TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVIII, Issue 12934, 30 September 1902, Page 4

TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

We are not surprised that the Board of Governors of Canterbury College has- decided to take no direct and' active part in

the organisation of local technical classes. It bad to demand some assurance tlhat tlu classes, if established, would foe sufficiently supported with funds from students' fee' and contributions, and the Conference Committee was not in a. position to give any assurance on the point. But, apart financial objections, we recognise that tibe Board already has its hands full with; the management of the College, the two High Schools, the Museum, the School of Art,and the Public Library, and' it would be, ,v..\- . .-■. ■■;"■,■'•'.. ;■;■ •■■<~^'^*-iw:

unjust to ask the members of tine Board: and its officers to assist in. the' control of new classes. Two suggestions were, made, wo believe, as to the part the Board should play. lb might have instructed its professors andi lecturers to supervise some of the classes at a techndoal school to be established, or it might have arranged for new and more popular classes at the College itself. Either course -would) have involved' additions to the lecturers' salaries, and would probably have interfered with, the existing classes, and, as a matter of justice to the University students, we think the Board was wise not to place additional work on the lecturers' shoulders. Moreover, the technical classes contemplated! by the Conference are certainly not within the proper field of operation for a University College. We do not suppose for one instant that!

yesterday's' decision, involves the absolute severance of 'Canterbury College from the new technical education movement in Christchurch. From time to time, doubtless, the Board will find the means and the opportunity to extend the syllabus of work undertaken in connection with the science and. engineering schools ; but the growth in that direction must be gradual. It may be found convenient, however, for some of the professors to lend occasional assistance tol the outside classes, and it is obvious that the suggestions and supervision of an €'xpert like Professor Scott would be of ..enormous value to the Technical Education. Committee. There seems to be an idea in the minds of some people that the School of Engineering is not accomplishing as much as might reasonably be expected', and that) the Professor in charge has influenced' the Board against taking part in the technical education movement. Mr Opie', who yesterday renewed his attack on the Professor, is evidently of this opinion. It should not be necessary to speak on the other side, for the Engineering School is plainly one of the most useful and most capably organised educational institutions in the colony, and to Professor Scott the whole credit for its success is undoubtedly due. Eveiu with, the recent addition to his salary, we cannot but consider him underpaid. An ■engineer of his ability, knowledge and standing could easily earn much more elsewhere if moneymaking were his only ambition. Mr, Opie has not yet proved the wisdom of his appointment to the Board of Governors, and we cannot help suggesting that he should show occasional deference to the opinions of his more experienced colleagues. Although' it has failed to obtain the co-opera-tion of the Board of Governors, there is no reason why the Conference Committee should abandon its programme entirely. Successful technical classes have been, established elsewhere in the colony, and can, be established here, and the sooner a beginning is made the better. But it is surely deplorable that, after all that has been said and written on the subject, the organisation of tlra classes should be left to a few enthusiastic individuals drawing precarious financial assistance from local bodies and public associations which- require thein funds for other purposes. Last year the Education Department spent the munificent sum of £5746, on technical education, and! bins year less than £13,000 has beeai voted! If technical education is worth making any pacrifice for at all, it is worth £130,000 a year, and the colony ought to be prepared' to find the money. There is no side cf the administration more unsatisfactory thin this absurd tinkering with a great and important question.