E.—s.

It is usual for the Education Department or Board of Education to fix a limit to the number of students that may be taken into training, but in Ontario and California there is no such restriction, and in Denmark the training colleges hold an examination, and all persons over 18 years of age are eligible for admission if they satisfy the college authorities concerning their fitness for the profession. In all cases that I know of the actual certification of teachers is under the control of the State Education Department, although the Department ijiay not itself conduct the final examination. (/) Staffing of Training Colleges. I was able to obtain particulars of the staffing of three training colleges, and found it more liberal than that to which we are accustomed. Leeds for about 400 residents students had a Principal, VicePrincipal, and 33 Lecturers, as well as a Librarian, Medical Officer, and Registrar ; Furzedown (London County Council) for 250 students, of whom 205 were resident, had a Principal, Vice-Principal, 19 Lecturers, and one visiting teacher. (Three members of the staff were recognized by the University of London for the purposes of the Teacher's Diploma.) Vancouver Normal School for 220 students had a. Principal, Vice-Principal, and 10 Lecturers, one being employed part-time. (g) Size of Training Colleges. Experienced training-college administrators told me that they did not consider 500 students too many to have in one college provided the accommodation and the staffing were adequate. Some put the number higher than 500. (/») Recommendations. I am of the opinion that few changes are necessary in our system of training teachers, but the following recommendations in connection with the colleges are, I think, worthy of consideration : — (1) All training colleges to be brought under the control of the Department in the matter of staff appointments. The teaching profession in New Zealand is a national one, and the training of teachers is the concern of the Government through its Minister of Education and his Department rather than of the Education Boards, which control primary education in the districts where the training colleges are situated. (2) The selection of all students by the Director of School Hygiene and one or more of the senior officers of the Education Department. These officers should visit Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin and interview and examine in those centres all applicants for admission to the training colleges. Disputed cases should be referred to the Director of Education for decision. The out-of-pocket expenses of rejected applicants should be refunded. Consideration might be given to' the medical examination, while they are still in the post-primary schools, of aspirants for the teaching profession. (3) The establishment of a secondary training department at one of the four University colleges. So far there has been no secondary training college in the Dominion. The adoption of the suggestion when finance permits would bring New Zealand into line with the practice in other parts of the Empire. The number of students to be trained should be fixed by the Minister. (4) When the opportunity occurs, the Professor of Education and the Principal of the Training College to be the same person. This is the case, for example, in Sydney, Melbourne, Edinburgh, and Dundee. It would have the effect of bringing the Faculty of Education and the training college into closer relationship. (5) Interchange of teachers between the University colleges and the training colleges, and between the inspectorate and the training colleges. (6) The Vice-Principal to be a woman : the appointment of women to this position to be made as opportunity arises. (7) Increased staffing of the training colleges. Our staffing of ten or twelve teachers for 300 or 400 students is quite inadequate in comparison with the number provided in Great Britain and Canada. (8) Larger grants for libraries. Our training-college libraries are inadequate and somewhat out of date. Books and magazines are essential to a teacher, and a well-stocked modern library is necessary equipment in a teachers' training college. (9) Larger grants for material, especially handwork material. We are comparatively backward in the development of hand and eye training, and special attention to this form of education in the training colleges is desirable. APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS. In Australia the teaching service is part of the Public Service, and appointments are made in accordance with Acts and regulations. In England and Scotland appointments are made by the local education authorities, of which there are 316 in England and 35 in Scotland.

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