SCHOOLS FOR MANUAL TRAINING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 172, 21 July 1903, Page 8

SCHOOLS FOR MANUAL TRAINING.

OPENING OF AUCKLAND CENTRES.

Yesterday work was commenced in the three new manual training schools built anil equipped by the Auckland Education Board, situated at Newmarket, Upper Ouyen-street, and Richmond-road. Mr George George, director of technical education for the Auckland province, soon fitter his arrival here last year, submitted g comprehensive scheme to the Board for tlio mauuai training at central schools in cookery and woodwork, of the girls and boys in standards v., vi., and vii. The Board approved of the scheme, and forwarded it to the Education Department, who were asked to provide funds for the building and equipment of these schools. The sum granted fell considerably below that asked for, but the Board determined to carry out the director's recommendations without curtailment, providing the additional money out of the funds in haud. ThP. cost of the erection and equipment of thfe three schools opened yesterday has been about £3500, while the sum granted by the Department was £2300.

The object of these manual training schools is to train the hand and the eye. to develop the powers of reasoning and originality, to inculcate into the pupils methods of neatness and accuracy; in fact, to turn out the pupil as an intelligent being, and not as a mere machine. At present each pupil in standards v., vi., and vii. of the city and suburban schools spends two hours per week at one or other of the three manual training schools. Mr George with the idea of extending these benefits to flio country schools, is arranging special classes in cookery and woodwork on Saturday mornings, at which the Board's teacher.- , will receive instruction in lh<»se subjects from the teachers engaged ,"rom England. The teachers thus instructed will be in turn .able to instruct the pupils in their schools. 3?nek building consists of two large rooms, &.'ti long by 2Gft wide, and two small rooms for the private use of the instructors, in addition to pupils' clonk-room and lavatories.

Instructors specially trained for this work Lave been engaged from England to carry jQut the teaching in these schools. Messrs W. T. Fossey, E. Howe, and A. D. Trenciall. thf woodwork instructors, have had several yoars' experience- in similar centres under tbo London School Board. Miss K. Tweutycan and Mir;s M. Warren, two of the three cookery teachers, have been unil°r the London School Board, while Miss J. Todd has -tien working under the Reading School Beard.

'ilip Chairman of the Board of Education <?Jr James Mnlr) will declare the classes open on Friday afternoon next, and they •will probably be open to public inspection on Saturday.

The three Instructors in cookoj-y are also trained in laundry work, and it. is the intention of the Board to stnrt laundry classes nest year at these centres.