MANUAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXII, Issue LXII, 17 May 1912, Page 6

MANUAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

CHIEF INSPECTOR'S REPORT

At Wednesday night's meeting of the Wanganui Education Board,. Mr'G. D. Braik (the Chief Inspector), reported, inter alia:—

For several reasons, but chiefly because we have experienced great "difficulty in securing the services of qualified instructors, the formation of continuation and evening technical classes has been, less successful this year than at any time during the past five years. Other reasons hardly less powerful have been working in the same direction. (1) The Department has very properly cut down the capitation for all kinds of "hobby" classes, and so made the formation of such classes difficult. (2) By the regulations of 1910 the amount of capitation payable on account of country classes has been made contingent on the Department's recognition of the need for the classes, and this has made the directors chary about breaking new ground. (3) Dressmaking, cookery and book-keeping have been the classes chief ly taken in the country districts, and it is easy to.see that the,number of pupils available!for; such''classes is not inexhaustible, especially, when it is remembered that these subjects are nowbeing taught to bur day pupils at our 11 (presently there will be 13) technical sjhools. (4) Compulsory military trainIng is; credited with the non-attendance of many young people at the schools. Ifc .••would perhaps be a pity to balance one form of compulsion with: another,; but .the question, will have to be faced. (5) , When continuation classes first became general in the district /there was a,'.great number of young people to whom free places were open, but now the number is limited by the: proficiency certificates gained annually by; oiir•,-pupils. (6) Most potent of all reasons perhaps is the .indifference of many of our young people, and of the older people, by whonv they should be influenced; to educational advancement. It must- not be inferred from what. I have said that the schools are about to close their doors. By no means. I hope to show in, my next monthly report that sound work is being done at the schools; and, after all, it is not the number of students so much as the quality of the work done .that will ultimate]v tell.

If we turn to the technical work clone iii the ■ secondary; classes of our district STigh schools and at the technical college, we shall find the outlook greatly different.'• The organisation is complete; .the.-1 schools-are well filled; and the r:taflt is equal to the work. In each :<l'istrict —North Wans;aniii, which con-stitutes-a district in itself), centre and ■south —there is a staff comprising in-rstru'-tors in science, agriculture, woodtvork, cookovy, hygiene, and dressmaking. "'This staff is also to a large ex-;-tent:- available for work in connection ■with eve/ning continuation and technical •classes, but it is as instructors of. day that their work will be most'perrmanent and valuable. It mioiht iseeni sas if the star! were in excess of: recjuire"Ttients; but'it must'be ■-recollected-'that 'tKchobl -technical1 classes are carried on at Sys primary: schools; the secondary cfe'?

parturients of eight district high schools, < the technical college, and an additional j tlistrict high: school and a' primary school ) 'hi prospect^ mention the Martori Secondary .Spkool Farm. \ The Board has assumed great and grave responsibility in organising this work so completely, and it is but reasonable to expect that public bodies will recognise this, and for the sake of the .schools and the. children make liberal1 donations towards the maintenance of the. schools in their own districts. Blind support is riot asked r for. Investigation and' criticism of .the work done has always been courted. The schools are thoroughly equipped and staffed for tn6 teaching of subjects likely to give boys and girls a taste for rural pursuits and for the management of the home.