OVERCROWDED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 90, 18 April 1939, Page 11

OVERCROWDED.

TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

PARTITION URGED.

VIEWS OF MINISTER.

In view of a communication from the Minister of Education, the Hon. P. Frascr, the board of the Seddon Memorial Technical College will, at a meeting on Thursday, discuss the present overcrowded etate of the institution and recommendations by the Minister, which are in the direction of establishing another technical echool, or schools, in Auckland suburbs. The Minister has asked the board to consider the problem of partition, in the light of opinions expreesed, and submit further views for consideration, as he wishes to help toward the solution of a very difficult problem. The future development of technical education in Auckland has been a eubject of discussion with the Minister for some time, and the board has expressed the opinion that a domestic science school should be established, and that diplomas for domestic science should be awarded. The principal of the college, Mr. G. J. Park, pointed out this morning that the board was really responsible for the control and direction of the Seddon Memorial Technical Ccilcge only. The school wae now absolutely full, and they looked to the Educatio:i"Departnient to direct them in regard to the policy that would be laid down. The board had •been in favour of expanding, by developing sections of the school into separate schools.

They believed that there could be great expansion of the domestic science work, were it taken away and accommodated in a special school. The board had that policy in mind, also later to apply it to a course like agriculture. The board had visualised the establish-

ment of a separate agricultural high school, situated in the first place on the St. John College property, at Remuera, and. later, as funds were available, on a much larger property in the vicinity of Auckland. Similarly, a commercial high school had been visualised, leaving the Seddon Memorial Technical College and plant to carry on the work required with purely city industries.

The extension of courses had been diecuseed with the Education Department for several years, but there seemed to have been hesitation on the part of the. Department to arrive at a decision.

Future of College. Mr. Park said that in the communication which had been received ffom the Minister, it was admitted that the college was overcrowded, and the Minister had said that the fact must ■be faced that the echool should be divided as soon as possible. The Minister had further expressed the opinion that the division should be vertically and not horizontally, and that junior schools should be established, but each of composite type, and that the present college should be reserved for long-course pupils and for senior work by day and in the evening. He was of the opinios. that the segregation of pupile in single-course schools woWrt result in industrial and social stratification, with undesirable results. The undoubted benefit by co-education of sexes would be lost, and there w'ould be no compensatory advantage. Linless all girls were accommodated at one or more of domestic schools, it would still be necessary to maintain, at all gins schools or mixed schools, domestic courses for girls taking other courses, such as general, commercial or art.

Large Increase. Mr Park pointed out that there were no'w 1750 pupils at the college, and in addition to tlie accommodation there, two rooms at the old Grammar School had to be used. There was an increase of 200 pupile this year, the percentage for the year being over 121.