CONTINUATION "CLASSES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIX, Issue 116, 19 May 1906, Page 3

CONTINUATION "CLASSES.

PROFITABLE WINTER EVEN-

INGS

A CHANCE FOR THE STUDIOUS

With the advent of the winter months, the Education Board's scheme of instruction by moans of continuation classes, to be held in the Borough School buildings on stated evenings (as per advertisement»appearing elsewhere), should provide a keenly-felt want, This is the first organised attempt within recent years on the part of the Board to provide education, at a popular fee, to those youths of both sexes, who, having passed out of the primary schools and taken up their life's callings, are possessed of ambition enough to desire a properlydirected accession of that knowledge which is calculated to most eminently aid them in the battle of life. '

The following outline of the subjects to be taught was afforded local press representatives yesterday:— Commercial Geography.—This will deal with trade statistics, trade routes, transport, exchange, and, of course, the more general . geography which affects communication between people and people. Miss Allen, the teacher, has already taught pupils up to the teachers' 0 certificate with classes ; therefore the subject should be in good hands.

English—lt is intended to treat this subject fairly broadly. Though the basis will be a pi ay of Shakespeare, more attention will be given to figures of speech and to the literary treatment of a subject than to a study of detailed grammar. Many people who have left scliool after passing the Sixth Standard feel the need or desire for a more extended knowledge 01 English literature, and this class is intended to meet the wants of such as these. This class is generally very largely attended. In Dunedin the numbers attending average about 200.

Arithmetic will be cast somewhat on commercial lines, prominence being given to short methods and to correlation of the subject Avith commercial geography in regard to exchange, and correlation with book-keeping with regard to making up books and keeping account^; as well as treating other rules such as cube root and approximations, which may not have been taken in the ordinary course.

Latin—lt is believed there arc a good many people who, after leaviti,; school and taking up business, would like to have some instruction in Latin, which is known to be a valuable element of culture. It is intended to treat the subject from the elements. Those leaving school and having evenings to spare might very well do it that way. The study of Latin is very valuable, as a means of understanding English.

Book-keeping.—lt would be seen in the papers lately that a man was brough before a court and fined heavily for not keeping his books in proper order. It therefore appears that the study of book-keeping is practically compulsory upon the community. The value of an elementary knowledge of book-keeping is not appreciated so much by boys as by those passing into the adult stage; therefore this class should meet with a good deal of favor.

Shorthand.—The Board has been asked to form a shorthand class, and if there are sufficient pupils offering the class will be started.

Botany.—This will be treated practically, so as not to be merely a bookwork class, and the course to be covered will be roughly that of the matriculation. In Miss Ross's hands it is sure of capable treatment.

Mr Strachan went on to remark that it was to be distinctly understood that the classes were not intended simply lor school children, but for adults in tho case of such branches as English, and for those who had left school and wished to profitably employ their evenings. Those* desirous of taking a commercial course were recommended to attend at least the classes in commercial arithmetic, commercial geography, and book-keeping. Asked what connection these classes had with the Technical School, Mr Strachan said the subjects to be taught at the latter would be more in the direction of hand-work, or the concrete side of the subject. Later on, when the wood-work and cookery rooms were in order ;it the now building, it was hoped classes for adults would be opened in the evenings— probably for one evening a week for two hours. Tho fees were made extremely moderate, and it would be more of an inducement to the pupils to attend if they knew that the Board hoped to earn capitation enough to keep tho classes going once they" wero successfully started. The L\>partmont allowance in the way of capitation amounted to lid per' head per hour on a continuation subject, and on technical subjects 3d par' head per hour. Anyone who had gained a proficiency certificate in the public schools will have the fees remitted if taking the English, arithmetic and technical subjects, as a higher rate of capitation is received by^tile Board in these Inspector Strachan efffhug&cT'about the excellent work being done in most other towns by means of continuation and technical classes, and quoted to the reporters figures showing the relative popularity of subjects. The commercial course and English appear to equally share this popularity.