TECHNICAL WORK

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 184, 3 May 1934, Page 10

TECHNICAL WORK

Training in Wellington College CONGESTION OF PUPILS Need For New Wing and Playing' Fields Technical education is a comparatively modern development, and. while the average man vaguely comprehends its nature and applauds its usefulness, it is doubtful if he actually realises the true extent by which its scope has been widened in recent years. A visit to the Wellington Technical College and a talk with its director, Mr. W. G. Ridliug, can add much to one’s appreciation of a method of teaching which aims not only at the development of thinking powers and the building up of character, but also at that essential feature of the system—the coordination in useful work of brain and hand.

The advantages of such a method of education are generally acknowledged, but in Wellington, as in other centres, it has one disadvantage, by no means the fault of those directly interested in its teaching, and that is, the demaud tends constantly to outstrip the supply. The result is that the college buildings are unable to accommodate in really adequate fashion the number of pupils wishing to train. There is very considerable congestion in numbers, which in turn affects the general efficiency of the institution, since many of the rooms, particularly the laboratories. must be used for purposes fo T which they were never Intended. A case in point is the electricity laboratory, which this year it has been found necessary to divide into two classrooms. The chemistry laboratory is frequently used for theoretical classes, and these must also occasionally be taken in the workshops, in surroundings which can do nothing to improve the quality of the work done. The cookery department is particularly overcrowded, and a complete home science wing is greatly, needed. The board of governors of the college at present has an application before the Education Department for a grant to enable it to build this wing, and if this is obtained the congestion will be much relieved. It will then be possible to develop courses to a standard of <Vficiency much higher than at present. Able to Help Itself. Fortunately the Technical College is able to help itself in a way that cannot be attempted by more academic schools. Tiie third year boys of the building department, for instance, are at present erecting a sports pavilion for tiie use of pupils and old pupils of the school, thus turning valuable practical experience to the benefit of the college. This pavilion will have a common room, a wide veranda, locker rooms, kitchenette, and provision for showers. Tiie plans also were prepared by the boys themselves under supervision. The boys of this department put up the partition in the electricity laboratory and were responsible for the fine panelling in the staff' room. Their course includes, besides the theory of carpentry and joinery and building instruction, a fairly thorough study of the materials used. Such things as experimental determination of moisture content of timber and a little forest botany help in the gaining of a good knowledge of tree conditions throughout all stages. All the boys who do manual work have to comply with free place conditions and study such usual subjects as English and mathematics. It is interesting to note that opportunity is also found for pupils studying for theoretical examinations to do soirie manual work as well. In the building workships, well-fitted with machines for planing, shaping, and so on, the joinery work for the new pavilion has been done and is ready to be fitted. The whole of the electrical workshop lias been equipped by the boys during the last three years. There is a switchboard made out of unwanted parts supplied by the City Council. The radio practical class, started during the middle of last year, has built an amplifier as part of a public address system which produces as much volume a” a “talkie” apparatus. When the Viesent work on a pelton wheel is complete. the shop will have its own hydroelectric system. , . Equipped by Boys. In the electricity laboratory all the equipment, about £lOOO worth, has been installed from time to time by tiie boys themselves. The machines include a rotary converter similar to tliat used by tramways and in the Lyttelton tunnel scheme, a mercury arc rectifier of the type to be used.for electric railways on the Tawa Flat deviation, direct and alternating current motors, and transformers. There are machines for measuring current to the millionth part of an ampere and voltage to one ten-thousandth part of a volt. The laboratory lias the apparatus to carry out all the operations of a power station. .

lu the metal workshop, where the general mechanical engineering, which acts as foundation for almost any branch of manual work is carried.out, the boys have recently built three lathes and are about- to embark ambitiously upon the construction of a screw-cutting lathe. Connected to this department is a motor-car workshop which is, however, a little held up by lack of any really up-to-date engines for demonstration purposes. The art department, with its cultural purpose and less dependence on machinery, has less scope for construction of implements. The senior classes in particular are purely cultural. This is. however, a department that engages in its activities all the girls of the college, who go to it for decorative embroidery, leatherwork and the various other aspects of arternft. The Cafeteria. Tiie purely feminine home science department and the commercial department have combined to produce between them what is easily the most attractive feature of Hie college outside I lie actual curriculum —the cafeteria. Here splendidly balanced and varied meals are provided at cost price and everything but tiie hard manual work is done, under supervision, by (lie pupils. The arts of bulk cookery, of planning meals and of accounting all have their place. Even the building itself was in part built by the pupils. Tiie home science department also has its dressmaking section, where everything in the way of needlework likely to crop up in the home, from making garments to re-covering umbrellas, is taught. Music lias lately begun to take tiie place it deserves in it school of such wide accomplishment. Until recently it lias not been on any definite timetable, though now pupils have the op-

portunity of some instruction in school time. There is an excellent girls’ choir which has won high praise from critics, a boys’, choir and an orchestra, to say nothing of violin, 'cello and piano classes. Pains are taken to see that the music performed is of a high standard. Of all outside activities connected with the school, sport of course takes first place. Tennis and fives are well provided for, but there is a real need of grounds for other recreations. At present, the college is dependent on the various reserves and. in striking contrast will) oilier schools, has no sports grounds it can call its own.

(PICTURES ON PAGE 7.)