Educating Specialists

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 308, 17 December 1940, Page 2

Educating Specialists

PROFESSOR GORDON’S ADDRESS AT DANNEVIRKE Tho annual prize-giving ceremony of the Dannevirke High School which took place in the Town Hall recently was largely attended by parents and friends interested in the welfare of the school. The address was given by Professor I. A. Gordon (Professor of English at Victoria University College), who pointed out to the boys and girls leaving school that in addition to general knowledge a technical knowledge was an essential in whatever sphere of life they were going to work. One of the greatest things which New Zealand lacked—and it had been particularly noticeable since the war started —was skill—expert knowledge, expert craftsmanship, expert ability to do a worthwhile job aud do it well. Therefore boys aud girls leaving school to-day must take up education in the wider fields so a-s to equip themselves for the particular job which they were to take on, to enable them to become an expert in craftsmanship, which, in the future, was going to be called upon. They not only required to have expert knowledge theoretically but also to have expert practical ability—the two must go together, and were indispensible. Leaving Scnool. A few of the older boys and girls were leaving school for tne last time. Some thought that their days of education wero over. But he reminded them that they were just beginning in the school of real life. There were two types of education—-the one he had been talking about —the education which equipped a boy or girl to become skilled in a particular job—and this was very important to-day with a war on with damage all around, perhaps not in New Zealand, when it was essential that men should be experts in their particular craftsmanship in order to repair the damage caused by war. To-day there was a wonderful opportunity to become skilled in whatever work the people were called upon to do. It was up to all the boys and girls leaving schooi —'boys and girls who were on the threshold of life—to make the best of their opportunities in their after education to prepare them for their life ahead. Technical Education. Professor Gordau then referred to the other typo of education—-the developing of the technical side. Considering the easy conditions of lief in this country compared with the Old Country and in Europe, Professor Gordon contended that there was a wonderful opportunity for young people of to-day to make use of their leisure hours to fit them to become skilled in their particular line. He stressed the need for development in this country of culture—in art, literature, and music—and with the wonderful opportunities offering New Zealand should be ashamed if she could not build up culture —real culture—to a much higher degree thau it had beeu developed in the past—'but not at the expense of the practical issues of life, it was gratifying to know that literature had developed in New Zealand, but there was room yet for a considerable further development in the cultural values and here was the opportunity for the boys and girls of to-day to rovelop these two —technical skill and cultural value. The speech, was attentively listened to and the speaker was warmly applauded. Professor Gordon afterwards presented the prizes.