TECHNICAL EDUCATION CRITICISM

Manawatu Times, Volume LII, Issue 3527, 17 June 1927, Page 6

TECHNICAL EDUCATION CRITICISM

NOT JUSTIFIED AS APPLIED TO OTAGO. . (Per Press Association). DUNEDIN, June 15. Recent criticism of technical education by the Hon. R. A. Wright (Minister of Education) was referred to at a meeting to-day of the managers of the ICing Edward Technical College. l The principal (Mr, Aldridge) submitted the following report; "At Palmerston North on May 31 last the Minister of Education stated that technical education was growing too fast and he hinted that the cause of this rapidity of growth was to be sought in the undue zeal displayed by the principals of technical schools. "Technical education has been decried' rather frequently in the’--last'few years, and I feel that unless more pains are taken to- understand the work carried on undct that name the technical schools are likely to receive less and less encouragement at headquarters." • ■■■ V-", ■■■, i* 'i , The chairman (Mr. T. Scott) said that he did know how the Minister’s criticism applied to the North Island. It certainly was not justified In Otago. Mr. G. Clarke remarked, there seemed to be an overlapping of instruction in the high schools and the technical school. Mr. J. H. Wilkinson said that It appeared to him that there- was a tremendous amount of overlapping In connection with the high schools and the technical colleges. This fact hid stressed itself on the Government, and the new Minister had seen the necessity of applying the pruning knife. Mr. G. F. Paul thought that the whole question of , education would have to be reviewed. It was decided to forward to the conference on technical education, to be held shortly, a remit on the overlapping of instructions.