TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 188, 11 May 1928, Page 16

TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOLS

WORK IN THE SMALLER ONES

DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED The sub-committee consisting of Messrs. Matson (Westport), Munro (Pukekohe), and White (New Plymouth), appointed to report to the Technical Teachers’ Conference upon the special difficulties confronting the smaller schools and in particular the following points, (a) -well-balanced courses in the day school, and (b) successful evening classes, yesterday presented its report. The committee stated it was quite in agreement with the opinion expressed in the Tate report that a technical high school best met secondary school requirements of New Zealand, and that, any new schools established in smaller centres. should be of this type. “We find that these difficulties are met with in regard to (a) : “1. Most technical high schools provide at least three full courses, professional, commercial, and industrial (e.g., engineering, agriculture, . and domestic). This scheme requires specialist teachers, most of whom, however, must also be able to teach general subjects common to all the courses.

“2. Witli say three courses and pupils' of up to three years’-standing, cl-sses have to be grouped, either different clauses together or different years in the same course together. A more liberal staffing than one to 28 would alleviate this difficulty. “3. Classes fluctuate in popularity, sometimes depending on the skill or popularity of the teacher.

“4. There is sometimes a difficulty in obtaining and retaining a competent staff. “5. In technical day schools with many part-time pupils and part-time teachers there are considerable organising difficulties, and it is difficult to cultivate a good “school spirit.” “6. Directors of the smaller technical high schools have usually to supervise manual training classes and evening classes, and in addition to teach class subjects for many hours in the week. In comparison with secondary school principals they are not adequately paid for such duties. They have also to act as secretaries to the boards of managers.” Mr. Matson said the manual and hobbies classes were most popular. In smaller centres compulsory evening classes could not be a success. There was some reason to think that in regard to attendance at evening classes children had more say than their parents in the matter. It was urged too that versatility on the part of a teacher in small districts should be taken into account and some recognition should be made of the teachers who bore the burden in the small schools. It was agreed to embody in the report an expression of opinion to this effect. The report was adopted.