TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7383, 8 August 1889, Page 5

TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

ME FISHEB'S BILL, (.FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, August 7. Mr Fisher's Bill for the promotion of technical instruction in state schools is entitled " The Manual and Technical Elementary Instruction Act." In it mannal instruction is denned aa meaning instruction in the use of tools and in modelling in clay, wood, or other materials. Technical instruction is to mean instruction in the principles of science and art applicable to industries and in the application of special branches of science and art to specific industries or employment. It is not to include teaching the practice of any trade, industry, or employment. Mr Fisher proposes that manual instruction may be given only to the pupils following the standard course of instruction at a public school, and to such pupil it must be given at extra hours beyond the ordinary school time. For manual instruction so given a payment may be made by the Minister of Education to the Education Board, and by the Education Board to the teacher at the rate of tsro shillings a quarter for every unit of average attendance at the class for manual instruction, provided that the manual instruction to each pupil occupies at least two hours a week for ten weeks within the quarter. Technical instruction may be given only to such scholars as have passed the fourth standard, as have obtained from an Inspector of Schools a certificate of having passed the requisite examination. For such technical instruction occupying at least twelve hours a week for ten weeks during every quarter, a grant shall be made by the Minister of Education to the Education Board at the rate of ten shillings for every unit ot average attendance at Buch instruction. Every Board proposing to establish a course of technical iustruction under this Act is to prepare a scheme showing a copy of the proposed instruction, and submit such scheme to the Minister for his approval, and no payment shall be made by the Minister of Education to any Education Board for any technical instruction under the Act until a scheme of such instruction has received the Minister's approval. Any such scheme may include payment of fees as a condition of attendance.