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(a) they form the backbone of the Teaching Staffs of the Grant-in-Aid Schools, which are more numerous than Government Schools, and which show, on the basis of examination results, an equal proficiency with Government Schools;
(b) the salaries as scaled for Graduate Teachers make the employment of such, at least in big numbers, from a financial point of view, out of the question for non-Government Schools.
Hence the Student Teacher is a very important factor in the educational life of the Colony.
A Teachers' Training College, financed by Government very largely, if not entirely, may not be an immediate possibility, but it is in that direction that cur efforts should tend. It must be remembered, however, that this is a very poor country, and if longer training is to be demanded of our Teachers, the expense must be largely met by Government.
There is, however, at the moment no Teachers' Training College, and we must be content with the Evening Institute.
Under actual conditions as they now exist we wish to make the following remarks:
(a) The courses as provided are not satisfactory.
(b) There should be more LANGUAGE training, both oral and written,
and much less CLASSICAL LITERATURE.
We regard the present syllabus, by which three Plays of Shake- speare and one modern novel are covered in three years as entirely unsuitable. We think that young Teachers should be required to read intelligently and attentively at least one modern book per month and should be examined on these.
(c) They should get much training in composition work.
(d) They should be drilled in the taking of notes.
(e) They should be encouraged to practise impromptu speaking.
(f) Special stress should be laid on correct pronounciation PRACTICAL PHONETICS showing lip and mouth formation in pronouncing vowels and consonants-the difference between long and short vowels-the avoidance of staccato reading-and other forms of oral work.
The aim should be not to produce literatures, but to assure that the language is accurately and thoroughly known.
(g) Less Hygiene, as that is now incorporated in the Class 2 syllabus. (h) A modified course in Psychology. The course as now offered seems to contain little more than Behaviourism, and to omit all study of the will, etc.
We think that the courses in Method and indeed, in most other subjects also--- would gain, were they entrusted to older and more experienced Teachers, prefer- ably from Grant-in-Aid Schools. It is but reasonable to assume that those who are going to employ these young Teachers afterwards will be more likely than others to work hard for them during their training.
We think that the present hours and the present method of using teachers make an impossible demand both upon the students and professors. Both have already done a day's work, and cannot possibly be at their best during the Evening Courses.
We consider that the Evening Institute should have its own staff of men, who are free to devote their whole time to that work.
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