THE TECHNICAL CLASSES ASSOCIATION.

Evening Star, Issue 8484, 8 April 1891, Page 1

THE TECHNICAL CLASSES ASSOCIATION.

The rejjort and prospectus of the Technical ImAr Aaiookttien for IgftO 91 haa recently ItewVffilisned, and we are inclined to think that the people of the City and anborba an hardly aware of the good practical work being done with rery limited meana. The Association was oonatitnted at a meeting held in the Town Hall on Norther 15, 1888, the pronounced object being/the promotion of the education of youtha by meana of evening classes. The subjects proposed to be taught were divided into three groups —literary, scientific, and mannaL The classes were commenced in the winter of 1889, imd continued in the same season of 1890 with very marked success. We could wish that the balance-sheet showed a more general interest in the efforts of the Association to supply a notable requirement ; but we find that during the period covered—March 31,1890, to March 10, 1891 —the donations and subscriptions, including those of several life members, only amounted in the aggregate to £45 Is, which indicates that the subject can hardly have engaged the attention of the citizens as a body. It may be stated that any person may become a member of the society on payment of an annua 1 , subscription of ss, and is thereupon entitled to vote at the election of officers; whilst all subscribers of £5 and upwards are life members. There are—it will be easily understood, although the Education Board allow the use of the Normal School for the literary and scientific classes—many expenses to meet, including remuneration to the teachers; and it is exceedingly desirable that the Committee should have a freer hand, and not be fettered, as has hitherto been the case, by want of funds. Fees payable quarterly in advance are charged for attendance at each class ; but these are scaled at a very low rate, and any student who can satisfy the Committee that he is nnable to pay is allowed to attend the classes free, or at a reduced fee. The income from this source during the past year amounted to £ll3 19s fid. The Association does not aim merely at giving desultory instruction; but the scheme of evening classes is so organised that youths engaged during the day who have passed the Sixth Standard in the public schools may be enabled to continue their education, and it. due time take advantage, should they desire to do so, of the higher education provided by the University of Otago. Instruction of a practical kind is, moreover, provided, such as will be likely to make lads employed in manual trades more intelligent and more efficient workmen. The report of the Committee contains many interesting details as to the business and transactions of the year. The classes were opened on May 1, and were carried on, with a brief interval, for six months. The total number of students enrolled was 125, irrespective of girls in attendance at the cookery class—an institution which, it is sincerely to be hoped, in the interest of future benedicts, will, before long, count its pupils by the hundred. Bad cooking is, beyond doubt, responsible for a good deal of bad health, ill temper, and domestic unhappiness. The Committee note that the general attendance was much smaller than in the opening session ; but they aooonnt for this by the fact that “ the novelty having “ worn off, those who attended were all “bona fide students who came to work,” This, taey assert, is shown by certificates of attendance having been granted to fifty-two students, or nearly one-half the whole number enrolled. They mention, farther, that during the first session only four certificates for proficiency were granted, although there were 288 students on the roll; whilst for the last session twenty-one were given—viz,, two in English, one in mathematics, two in arithmetic, four in chemistry, one in physics, and eleven in shorthand. The attompv, made to secure a local habitation for the classes in the front portion of the Exhibition Buildings, and the defeat of this by the skinflints in the late House of Representatives, are well known. The Committee narrate the whole story, and it is anything bnt creditable to the parties concerned. The Education Board, it is stated, have, however, undertaken to grant a site for a workshop on their vacant sections in Stuart street. The cost of a suitable building has been estimated at £l7O, and the erection is intended to be proceeded with if this snm can be raised. Appended to the report of the Committee is that of the superintendent, Mr 6. M. Thomson, to the president of the Association. This gives full details of the working of the classes during the session. Mr Thomson states that it was intended to include a class in mechanics in the curriculum ; but as only a few students entered, it could not be started. He farther observes, with regret, that the only manual class undertaken—namely, one for carpentry, wood and metal turning—nnder a competent instructor bad to be abandoned on account of the impossibility of getting a suitable worksl op. Though the number of students, the superintendent says, was only about half of whut were enrolled in 1889, he considers the result to have been more satisfactory, “as the dilettante element was almost “ entir ely wanting. Those who entered came “ to work, and the certificate list shows that “ good results have been obtained. I think “ the Association may be congratulated at the “ resu't of the season’s work, as I feel sure it “ is better to have fifty hard-working students “ than 200 who are only half-hearted. ” The proficiency certificates, it may be explained, are on the matriculation standard of the New Zealand University; and Mr Thomson declares that, “ from a perusal of the questions set and the papers given in,” he is cf opinion that this standard “has in some cases been exceeded.” The conduct of the pupils he reports as having been highly satisfactory. ‘* In the class room the diligence “and attentiveness exhibited by all but a “very few have been thronghont very “ praiseworthy, and have made the work of “teaching a pleasure.” In conclusion, the superintendent thanks the staff of teachers for the “ extremely pleasant way ” in which they have worked with him, and for the “ energy and enthusiasm they have thrown “into their work. The Association is “especially indebted to the Rev. A. R. “ FrrcttETT, who has grata!tonsly devoted “ ever / Wednesday evening for the past six “ months to his Latin class, which has been “a success beyond the expectation of the “Committee.” The third session nnder the auspices of the • Committee of the Association commenced on Monday evening, and we may hope that they will receive encouragement in their work by a considerable addition to the lilt of subscribers. Money is urgently required for the erection of a workshop and other purposes. The annual subscription, as we mentioned above, is only 6s, and we do not know any way in which that inconsiderable snm could be better laid oat. We commend the Technical Classes Association to the citizens and housewives of Dnnedin.