knowledge, and his charm of personality have made an ineffaceable mark on the College, and we have been greatly privileged in our association with him for the last six years. It was decided to appoint two lecturers in his place. Miss Copeland, already known to the College from her work in Kowhai Junior High School, was appointed to the art lectureship. Mr. H. Hollinrake, 8.A., Mus. Bac., a young Cambridge man of great promise, was appointed Lecturer in Music. Both new members of the staff have already taken up their work. College Building and Grounds. —The fine new College at Mount Eden was ready for occupation at the beginning of the year. The building is not only striking to the eye, but set in a dominant position in extensive grounds, and it has practically solved almost all the questions of accommodation that had caused us so many anxieties in the past. The lecture-rooms are spacious, with admirable lighting and ventilation. For the first time I have been able to assign a special room to each lecturer. In addition, the members of the staff have at last private rooms for individual interviews —an incalculable advantage over the old conditions. The students have abundant common-room accommodation, and this has had considerable influence on students' activities and organization. Altogether the first year in the new building has realized most of our expectations, and for the most part the College work is now carried on under the most favourable conditions. In one or two matters we are still labouring under a handicap. The absence of an assembly-hall has affected College life in many ways. The physical instructors have no room large enough for their work. Outdoor instruction even in the best of weather conditions entails too heavy a strain on the staff, and the weather conditions during winter make instruction outside often impossible. This branch of College work has been maintained only with the greatest difficulty. The hall was intended to serve as a music-room ; under present conditions all musical instruction has to be given in one of the larger lecture-rooms. This interferes to a certain extent with the classes held in adjacent rooms. The value of an assembly-hall, where all students can be gathered for discussion of matters of general College interest, and in which outside lecturers can address the whole body of students, was fully demonstrated in the old College and the lack of a common meeting-place is seriously affecting College life. The hall becomes the natural centre of College social life, the rallying-point of College interest and enthusiasm. The cultivation of a true College spirit we have found depends to a greater extent than we had ever believed on the existence of a College hall. The tennis-courts are not yet formed, and as the level ground around the College is not yet in a fit condition for the other branches of athletics the students have had to hire grounds in various parts of Auckland. This has scattered the students during their playing hours, and has entailed considerable expense upon their funds. We hope to have our own hockey-ground available for next winter, and already the women's cricket teams have found a suitable place for practice. A swimming-bath would also be of the greatest service both for teaching students who are unable to swim when they enter College and for the life-saving training that forms an important part of the swimming activities during the summer months. The students have done good work upon the grounds. They cleared the surface of the ground directly in front of the College, and sowed a considerable area of new ground with grass, which has taken well and has greatly improved the front view of the College. A group of enthusiasts made and planted gardens along the front of the building, with most satisfactory results. In addition, the students out of their own funds and by their own labour planted a number of trees at the Epsom Avenue entrance. These trees are growing well, and will be a great asset in future years. Practical Training. —The practical training of students in methods of teaching has been carried on at the Normal School, Richmond Road School, Curran Street School, Kowhai Junior High School, and the Seddon Memorial Technical College. Probably this has been attended with the average degree of success. Method as a College subject, however, has been heavily handicapped by the lack of Normal School classes for demonstration ; and consequently any teaching methods not in everyday use have not been impressed as well as usual. This difficulty it is hoped to remove next year. This year a new departure was tried, of which lam not yet able to speak definitely. In some respects it has succeeded beyond expectations, but certain difficulties have arisen that will require a slight change of plan next year. On Thursday mornings all the ordinary lecture programme of College was suspended. University students were given the three hours for concentration upon their