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E—2

The establishment of post-primary teachers' bursaries and of bursaries in physical education goes a long way to completing the arrangements for the training of postprimary teachers and leaves only art and music still to be considered. It is to be hoped that arrangements somewhat similar to those for teachers of commercial subjects can be made in the near future in the case of these two subjects also. lam convinced that from the post-primary point of view the most satisfactory arrangement is to provide instruction in teaching technique to an individual already well qualified in the subject for which a teacher is required. The new scheme of refresher courses for teachers inaugurated in January, 1945,. has been continued annually. The following is a summary of the courses actually held to date: — January, 1945 ; Two courses (North and South Island) for teachers of postprimary social studies. January, 1946 : Two courses (North and South Island) for teachers of postprimary general science, and courses in physical education and in agriculture. January, 1947 : Five courses — (a) Two courses for teachers of post-primary English. (b) Two courses for primary head teachers of schools of Grades IY to VII. (c) A course in astronomy and map-reading. The following were planned for : January, 1948 : Ten courses—(a) Two courses for teachers of commercial subjects (post-primary). Ib) Two courses for teachers of geography (post-primary). (c) Two courses for primary and post-primary woodwork instructors, (id) One course for arts and crafts specialists. (e) Two courses for sole and head teachers of primary schools of Grades II and 111. (/) One course in agriculture. Unfortunately, owing to an outbreak of poliomyelitis, the courses for January, 1948, planned for the North Island had to be postponed after organization for them had been virtually completed. In 1945 the grant to cover certain costs in connection with refresher courses was £l,OOO. It has been increased annually, and for the 1948 courses the total was approximately £6,000. In 1945 the total number of teachers attending the two social-studies courses was about 350. In 1946 it was approximately 400 ; while in January, 1947, the total number of teachers and lecturers involved was approximately 800. For the courses for January, 1948, this number has risen to 1,090. Until January, 1948, the travelling-expenses of State-school teachers only attending the courses were paid. By a Government decision the grant for the 1948 courses was extended to cover travelling-expenses of teachers from registered private schools. Teachers from these schools had always attended refresher courses, but entirely at their own expense. An important feature of all refresher courses has been that they have been kept [practical —i.e., the programmes have been planned so that the teacher on returning to his class-room will feel that he has gained something that materially assists him with his day-to-day job. A further feature of the refresher courses has been that they are all made residential, if the teachers so desire. Schools and colleges with hostels have been generous in making available their facilities for the courses. The value of a course is greatly enhanced if the teacher goes into residence. The majority of those attending do go into residence. There can be no question of the value of these refresher courses or of the desire of teachers to attend them, which in itself is a reflex of the felt value of them. They have 'established themselves in the eyes of teachers.

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