TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 805, 30 April 1910, Page 3

TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

♦ ; FIRST QUARTER REVIEWED. ' THE JUNIOR FEES STUDINT. ■ During the first quarter of the current year at the Wellington Technical School 1389 pupila attended the various evening classes. In 1907, the number was 056; in 1988, 1292; in 1909, 1310. There has also been au increase of i per cent, in the number attending the day classes. "The slight inerease in the day elasses," observed the director (Mr. W. S. La Troba), reporting to the board, "is a cheering feature, as indicating that the depressiou is passing away, lor this inerease has taken place ui spite ot the opening of other institutions to frce-plaeo students. I think it is also au indication that those olassps meet a decided want in the educational Bystoms; I have no doubt whatever that when this institution is in possession of adequate pteuiises both for teaching and for recreation we shall have a largo increase in the numbers of both day and evening students, and be able to.attain u higher efficiency as well as a much larger output.. "Comparing successive years, the most notable feature is in the increase in commercial and continuation classes, mainly due to the large admission of free-place students, which began m 1908 so far as junior free places are concerned. Another noticeable feature is that while the total trade classes have not increased at any great rate, the building trades, which were 'booming' in' 1907 and 1908 have experienced a ' considerable diminution, though, the teaching is probably more efficient now than it was two years ago. The engineering trados on the other hand are, on the whole, improving; and there are at present specially, strong- classes in Btcam and in electrical work, "The space available for the school has, in my opinion, - been fully occupied during the last three years, and we cannot expect any considerable increase until satisfactory buildings and equipment are provided. The alternate rising and falling of various classes undor the same tuition ,is a clear indication that'we have reached the limit of our present acconrmodatnon. "It is from all points of view a pity that young students with junior free places shonld be sent to evening instead of to day classes. Boys and girls of thirteen to sixteen years' of age do not—in any school —work well of their own accord, at subjects which do not hold any special attractions for them. The majority of our evening free-place students are, necessarily, 1 not attracted by abstract educational subjects, and do not realise the importance of strict attention to all the parts of the courses laid down for them. In the day classes we can and do insist on a proper interest being taken in all the subjects, but it is extremely difficult to do much more in this direction in the short time available in the evening classes. "I am not prepared to. recommend - that junior holders under sixteen years of age should be excluded from the evening classes, as this would, in some cases, only add to the severe burdens which the parents may labour under, but I. would strongly urge all those, who have the power, to give their children at'least two ' years in higher day school work, and so. allow them a better opportunity to. win senior free places, before letting them go to . work and sending them, to the eveningclasses.- They would then be able to make better progress, and would also be, able to devote their whole time to subjects immediately connected with ■.. their 'business."