CRAFT TRAINING

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 17 November 1943, Page 4

CRAFT TRAINING

AUCKLAND SCHEME

education reforms

"Auckland is fast developing its secondary industries, but we have hardly kept abreast of the demand for technical instruction since we have, in a city approaching a quarter of a million inhabitants, only one fully-equipped Technical College and one Technical High School at Otahuhu, where the equipment is of a very elementary nature. Against this there are no fewer than five large and highly-efficient Grammar Schools catering almost exclusively for the academic side of education."

This statement was made in a report of a select committee on the suggested extension of technical education in intermediate schools presented at to-day's meeting of the Auckland Education Board.

The report said that until recently the city only one intermediate school (Kowhai) which could be classed as moderately well equipped, and this school had had a full measure of success. The aptitudes of the pupils had been carefully explored and parents advised as to the type of school to which their children should transfer. This advice, unfortunately, had too often been neglected, and although the principal had noted a definite technical bias in the majority of the pupils, the transfer in too many cases had been to the Grammar "rather than to the Technical College. This technical bias was noted by the principals of the other intermediate schools, in one case of over 80 per cent.

Technological College Needed

The committee suggested that the Seddon Memorial Technical College should be raised to the status of a purely technological college—with the power to issue diplomas—providing a finishing course of, say, two years in all industrial crafts—engineering, carpentry, cabinetmaking, bootmaking, dressmaking, home science and other subjects—to those students who had an elementary training of two years in junior technical schools, which should be attached to the intermediate schools. After the two years' finishing course the practical work could be continued for a probationary year, when the student would be given the opportunity of working for an approved employer who wjould work in conjunction with the college staff, continued the committee. After a year's efficient service the staff could determine whether the issue of a diploma were warranted.

The Seddon Memorial Technical College at present gave instruction in all the subjects mentioned, in addition to most of the subjects taught in the grammar schools' and commercial colleges, the report added, and it naturally followed that, since the instruction was highly efficient, the demand for admission was keen, and the college was overcrowded. Were it not for the fact that the organisation was exceptional. it would be unwieldv and chaotic. The enrolment was in the vicinity of 1800 and promised to reach the 2400 mark in 1944 unless some relief was provided.

liarjrer Intermediate Schools It was also suggested that the intermediate schools in the city area be enlarged and equipped so that not only should the aptitude of the pupils be determined, but a preparatory course for. both academic and technical training might be entered on and continued for a two-year course after Form 11. was passed. It was felt, too, that the provision of such an institution would create a demand for night classes in all industrial suburbs, and definitely stem the increase of juvenile delinquency which inevitably ensued when youths in their late teens had no profitable and attractive occupation in the evenings. In order to secure adequate capitation and staffing the status of such intermediate schools should be raised to that of junior technical schools—a new term.

Country Requirements The needs of country communities had not been lost sight of, and in districts where the demand for technical instruction of an advanced nature was not considerable, a junior agricultural school should be attached to the intermediate with a definite two years' course to prepare for an intensive diploma course at an agricultural college. "In submitting these proposals" said the committee, "it must be clearly understood that in the proposed alteration in the status of our schools we have in no wise lost sight of the fact that an all-round general education in cultural subjects is necessary for all students, be their objective industrial, agricultural commercial or professional finality, and our concern is to provide a course both palatable and efficient for the large number of children who will be required to continue an additional year at school.

If something of this nature is not provided our educational institutions will contain a percentage of rebellious pupils who will do much to sabotage the usefulness of this additional year. Specialisation at too early an age is not advisable, but by the time the child enters the technological or agricultural college for his final two years of specialisation he will have had six years in the primary school, two years in the intermediate, two years* in the junior technical or agricultural school receiving all-round cultural education over a period of ten vears. when he should surely be ready to specialise in the subject of his choice " Mr W. I. Bowyer said that board members had not discussed the report with him and Mr. Morris who were the board's delegates, and he thought they should have the views of the board members. He was keen to see a boarding school in conjunction with the college and the boys trained under practical conditions.

Mr. Morris said the proposal was only m its initial stages, and he thought it would be a long "time before the college was established. He considered it important that the site should be the most convenient for those both in the country and the

was decided that the report be submitted to a sub-committee com?srs' Bowyer, Morris, bniitn, Morrison and Bell to consider and report back to the board.