TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 190, 12 August 1919, Page 7

TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

AND IT.S NEEDS. Mr. 0. AY. Murray, representing the technical side of education, apologised for the absence of Sir. Entrican. lie stated that to make any comparison bc--1 tween technical education and the other classes mentioned would be invidious. But it had an important bearing upon j the moulding of the future citizens, n : had waited long to be put on a proper ■ footing. Under the present shortage, i production was badly needed, and the j training to make this production eflicient was found in the technical schools. ',Ac with the other educational instituI tions, they suffered from want of space, j buildings "which were quite unlit and accommodation that was quite inadequate. Thie did not tend to efficiency. For instance, the main building in Auckland W!W half finished, and was not sufficient to accommodate the pupils. Money again was needed. The Technical School was now giving a good deal of attention to ] the training of returned soldiers, and this work took Up a good deal of room. They asked a vote adequate for the carrying out of these duties.

WORK OF TEACHERS. Mr. 0. E. Munro, president of the S./~ Kducational Institute, spoke for Hiu teachers, who hopod to do better work than they had dune in the past, if they were provided with better equipment. They needed the children to be healthy before they could expect them to do good work. They had had xtati.-tics or overcrowding prepared, but tliev ilui not allow it :it its worst. They needed better facilities for medical and dental inspection, and inspection was not sufficient. They needed treatment. He urged the extension of the school «j.»e. With reference to the remarks made by Mr. Leys, he would like to point out that the number of students attending the I'nivertiity was a very small percentage of t.'iv scholars of the primary School. Decent citizens, to be decent citizens, munt be properly educated. lie would likti to .-cc education made compulsory to the age of Hi. Mr. M.inro touched on tlie subject of hostel* for teachers, lie appealed for a wider interest in education.

! MEDICAL DIRECTOR WANTED. ORADIXO OK CHILDREN. Mr. E. K. Mulgan, senior inspector for the Auckland Education Hoard, dealt with the remuneration of inspectors. He. did not wish to say anything that would savour ut criticism oi t'uc Department, but he would like to point out that the present remuneration was altogether too low to attract the best men. Allusion was made to the need of proper medical attention for the children. They wanted a medical man t.> direct, the Education Department's medical services in the Dominion, but under the present system they could not offer him more than £950, the amount paid to the Director of K.ducation. Thi« was not sufficient to attract a medical man witli tin- qualifications they required. A remuneration sufficient to do this should be offered. The time has come, he said, when we will have to seriously consider the question of altering our system. I'nder the present system we sent children to school between the ages of live and seven, and kept them there till they were fourteen. From there they went elsewhere. This system did not obtain in England and other countries. The children in these places were examined between the ages of eleven anil twelve. The dull ones were sifted out from the brightest, and

some were sent to the secondary schools and some to what were known as central classes. A great change in ideas had taken place during recent years. Authorities heid that it was not "desirable that children should remain in the primary schools' atmosphere after the age of 12 years. From that they passed on to school "communities." where they could |be graded according to their ability.

TO SUPPORT EDUCATION". Sir Frederick Ijing said the thanks of members were due to the Board for the..- opportunity given them of hearing the educational needs. He quoted instances of overcrowding that had come under his notice, and agreed that more money was needed for educational purposes. All these energies had ilx-cu directed towards winning thp war, but now he thought the country was in a position to raise a loan sufficient to put the education system on a satisfactory bawis. He moved:- "That the Auckland members of Parliament present at a conference witli the Auckland Kducation Board resolve to support to their utmost the interests of education, and to that end to act in concert to urge Parliament to vote a sufficient sum of money during the coming session to place education upon a satisfactory footing."

Mr. YV. T. .Tenninjrs, M.P. seconded the motion, which was carried.

A vote of thanks to the members of Parliament was carried on the motion of Mr. Boddio.