82,

55

WELLINGTON. I have the honour to submit the following report on the work of the College for the year 1926. Roll.—ln consequence of the excessive demand on the available accommodation, the Department, in 1925, decided to divert the Nelson students to Christchurch Training College. Despite the relief so afforded, our numbers increased to 344, creating a congestion which I felt myself compelled to characterize in my last report as " parlous in the extreme." This year the Department has granted us a further measure of relief by diverting the Taranaki and Hawke's Bay students to Christchurch and Dunedin respectively. Hence our roll number has declined from 344 to 282. This, of course, has meant a considerable improvement in the matter of accommodation, though the building is still considerably overtaxed. Classification. —The classification of students according to their several qualifications was as under : Division A, 243 (pupil-teachers and probationers) ; Division B, 26 (no previous teaching experience) ; Division C, 10 (University graduates) ; Division D, 3 (adult uncertificated teachers). The corresponding classification for the past five years is given for the purpose of comparison : —

Once more a decline in the proportion of B students is to he noted. In consequence of the small number of places available for B students and the considerable number offering, it has been possible to make the minimum qualification at least the higher leaving-certificate or its equivalent. New Students. —In my last report I continued to urge the necessity for raising the standard qualification for admission. lam pleased to report that a marked improvement is noticeable in the new students admitted this year. There are still, however, too many students with only a partial D qualification. On the other hand there is a most gratifying increase in the number with a higher-leaving-certificate qualification or better. The presence of any partial I) students cannot be regarded as satisfactory. Indeed, there is almost 110 justification for them at all. The present facilities for secondary education are so liberal that few who seriously desire to become teachers are unable to follow .a full secondary course. Accommodation. —As already indicated, the restricted numbers have somewhat ameliorated the conditions that prevailed in 1925, though they are still far from especially in regard to staff accommodation, student common-rooms, and science and handicraft facilities. My remarks last year are still in point. We cannot hope to do our best work under the existing conditions. Staff. —The College staff remains much the same as last year, except that Miss M. E. Joyce, M.A., was promoted to the lecture staff in place of Miss Livingstone. Miss Joyce's place has been taken by a lecturer's assistant, Mr. A. E. Campbell. The only changes to record in the Normal Schools are the appointment of Miss Gray (vice Miss Jacka) to the special adjustment class at Thorndon, and the confirmation of Mr. Bryant's appointment at Kelburn. Miss Ray, kindergarten mistress at Kelburn, returned from Canada, where she has been on exchange. The extended experience was of undoubted value to her. General Work of the College. —The improvement in the quality of the work noted last year has been maintained. As the qualification of the entrants continues to improve so the work of the staff becomes more effective. We were fortunately able to continue the arrangement for music instruction recorded last year. Mr. Robert Parker, who confines himself to the senior students, reports a very great improvement in consequence of excellent grounding these students received under Miss Hargreaves and Miss Perry during their junior year. Both Miss Hargreaves and Miss Perry, however, find the work very heavy. The distance of the College from the Thorndon School, the requirements of preparation and the labour of marking written exercises, as well as the actual conduct of the classes, make heavy demands upon teachers who are already fully taxed by their class-room duties and the direction of students' teaching practice. University Work. —The University classes attended by students were as under : English, 47 ; Latin, 13 ; French, 18 ; education, 85 ; philosophy, 64 ; history, 50 ; economics, 13 ; Greek history, art, and literature 4 ; geography, 6 ; mathematics, 12 ; geology, 1 ; chemistry, 1 ; physics, 1 : botany, 2 ; zoology, 1 ; total, 318. These classes were taken by a total of 143 students, while 139 students obtained their -full course at the College. A comparison of the numbers given with those of last year reveals almost no increase in those taking mathematics and science. This is largely accounted for by the fact that lectures by the science faculty were for the first time held during the day. While it is possible, though difficult, to so organize the work of the College that students may be released for attendance at University lectures, it is almost impossible to release them from their teaching practice. At all events it results in complications and a most unsatisfactory interference with the continuity of the practice. Students appreciate this fact, and consequently arrange their University courses to conflict as little as possible with their Training College course.

Number of Students. Year. j — ; . ——■ Division A. Division B. | Division C. ' Division D. 1922 .. .. .. .. .. 175 86 6 10 1923 .. .. .. .. .. 213 76 5 0 1924 .. .. .. .. .. 269 49 5 0 1925 .. .. .. .. .. 294 41 6 3 1926 .. .. .. .. .. 243 26 10 3