TECHNICAL SCHOOL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IX, Issue 103, 15 April 1919, Page 3

TECHNICAL SCHOOL

FOR HASTINGS.

AN ABSOLUTE NECESSITY

At the householders’ meeting held in the Hastings North schoolroom last night, the chairman introduced the question of providing a Technical School for Eastings, which, he maintained, was an absolute necessity, and he asked Mr. G. F .Roach, chairman of the Hawke’s Bay Education Board, to address the meeting on the subject. Mr. Roach explained that Technical High Schools differed from District High Schools in that they are separate institutions managed generally by a local board of managers, working under the general control of the Education Board. The funds are derived from capitation payable on attendance of pupils, and from voluntary contributions and subsidies thereon. The number and salaries of the staff was not fixed by the Act, but was decided by the managers, and there was therefore greater scope for variety of courses anj for the appointment of instructors with special qualifications for the different subjects. As a rule the buildings ffr the Technical Schools were provided by the Government if the site was’ provided by local effort. Roughly the board appointed three or more managers, the parents elected two and public associations or local authorities joining in the establishment or maintenance of the school appointed the rest. The first thing to he done was to apply for the dis-establishment of the High School and the establishment of a Technical School in Hastings, as the High School cold not give the commercial, engineering and other courses of study in the scope of the Technical Schools. The Napier Technical School was overcrowded and the Blastings High School was going down. 1 Recently Mr. La Trobe counted 160 Hastings children attending the Napier schools, while Mr. Isaacs counted 171. So that, with the long hours involved in the journey to Napier, it was time a Technical School was established in Hastings. The question was being taken up by himself, as a member of the board, as well as by the School Committees Association. Their first duty was to raise subscriptions for the purc'nase of a site, because the department would only consider the question if the people of tlie district were prepared to shoulder some of the responsibility. and, therefore, it was necessary to provide a site. After that tlie department would erect a school and hostel, as well as undertaking the equipment, which was a big item. It nad been asked if the Borough Council or Hawke’s bay County Council had power to make grants for the purchase of grounds, and he had ascertained that under section 122 of the Education Act, 1914, thesa bodies may grant allowances out of their general funds, or may make a grant of lands or buildings by lease or otherwise. Mr. La Trobe, superintendent of Technical Education, with Mr. E. F. Pegler, had visited four sites in widely separated parts of the town, and prices were being obtained. In the Hastings area — Maraekakaho, Paki L’aki, Vukahu, Havelock. Mangateretere and Pakowhai —there were, at a low estimate, 200 children in the sixth standard, ol whom 120 to 160 should receive proficiency certificates anil should receive higher education. A three or four year course in a Technical College should ensure that from 250 to 300 children should bo on the school roll —first year 100, second year i’s, third year 50, and fourth year 25. The commercial course included bookkeeping. typewriting, shorthand, eominerciai correspondence, and the rural scheme would also bo continued, whilst tne re would be some science for girls. Added to that would be engineering, la rm work, wood work, agriculture, dairying* and other subjects, which would Lie extended to meet all demands. Tlie students who desired to take up professions, such as Jaw, teaching or chemistry, would, however, for the present at any rate, have to go to the Napier High School. He reminded them that the municipal elections were coining on, and tlie first question they should ask candidates for municipal honours was, what w’as their attitude towards making a grant to purchase the land for the Technical School site. Then there were, of course wealthy people who, he hoped, would come forward and help to give the boys and girls of this democratic country a first-class technical education, which was better than pounds, shillings and pence to them. (Hear, hear.) Continuation classes should be made imperative up to 18 years of age, and employers should bo obliged to allow' employees under that age to get this technical education, which would fit them for positions suited to their inclinations and abilities and cause better relations to exist between us throughout out lives. (Applause). On the motion of the chairman and Mr. G. F. Roach, it was unanimously resolved: “That this meeting recommends the School Committees Association to initiate such steps as shall lead to the provision of a Technical College for Hastings, and that the local bodies of the district be asked to support the proposal. - At the Hastings District High School meeting of householders last night, in connection with the much-needed establishment of a Technical College in Hastings, the following resolution was carried unanimously: “That in the opinion of this meeting of householders the time has arrived when a Technical College should be established in Hastings to meet the growing needs of the whole district. This step is rendered necessary in view of the present overcrowding at the Napier Technical College.”