COMMERCIAL WORK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 130, 4 June 1930, Page 8

COMMERCIAL WORK.

INSTRUCTION FOR STUDENTS.

TRAINING COLLEGE AND HIGH

SCHOOLS

EXAMINATION BY EXPERTS.

The question of providing commercial training for students at the Training College and for the provision of expert examination of commercial classes at district high schools was brought before the Auckland Education Board this morning following receipt of two memorandums from the Department of Education.

"There is a growing demand for commercial instruction in the schools," said Mr. A. Burns, the chairman, when the matter of providing instruction in the Training College came up for consideration.

The memorandum from the Department stated that the board's representation that provision be made for students at training colleges to specialise in ' commercial subjects would receive consideration. The Department further intimated that at present certain students were specialising in- commercial subjects at some' training colleges, but that it was doubtful whether the best training and practical experience would be obtained by granting to these a third year at Training College. "if! is our duty to see into this question," said Mr. Burns in proposing that the principal of the Training College be asked his advice in the matter.

"It is necessary to see that the instruction is up-to-date," said Mr. F. A. Snell.

It was decided to act on Mr. Burns' motion and seek the advice of the principal of the Training College.

"This is a somewhat useless answer," said Mr. H. S. W. King, when the second memorandum was brought before the board.

The Department's intimation regarded the request of the Auckland Primary School Committees' Association for provision to be made for expert inspection and exariiination of commercial classes at district high schools. The Department stated that it was suggested that pupils should take the subjects of bookkeeping and shorthand as for the Public Service entrance examination at the end of a two or three years' course, and that it was possible that individual students might take examinations .in shorthand conducted 'by Pitman's schools. The Department also stated that as regards the inspection of classes, such opportunities as might permit of visiting schools by inspectors officially conversant with the matter and. methods of teaching in commercial subjects would be taken where possible.

Mr. King remarked that the memorandum was somewhat pedagogic, and added that one would think that those in charge of the Department had been schoolmasters all their; days. He hoped that the Primary Schools' Association would go on with the matter.

"The school children need a commercial training," he continued, "not merely to pass the Public Service entrance examination, but also to get employment when they left school." Mr. King went on to say that he had met many inspectors, but never one conversant with commercial subjects. He had no doubt, however, that the Department had some such inspectors under its jurisdiction, and he hoped that it would use them to do the work suggested.

The senior'inspector, Mr. J. Robertson, pointed out that senior inspectors were conversant with commercial subjects, and inspected the pupils at" the various schools in those subjects.

- It was decided to notify the Auckland Primary- School Committees' Association of the Department's memorandum. •