E.—2.

13. REPORTS (EXTRACTS) OF PRINCIPALS OF TRAINING COLLEGES.

AUCKLAND. Staff Changes.—Early in the year Mr. Campbell Boyle, 8.A., was appointed as Lecturer in Methods of Teaching. About mid-year, Mr. Ramsie Howie was appointed as Assistant Lecturer in Music. The third new appointment was that of Librarian. This post is filled by Miss B. Bowden. College Hall. —The great event of 1937 was the opening of our assembly hall on Saturday, 12th June. This ceremony was performed by the Hon. the Minister of Education, the Hon. Peter Fraser. We were honoured on the occasion by a large and representative gathering of Auckland's citizens. Now that it is in daily use we realize how fortunate we are in having such a commodious and well-appointed hall. We can now comfortably accommodate all our students at assembly; we can stage our plays and make provision for our full social life with dignity and comfort. Our thanks are due to the Education Board, to the Department, to the Minister, and to our local member, Mr. W. T. Anderton, M.P. University Work. —At the commencement of the 1937 University year 109 took up University work, two subjects only being allowed as a maximum course. In order to enable the students to undertake University work with a reasonable chance of success, it was arranged by the training college that one day per week should be available for University study by all students. This concession was made in addition to those hours for University lectures that occurred during trainingcollege hours. Library. —It gives me very great pleasure to report that the college library is now organized on the Dewey system. It has 3,627 volumes of modern books, and it is being enthusiastically used by all students. Standard of Work. —The group of students leaving this year are a fine body of young people. They have taken every advantage of what college had to offer, and will, I feel sure, do excellent work in the schools of this Dominion.

WELLINGTON. The Year's Activities. —The "college reassembled on Ist March. The programme of work had been modified as a result of a year's experience, and work continued with keen enthusiasm. Increase of staffing added' to the efficiency of the college, and in general a very satisfactory year has resulted. There are, nevertheless, serious deficiencies of equipment and especially of library books that must be made good before college can claim to be functioning satisfactorily. Organization. —The increased roll necessitated a change in the organization which had the effect of upsetting the balance between theoretical study and teaching practice. In order to reduce the number of students at the one time in the college, the period of practical training was increased this year from three to four days per week during the section, and this caused a corresponding reduction in time available for lectures, discussions, and study. There is general agreement among staff and students that the present organization imposes too heavy a burden, especially on University students, and adversely affects both training college and University work. Until the new college is built there can be no completely satisfactory solution of the problem, since the urgency for more trained teachers will demand for some years a roll at least as large as the present one. In the meantime we shall revert to three days a week in the practising schools and grant one day to reading in the University or training college library. Head Teachers' Conference.-—The extension of the summer vacation afforded an opportunity for a conference of head teachers of Wellington, of training college staff, and Inspectors. How to make the greatest use of the freedom arising from the abolition of the Proficiency Examination had been exercising the minds of teachers, and this subject became the general theme of the three days' conference. The discussions and reports of committees were of undoubted value in clarifying ideas and in advancing sound principles of practice for general guidance, and from the point of view of the college had a most beneficial result in identifying the staff of the college with teachers and Inspectors in the solution of educational problems. Refresher Courses. —An outcome of the conference was the establishment in the college of refresher courses in art and handwork. Visual Education. — This college was represented by the Principal and Miss Browne, Lecturer in Science, at a Visual Education Conference, called by the Education Department. The Department is fully acquainted with the importance of visual-education equipment in general, but there is likely to be some differences of opinion as to the relative advantages for teaching purposes of the various types of mechanical aids. The staff of this college has carefully considered our requirements from two points of view—(a) Aids to presentation of matter imparted to students ; (b) the familiarization of students with the use of such aids as they should find in the schools. We have forwarded for your consideration a well-considered proposal for a beginning in this work which should provide a timely follow up to interest already created by the N.E.P.

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