MANUAL TRAINING AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9433, 3 June 1896, Page 5

MANUAL TRAINING AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

INTERVIEW WITH A SCHOOL INSPECTOR.

(BY OCR BtttORTKR-) In view of the interest now being lakefl a manual training and -technical eduoa-

tion, one of our reporters sought an interview with Mr L. B. Wood, Inspector of Schools, thinking that the views of so competent an authority would be of interest to he public. In answer to questions Mr Wood saidThere are certain subjects I shall be glad to discuss with you, but there are others, such as thiß question of manual training and teohnical education, which are under the consideration of tiie Board at the present time, on whioh I could not with propriety give my own views, as any opinions that I have on the subject must of ueceßsity be first put before my Board. On the subject of the kind of instruction to be pursued by pupils after leaving the primary sohools I Bhall be only too pleased to give you soma information ; also, as to what is meant by manual training and technical education, and what is being done at Home and in the colony in regard to these subjects. . . What is your idea, then, as to wnao should be done with those children who have passed Standard VI. whose parents - desire to keep them longer at Bohool, and very few of whom have education provided at the secondary schools by means of scholarships? . Mr Wood—Provision has been made in two ways to develop and render permanent the work begun in'the primary schools, hat by means of evening continuation schools, aud seoond by means of science and art and technical classes. Iv Dunedin muoh more haa been done in thia direction than in any other part of the colony. Some bix or seven years ago the Teohnical Classes. Association was formed, .tffere, chiefly through the efforts of a number ot prominent gentlemen who were not .connected with any educational authority constituted by Aot of Parliament. Among these were Mr AUx. Burt, of the firm of A. and T. Burt, who ia President of the Association ,* _r Mark Cohen, cdisor of the Evening Star; the Rev. R. VVaddoll, pastor of St. Andrew's Church ; and Mr. <*. M.Thomson, Science Master in the Boys Migtt School t who is Superinteudeut of the Association. The Association began in a small way, and after a rather severe struggle has taken firm root. The classes aro held in the Normal School, the use of which in the evenings has been grauted-by the Board or Education. The Association set out by dodining to take in any pupils who had no. been through Standard V., as they were afraid that overlapping might ;.take place if they adopted a lower standard. AH under the required qualification who applied for admission were turned over to the continuation school, which had been established in connection with tbe primary school in Union street. The Association refused to start any class with loss than twelve members, and the teachers were paid on an average £20 per .quarter of three months. Some taught one hour per evening twice a week; and others two hours onoe a week. The average foe was 5s per term, and most of tho classes were self-supporting. Many of the business' houses support the classes liberally by contributions, and the Governmeoc up to the present time has given a Bubßidy of £1 for £1/ ,0Q . tneae subscriptions up to £250. If this revenue is not sufficient to enable the Assooiation to pay teaohers and equip classes b» chemistry, plumbing, -3.. they make speoial appeals to tiie public for funds, by entertainments, lectures, tea., and these appeals have invariably b«en successful. *• may mention that the ladies of Duwedm organised a bazaar, the proceeds of whioh equipped the domestic economy and cookery classes, and tbey arenowmore than self-sun-porting. When the classes were first started the Association had necessarily to give the most of their attention to the literary side; because it was the most attractive and paid well. The Rev. R. Waddell, a gentleman of the highest reputation and attainments, was induced to take np advanced English, and he drew as many as 120 students. Junior classes in Eoglish and classes.in arithmetic, under capable teachers, were also largely attended. Typewriting aad shorthand have always been popular classes. The carpentry and building instruction classes are only attended now by apprentices, while the plumbing clashes are patronised only by apprentices and young tradesI men who have just started in business. j These two classes are affiliated with th* Art 1 School, as tbe same. instructor is employed , in both institutions. The carpentry and plumbing classes are affiliated with the London Guilds, and specimens of the students', work have been sent co London.., for competition. The class for practical chemistry is well equipped and largely attended by photographers and others. Have any such classes been established io Christchurch? 4 ~ '~:"'"... , < Little or nothing in this direction {replied Mr Wood) has been done in Christchuroh, except that last year* a beginning waa made by establishing a School of Domestic Insttfttption, ia which cookery, laundry wocki cutting out are taught, the attendance at which numbers about 100 pup Us. Also classes for engineering students are held at Canterbury College. It is a lasting reproaoh to thiß community that so little has been done to afford opportunities for improvement to the great mass of our youth,,at an age when the* capacities for intellectual enjoyment must be awakened if they *re to be awakened at aU. At this time of day, when by Act of Parliament men are almost compiled to have sixteen hours of leisure out of the twenty-four, it becomes all the more desirable that tbey should bo induced to draw their pleasure from, tho best sources. This aspect of the question which so largely concerns the happiness and moral weifare of the people cannot be too strongly emphasised. --'_'■•,", Are there any other types of schools in the colony which provide manual training and technical instruction ?

Mr Wood—Yes.. Iα every large centre o! New Zealand we have got Schools of Art, some ot which are known on tier the design** tionof technical ecboole. -All thees school* provide excelled iaetruobiou ia the vwsi>

one branches of drawing, which of coarse is a very important pat t of technical education.

Hμ the system of manual training been introduced in connection with primary education in New Zealand ? Mr Wood—There are one or two schools in which the manual training given ie of real educational value. The school at Milton, Owro, is a modrl or its kind, and the quality and excent of the work done there would really surprise one. Certainly some of the students are approaching mauliood, but there are also youngsters v,iu- attend the clauses. They have turning lathee for wood aad metal, very complete kits of tools, fretwork machines, in fact » well equipped workshop. The headmaster himself is a good workman and iutensely fond of de3jgoiDg, and he ie ably assisted by bis janitor, who is a first-class tradesman, and shares the master's enthusiasm. The more advanced members of the carpentry class make chests of drawers, wardrobes, desks, music stools, 4c., and specimens of their work have sained honours at more than one industrial exhibition. The headmaster conducts an agricultural chemistry claes for boys who intend to take up farming pursuits, and he has al»o established a class for typewriting, while the bead mistress of the school conducte cookery, cutting out, and sewing (machine) classes, which are largely attended. Nearly the whole of the instruction is given outside of the usual school hours. The fees range from 5s to 10s per term. This subject of technical education appears to be a most comprehensive one, and seems to be very generally confounded wiib manual training. Can you give a clear definition of these subjects, which will differentiate between them ?

Mr Wood—To show the difference as briefly as possible consistently with clearness, I may explain that manual instruction educates the mind by the training of the hand and eye, and has to do entirely with the use of tools in the actual construction of articles in wood and other materials; while technical education means instruction in the science and art applicable to industries, and the application of special branches of science and art to specific industries or employments. I may say that the list of subjects in technical education recognised by the Home authorities comprise 123, beginning with agricultural engineering, including the driving of engines, and finishing up with the treatment of wool, the reason for such a comprehensive list being to include all the industries in various localities.

You feel that you cannot with propriety give your views on the subject of the introduction of manual training in the primary schools of the colony, but can you indicate what the manual training consists of in the schools where it has been adopted? Mr Wood—During the last eight years the subject of manual training has received great attention in the schools of the Old Country, and haa now passed beyond the stage of experiment, and been practically adopted as a branch of training that must go hand in hand with the ordinary primary course. The outline of the scheme generally adopted in the best schools is somewhat as follows:—In the infant department they have a aeries of manual employments ba«ed on the principles of Froebel's teaching, nommonly known by the fanciful name of " Kindergarten." This manual employment includes exercises in weaving, plaiting, basket work, paper folding, and simple geometrical drawings and exercises with boxes of cubes. In the lower Standards the exercises comprise modelling in clay, cardboard, and woodwork, and catting oat in paper and other materials, drawing of patterns, and brush drawings. In the upper classes the pupils are taught to use the plane, chisel, and saw, including a great many exercises in making the various joints used in carpentry. In districts where the industries are mainly connected with iron, as in Birmingham, there are various exercisea in metal work.

The d interview, which Mr Wood had courteously granted, then terminated.