AMOKURA BOYS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 828, 28 May 1910, Page 3

AMOKURA BOYS.

SCHOOL SUBJECTS TO BE TAUGHT,

AT THE TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

A report affecting tho teaching of the boys of the training ship Amokura in ordinary school subjects was presented to tho Wellington Technical Education Board last night by Mr. W. S. J*a Trobe, M.A., director of the Technical School, aud adopted. Mr. La Trobo reported as follows:—

"During tho month I have' made arrangements for the admission of two classes of boys, ono senior and one junior, from the training ship Amokura this school during their winter sojourn in port—a period of about fourteen weeks' teaching time. As tho matter was urgent, I had no opportunity of submitting proposals to the board as a whole. A course of study was arranged between the Marine Department, the Education Department, and the school; and the classes will be recognised in due counie by the Education Department. "There are approximately 60 boys on tho Amokura, about one-third of whom have certificates of proficiency. The boys have been divided into two classes. The junior class, about '30 boys, will attend school on Mondays, AVednesdays, and Fridays, for five and a half hours on each day. The seniors, about 30 boys, will attend on Tuesdays and Thursdays, for the same time. "The course comprises two aud a half hours; of woodwork or ironwork in eacli day, and three hours of practical arithmetic and mathematics, elementary physics, and training in English-- and writing. The subjects treated will be such as have direct bearing on seamanship and navigation.

"The terms, which have been arranged and approved by the Marine Department, subject to the approval of this board, are as follow:— "We admit free of charge to tho Marine Department all those. who are holders of certificates of proficiency or equivalent. In regard to the remainder,' wo charge the Marine Department at tho rato of 3d. per hour per pupil. We collect and retain tho capitation payable by the Education Department in respect of tho classes. "Tho boys remain at school during the luncheon hour, and I have arranged for them to lunch in the cookery room, and to bo supplied with hot- soup, or coffee, the boys bringing their own dry luncheons with them. The cost of materials for refreshments supplied by ;the school will be charged to the Marine 'Department.

"The boys arrive under the charge of a petty officer, who delivers them over to our instructors, and receives them again for tho luncheon hour, during which he- remains with them, delivering'theni over at 1.30 p.m. to their instructor and . retui ning , for them at i "p.m. i "There is thus one extra class of 30 to provide for each day during the next four months. So far as the workshops are concerned, Mr. Graham and his assistant, putting in extra time, worth £40, can manage the woodwork, and .Mr, M'Vicar and his assistant, putting in extra time, worth about £27, can -manage the ironwork. The extra time in woodwork is seven and a half hours weekly for each of two men, and the extra time in ironwork is five hours weekly for each of two men. "In regard te the classwork, about 15 hours' weekly, I have arranged for Mr. Binning to transfer from the commercial classes to take charge of the •boys, during these hours, and have appointed Mr. Reynolds, of Brougham Street, a teacher of. suitable, attainments, ■ and considerable' experience,": to,; take tho commercial classes, which Mr. ißinning has given~,upr at' ■a'cremunera-; tion of £70 for the four "'months' work.'

"The cost of material, etc., will be about £10, of which the Education Department pays two-thirds, or, say," £6, leaving £4 for the school to provide. The total cost of the classes will, therefore, be about £150 extra to our ordinary expenses. I estimato that the real cost —taking the proportion of management and instructor's salaries, rightly chargeable to these classes —will bo about £200. The cost to the-Marine Department for teaching will bo about £110, leaving about £90 to be made up by us out of capitation. This, I think, will easily be done. "Owing to tho presence of the petty officer. whenever the . boys are out of school, and to the fact that times are arranged so that these boys never enter or leave class at the same time as tho other students, and are kept by themselves during the luncheon hour, I have no doubt but that discipline will be maintained exactly as on board ship."