TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 443, 27 February 1909, Page 13

TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

OPENED AT PETONE. SPEECH BY THE HON. G. FOWLDS. The official opening of the Petono Technical School took place last night, the seiomony being perfoinicd by tho Minister for Education, tho Hon. G. Fonlde, in the presence of a large number of pupils and tho public. The following members of tho Board of Managers were, present:—Tho Rev. A. Thomson (chairman),', Messrs. J G. Castle, W. G. Lodder, 11. Motb.es, and A. Coles. Tho Major of Petone (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan) and the Deputy-Mayor of Lower Hutt (Councillor W. H. Russell), Councillor R. W. Short, Mr. T. W, M'Donnld, Mr. W. Allan, of tho Education Board, Mr. G. L. Stewart, secretary of tho board, and Mr. T. R. Fleming, senior inspector, Acre also present. ; The Chairman.of the' Board. The Rev. A. Thomson expressed the pleasure of the residents at tho arrival of tha time for the official oponing of tho school. They would also be pleased to have tho Hon. Mr. Fowlds with them. >The school had been in existence' for six years, and tho results, he thought, had justified tiie erection of this building. He referred to the generous assistance rendered by the large local companies and"'tho railway woikshops to the fundi of tho boaid. There were a large number of mechanics in Petono, and the school would not bo properly finished until they had a, serviceable workshop. They must also have a high school, which Rould make use of this building. '- •' The Minister. , Tie Hon. G. FowJds,' in declaring tho ' school open, referred to the great interest that had been manifested in connection with the classes' the average attendance at whioh was 67.. tinder the oircumstanccs this was as largo as they could expect. He hoped, however, that this would improve, and that further accommodation, would eventually be 1 required, s At least £400 had been voluntarily contributed to tho funds, which waß very satisfactory. Tho interest evinced by tho local bodies and big companies was a very healthy sign, and ho was pleased to notice that sentiment. When ho saw the budding he was satisfied that the district had got good value for its money, and the managers were to bo congratulated upon this. As to the possibility of a high school adjacent,-he knew that it was risky to offer an .opinion—(laughter)—but ho thought it desirable that tho various branches of education should be brought in close association (Hear, hear.) It would be a fatal thing if they worked in isolation or antagomsm. A very largo amount had been spent on technical education in Now Zca- . land, and the attendance had not alwayß been satisfactory; but he believed that, in J™ f V* 1 u J re » the y *<™ld get better results by the children coming direct to these institutions. When tluy became habituated to this class of teaching they would realise Its full value, and go oni from the primary school through the secondary to the more _ highly specialised classes of the technical school. He would emphasise tho necessity of having the three branches working in co-oporation. It bad not been possible to successfully finance the schools, but ho hoped that this would be overcome by co-operation, and the coming of tho children would improve matters. 'He congratulated the managers on the appointment of a director for the school, for without this appointment a good deal in the way of organisation would be lacking. A fine building and a complete equipment did not constitute success; it lacked tho human element: but from the action of tho managers in the past he believed that skilled instructors would bo provided. Parents, he hoped, would take an interest in the school, for'on that interest the progress of tho pupils in some measure depended, and he recommended them to visit the institution occasionally by 'way of showing that interest. , l ■ In co-ordinating tho different branches'of education satisfactory prpgrcss was now boin" made. For soma years our .technical, eduia° tion was behind that of most countries, but this had been' remedied. Before long, it, waß poped to case off in tho oxDenditure on buildings, as so many would have been provided." v The want of proper agricultural instruction ln ji? oountr y districts had been extended, and there were 488 classes recognised for this purpose m the Dominion. The number about throe years ago was about a .score, so excellent progress had been made. Most of tho Education Boards had appointed' special itinerary instructors, to" aid tho teachers as well as the pupils. Our technical education ought to bo specialised along the lines of the district in which it was given, and the managers of tho 'school would, readily find out the kind of classes that would bo most helpful. He had very great pleasure in declaring the Technical School formally open, end wished it every success. Other Speakers. - Mr. T. W. M'Donaldpointed out that the ' Mhool.was really the Hutt Valley Technical School, and not merely a local institution. He spoke strongly in favour of tho boaru t proposal'to accommodate secondary pupils in the building, remarking that he understood that the opposition to this idea was fadinc _away. _ & "t. i W -. AII ™< » member of tho Education . Board, referred to the suitability and utility in every way of the building for the purpose for which it was erected. , \ Mr. T. R. Fleming, senior inspector of tho Board, mentioned in tho course,of his remarks that, out of a number of recent appointments, a large proportion' came from the District High School. ' Mr. Eustace King, director of the school, said that he would not be satisfied until pupih came from as far up the valley as Upper Hutt, - , . A hearty vote of thanks wa3 accorded the architect, Mr. F. do J. Olere, for making the best, possible use of the means. Mr. Uero spoke briefly in acknowledgment. «Ji \f < e L rs Wfre , Siven f <* the Minister, Wid the gathering dispersed.