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Story: Tertiary education

Trainee teachers, late 19th century

Trainee teachers, late 19th century

This is a group of trainee teachers at the teacher training school in Dunedin, possibly around the 1880s. The great majority of trainees are women and it is likely the older bearded man to the left is their teacher. Women have always dominated teacher training enrolments.

Using this item

Hocken Collections, University of Otago

Reference: S11-286b

Permission of the Hocken Collections Uare Taoka o Hakena, University of Otago, must be obtained before any re-use of this image. Further information may be obtained from the Library through its website.

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How to cite this page

Kerryn Pollock, Tertiary education – Colleges of education before 1990, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/34425/trainee-teachers-late-19th-century (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Kerryn Pollock, published 29 May 2012.

Comments

Colleen johnstone
26 November 2014
As an ex student of Ardmore T.C I was interested to hear that there are at least some records that confirm that the place did actually exist. I valued the experience, close residential contact was part and parcel of a two years' training which I consider was unique. As far as the actual training it seemed widely appreciated and praised judging by comments I have heard over the years.