TECHNICAL SCHOOLS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 136, 9 May 1928, Page 7

TECHNICAL SCHOOLS.

CONFERENCE OF TEACHERS. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, May 8. In his presidential address at the opening of the New Zealand Technical School Teachers’ Association, Mr A. McFadyen said that secondaryschools were now introducing manual work into their courses, recognising that it arouses a pupil’s interest and has an educational value equally with other subjects of the curriculum. “The weak spot in our educational system has been that the bulk of the youth in our schools have all been put through the same course without taking account of the future needs of the individual,” said Mr McFadyen. “Many of the youths of the present day had had only a preparatory education. If, however, their training had been of a different character they might have been in a-position to render valuable service m employment where at present the supply is insufficient. It is to be hoped that the committee which has been considering the revision of the primary school syllabus has made recommendations which will counteract tills evil of uniformity.”

The speaker expressed his firm belief that in this matter, as in others of equal importance, there was need for a Technical Schools’ Board. In 1926 the Minister of Education, when referring to the establishment of such a board, considered that it would mark a step forward in the development of technical education. Effort should be made to bring the leaders of industry into closer contact with education. An inquiry should be made as to whether it was not desirable to formulate some scheme for bringing into the technical schools all those youths who are past primary school age and have not yet found-full time employment.