TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue LIII, 14 July 1908, Page 4

TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

At a meeting of the Technical School Committee last evening action was taken with the purpose of pushing on thei project of erecting a building convenient in position and suitable in character and accommodation si« a home for technical education in Hawera. The fmnouncement that! thei Wanganui Education Board is promoting „ d Bill to edfeot the cEango of s(ito& — the one in Princea street for the one in High street (known as E-obbina' square)--will, we Jurust, bo followed by this long delayed transaction being brought to a settlement, and the erection of they' necessary school buildings in liawera. It was pointed out ihe other day thaifc in lihei draft proposals there wore ome or two alerical errors 1 , but it is understood that these are now being rectified so that, no further halting should be called on that score 1 . We have passed the stage when the pros and cons of technical education need bo discussed and arc entering upon an experiment which is practically certain to do incalculaible good. Thei demand of the moment is to supplement the litarary and theoretical by a courfe* of the practical, and the latter, for obviO'U^; reasons, cannot be grafted upon the- prosonb High School syllabus. The neighboring towns of Eltham ami Patcai are adrcady enjoying the advantages of their schools, an 4 the work is being takan up with great enthusiasm. It is confidently txpootad thai Avhcn the required accommodation and moans 'of instruction are fully available in Hawera a sufficiency of pupils will bo forthcoming. on 9 foundation' for this belief is that when a call was madci upon tha people about £'2CO was promptly promised and subscribed. In thei faca of Mich a test as that there should have been no hesitancy about proceeding with t-hc erection of the school. With, regard to the promised donations the Board decidod that they should, bo collected before tenders for the erection of the building were •invited, rut at their last meeting, at the request of the local technical committed, this was waived on thei committee guaranteeing iJiat the amount promised would be collected and probably more. In guaranteeing the collection the Technical Committee haa (shown its confidence in thei project and in the people, ojid it is hoped tJiat the public response) will be as ready as it was on a former occasion At tha moating last evening tha committee decided that the unpaid Hubscriptions be at once asked for, and it is, desired that people who have not; subscribed will assist JPlans of a very suitable building have boon prcparort, ■ but as the erection, must bo mainly in brick it is likely that a little more, money will bo required, and if .the j local subscription is increased thei Board *will subsidise the amount. Admittedly this would bo better tJiain cutting down the plans and spoiling the ship for a ha'porth of tar. It will be seoni by the returns presented -to the committee last evening that the attendance at the various classes is satisfactory considering the conditions. But much bettor things are hoped for whan, a better and more contrail building is available. As it is, the classes might wall be increased, and efforts are to be made to strengthen, fchemi. Unfortunately the young people apparently do not know how much they are missing. In the battle of life the victory must be to the strong, and though we do not wsnt to repeat any copy book maxims, let us point out how great an advantage it is for tha youth to strengthen their equipment A great feature of educational dovelof*mont in America, and. indeed, ,in other countries as well, is the. educational work now being done by the oorrijspondes&e© /schools 1 . But valuable as is tuition under that system iti is not coimpajatlc with the advantages to be gamed from personal instruction. Hms in Hawera and Patea and Elbham and bettor, advantage than those offered by the correspondcaicf? school system, are brought to the very doors of the people and offered fojr iaheir acceptance at hours convenient

for themselves. ' Why do they not take more advantage of them? Is it an indication" of weakness of national character? la it indifferenca, or want of' knowledge of the opportunity? Lot tha young peoplci wakei up. and if necessary le* everyone who has,influence with young people use tihat influenoa to make» the technical dssses stronger and more "live."