E.—2.
Visual Education. —Considerable development can be recorded this year both in schools and college in the use of modern visual aids. An important part of the equipment of the teacher to-day is the ability to know how to use modern class-room aids. As far as time has permitted, all outgoing students have received instruction in the theory and practice of. using visual aids. Refresher Course, Gisborne. —I have to report that during the year my staff was called upon to help with two special refresher courses. At the Rotorua course, Mr. Ramsay Howie lectured on school music, while at the Gisborne course, Mr. Howie (school music), Miss Nicoll (art and crafts), and Mr. K. C. Reid (physical education and folk-dancing) were present. It is interesting to note that, as an experiment, I sent Mr. Peter Robertson, a third-year student, to assist with Mr. Reid's work. This proved very successful. School Broadcasts.—During the year the college has continued to plan the programmes in connection with the educational broadcasts to schools. Thirty weekly sessions have been given involving in all ninety broadcast talks, sixty-eight of which have been rendered by the college staff. A number of city schools have assisted in rendering short plays. Twenty-two thousand copies of the last booklet were printed, and the number required for 1939 will be in the vicinity of twenty-six thousand. There has been a steady growth since 1935, when eight thousand booklets were printed. During the year, 109 schools have applied to be included in our lists, involving an additional 5,128 scholars. In addition to many country schools, a number of large city schools has joined up. A feature of the 1938 programmes is that music lessons have been given weekly, and not as previously during alternate half-terms. This change has been made owing to repeated requests for more music in our programmes. Other lessons given during the year have dealt with current events, farming, speech-training, aviation, native flora, school drama, and, in addition, there has been an important series of lessons on geography; during 1939, music lessons will be given throughout the year, and the emphasis will be placed on historical rather than geographical topics in other parts of the programmes.
WELLINGTON. Changes of Staff. —Mr. Combs has been temporarily employed by the Education Department since the middle of the second term. Mr. Banner acted as Vice-Principal until the appointment of Miss E. A. S. Mclndoe enabled the Principal to take Mr. Combs' lectures in education. Till Mr. Combs' return the other duties of the Vice-Principal are shared by the staff. The permanent appointment of Miss Mclndoe as lecturer in History is an accession of strength, and very opportune in view of Miss Browne's leave of absence next year. Miss Macalister, Lecturer in Tnfant Method, has been replaced by Miss Stitt. Mr. D. W. McKenzie, M.Sc., was appointed to the newly created position of Museum Officer, and Mr. Kingi Tahiwi as part-time Lecturer in Maori. There has been in the course of the year almost a complete change in the personnel of the Normal School staff. It is essential to the carrying-out of its special function of student-training that there should be more stability of staffing in the Normal School. We welcome on that account the new staffing and salary regulations. The Work of the Year.—Several material factors contributed to making this a very successful year. For the first time since the reopening of the college we have had three complete terms ; the college curriculum has run more freely because of the abolition of the Entrance Examination ; the library has been equipped with modern text and reference books and stimulating works of general interest. New furniture has been installed in the library and common rooms, and liberal grants have enabled art, craft, and science subjects to develop to the best advantage. The further development of the college in efficiency and in wider service will be limited until we have the new college building, which we hope will be begun this year. The organization for the year involved changes, the purpose of which was to strengthen social relationships and to encourage responsibility and initiative. The more important of these was the initiation of classes of mixed men and women students and the reduction of pure lecture periods in favour of reading or lecture followed by discussion, the provision of an extended library study period, and visits to civic institutions and commercial and manufacturing houses. The general outcome has been a more vital and realistic study on the part of students and a greater degree of mutual confidence and co-operation between stafE and students. The University work of our students is covered by the report of the Chairman of the Board of Studies. Cultural Clubs. —The clubs and societies continue to provide a vital part of college life. Two further clubs were instituted this year, the Maori Club and the Camera Club. The former contains about forty students interested in Maori history and traditions. Their work has been greatly facilitated by the part-time appointment of Mr. Kingi Tahiwi as Lecturer in Maori Language. The Camera Club is opportune, in so far as we are now embarking on the field of visual education. Relations with Schools and Colleges.—Teaching Practice : This year we have used to a greater extent schools and colleges beyond the city area, particularly those of the Hutt Valley. I wish to thank all teachers engaged in student-training for their co-operation. We have enjoyed close contact with the Headmasters' Association. On various matters of importance committees of headmasters have worked in conjunction with the Principal and trainingcollege staff, and given assistance especially in the consideration of a report on refresher courses. I have looked to the Headmasters' Association for advice in the planning of the activities of the Museum Officer, inmethods of circulating the Carnegie Art Library, and in the selection of visual-aid equipment,
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