E.—2.

Associate Schools. —In the normal schools very good work is being done on the whole. These two schools are organized on parallel and " straight " systems respectively, thus providing variety in the training of all students. The parallel system established throughout the main Normal School last year has worked very satisfactorily, and has given valuable experience to students who will later be required to take over composite classes in town and country schools. Tliird-year Students. —During the year seventeen third-year students have specialized in various fields of work. Each group has worked under the direction of a College lecturer and has received adequate practice in general teaching in addition to specialist training. It is gratifying to note the effort being made by the Department and the Boards to have these students appointed to positions where their special gifts and training may be used. Headmasters frequently speak highly of work done by ex-third year specialists, but deplore the rigid organization and staffing that force them to keep a specialist with one class. College Activities.—Many extra-curricular activities of College are organized and carried through by the students with a very great degree of success, thereby contributing in a valuable way to the general training given to the students.

WELLINGTON. University Work.—The results indicate 87 per cent, of passes at the University as against 78 per cent, for the previous year. This result indicates a very high standard of attainment at the University classes taken by the College students. Observation and Teaching Practice. —The first-year students continued to attend regularly at the Kelburn Normal School for observational work. The weekly schemes of each standard were typed, and by careful study of these the student has become familiar with the details of the syllabus. In addition, each section of students was sent into the schools for definite teaching practice for a fortnight each term. The second-year students were sent out into the schools for a month each term. In the Thorndon Associated Normal School each class-room teacher received two students every time teaching practice was in progress. In the Wellington schools associated with us each class-room teacher received only one student each term. The graduate section was sent to the high schools for two periods of practice, and to the senior division of the primary schools for the third period. Experience in country-school procedure has been gained regularly at the country school-rooms organized at Thorndon., We would like to express our very great appreciation of the assistance given by the various headmasters whose schools have been used for teaching practice. Visits of Staff to the Schools. —During teaching-practice periods the members of the College staff visited the schools regularly to observe the students at work, to criticize the lessons given, to see that lecture work is closely correlated with practical school-work, and to help in every way to improve the teaching ability of the student. The reports of the staff, and of the various headmasters concerned, formed the basis of our estimate of the student's suitability for the work of teaching. Visits of Board Members. —During the year members of the Board visited the College each month, and discussed with the Principal many matters concerning the administration and organization of the College. It is our earnest wish that these visits be continued, for the essential basis of a good teaching spirit in the service is a well organized training college. Swimming and Life-saving. —In the annual report of the Wellington Royal Life-saving Society for 1930-31, the Teachers' Training College is credited with seventy-one awards, the highest number gained by any associated club. Although the record is a good one, it could be much improved if increased facilities were available in Wellington. Tepid baths are provided in most centres, but with the exception of" the Boy's Institute Baths in Tasman Street, no adequate arrangement exists to carry on this work in the colder months of the year. The College is unfortunate in that during the best swimming months of the year, it is closed for the vacation. Students' Association. —All the work connected with the social life of the Institution is carried out by the Executive of the Students' Association, and I desire most heartily to commend the work of the members of the Executive during the last year. They have worked most loyally in co-operation with the staff for maintaining a vigorous corporate life in the College. It has been usual for the students to organize an annual tournament with Auckland at the end of the second term. This year, at the instigation of Wellington, on account of the financial stringency, the tournament was abandoned. The money in hand for the purpose was donated to providing relief for necessitous children in the city. The students not only gave money, but also made garments out of raw material, and distributed these by means of personal investigation and through recognized relief agencies.

CHRISTCHURCH. The number enrolled at the beginning of the year was 283, one first-year female early in the year having been granted leave of absence with the right of entering again in 1932. Excluding those accepted for a third year of training the numbers of those leaving the College were 116 second-year students (Division A), 16 graduates (Division C), 2 B students and 14 thirdyear students specializing as follows : three in science, two in modern languages, one in music, three in drawing and handwork, one in teaching of deaf children, one in teaching backward children, two in commercial subjects, and one in experimental pedagogy.

46