TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 467, 27 March 1909, Page 7

TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

DECREASE IN ATTENDANCE. INFLUENCE OF UNEMPLOYMENT. A sober tingo was given to the meeting of tho Technical School Board last evening by reports of a diminished attendance as compared with tho first quarter of last year, and an unsatisfactory exhibition in tho plumbing examinations. Tho chairman (Mr. J. P. Luke), after returning thanks for his re-election, said that tho board had in front of it a considerable amount of work. Ho was sorry to soo that in 6omo respects, notably in tho work of tho plumbing classes, tho school had not been so successful as in previous years. Tho result of tho plumbing examinations was not at all creditable to tno industry. This was a matter that must bo thoroughly investigated. It was not his place to pre-judgo tho position, but beforo next meeting information would doubtless bo obtained which would enable tho wholo facts to bo placed beforo tho board. There was also a falling away in the number of students this quarter, as compared with the- first quarter of last year. The diminution was partly accounted for, probably, by tho fact that in the present'restricted state of employment the senior members of many families were out of work, and it devolved upon the younger members to earn what money they could instead of attending tho school classes. , Tho board would have to bo very careful of its finances during tho year, for though it was beginning with a very satisfactory credit balanco there were indications of special charges which would mako. serious inroads into the revenuo. There had recently been added to tho engineering workshop special machinery to the value, of £500, and l as far as the accommodation would permit tho school was very fairly equipped in this direction. Tho work of tho electrical classes was highly satisfactory. Appreciation was expressed of tho work of the director (Mr. W. S. La Trobo) and staff during tho past year. The accounts showed a credit balance of £634 10s., as against a debit balanco at tho corresponding period of last year amounting to £185 17s. lOd.

Director's Report, The director reported that attendance at classes was as follows:—Payiug students, day and evening, 430, as compared*with 576 for the first quarter last year; freo evening students, 262, as compared with 195; froo day students, 238, as compared with 268, tho total number of students being 930 this year, as compared with 1039 last year. ITie total number of freo students was 500 this year, as again 463 last year. Hence a decrease of 146 in paying students had been partially balanced by an increaso of 37 in tho total number of freo students. Tho numbers given did not include teachers' and other outside classes, which totalled about tho same this year as last, i.e., about 220 members'. Detailed comparisons were au follow:—Art class, 264 this year, as against 240 for tho samo quarter last year; science (including mathematics, geometry, etc., and chemistry) 157, as" against 188; building trades, 207 (292), mechanical engineering 60 (64), electrical engineering •86 (74), pattern cutting 5 (5), domestic economy 35 (40). Slackness in tho budding trade had caused reduced attendances in several classes. It was doubtful if tho pattern-cut-ting class should be continued. With regard to continuation and commercial classes, tho director reported that tho class entries were 650; as against 532 last year. ' A vast majority of freo students took a commercial course ■in preference to an art or trade course. Taken altogether, the total number of class entries was about 1467, as against 1488 last year, and showed that thougn the numbers wero less than last year the student entries wore not so small in comparison.

Increases and Decreases,

In' comparing. this, year . with, ■previous years, tho director noticed a largo increase in the number of evening free place holdors as compared with a progressive decrease in tho number of paying students, and of free place students in tho day classes. Ever since two years ago, when tho school was opened in tho evening to freo place junior students, tho numbers in the day freo placo classes had declined, and tho tendency did not appear.to diminish. Meanwhile tho total number of free, places had steadily increased, and tho number of paying students diminished in proportion. The present financial stringency and slacknoss, especially in the building trade, accounted for most of tho remainder of the deficiency in paying students, and also necessarily affected tho day entries in many ; cases. The numbers were, of course, considerably higher than thoso' for 1907.. The 1908' figures were larger than tho 'Warranted in many classes, and a natural reaction was experienced this year to numbers more commensurate with the facilities for teaching.

Mitigating Circumstances. Tho director further explained thatthough ..this year's attendances are less than thoso for tho first term of last year, they arc much larger than thoso of tho final term last year. Usually there is a small attendance for tho first term, but last year was an exceptien to this rule. A discussion took placo on the advisability of young boys being assisted to pursue ' their technical studies during day hours, instead of at the. end of a day's work. Mr. D. M'Laren thought that tho industrial Association might consider whether employers could not let boys away for a period during working hours to attend tho classes. ' Tho chairman said that in tho engineering trade tho difficulty, would be tho spasmodic character of tho work. Ho thought, however, that an attempt should bo mado to do something on tho lines of Mr. M'Laren's, suggestion. Mr. Robertson thought that the boys better off attending classes in ' tho evening than they would bo on tho streets. Tho report was adopted. Bad Plumbing Work. Tho examiners' report on. tho plumbing examinations, stated that tho work dono in practice was.bad on tho whole Tho reasons seemed to tho directors to bo that the candidates did not get sufficient practieo in lead work at the trade, and that they did not attend classes regularly enough to mako up their trado deficiencies at tho school. It was decided that tho report bo considered at next meeting. Otiior Matters. It was announced that Mr. W. T. Mack had been appointed as the representative of the master plumbers on tho board, in succession to Mr. G. F. Adams, and Mr. P. J. Galliors as representative of the electrical workers 111 placo of Mr. A. Snertingo, resigned! Utfior delegates had been reappointed. It was decided that the directors should submit a report to next meeting on tho salaries paid to instructors. Tho members present at tho meeting wcro: LuUo (chairman), I). M'Laren, M.P., D. Robertson. T. Ballinger, J. G. W Aitken, and W. Allan.

The appointment' of Mr. Itevell as an assistant teacher was confirmed.