TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7404, 12 August 1885, Page 3

TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — is of great importance to commence Technical Education from a firm foundation, for in our eagerness to have it established we may commence where per* haps we shall afterwards find out that we ought to finish. There can, however, be no mistake in bestowing more attention on instruction in the art of drawing. It is hardly necessary to say that all the arts rest on this foundation. Painting on pottery and floral designs in other manufactures is the work of artists. The mechanics and builders and architects must know mechanical and architectural drawing, and if our Militia officers learn their profession they must know drawing also. Of course, the so-oalled drawing in public schools is useless for practical purposes; I mean by this where the children copy landscapes and figures. This imparts no new power to the learner, and indeed differs as much from the real drawing as copying out an orator's discourse differs from making an original speech. None recognise more fully the uselessness of this ordinary method of teaching drawing than the apprentices and journeymen in Auckland who desire to be something in their occupation. Many of these young men attend olasses in mechanical and architectural drawing, but there are many also that cannot afford to pay large fees. Besides, the teachers are, of course, good, bad, and indifferent, and little good will be done till a school for this important subject is commenced, under proper instructors. Here is the first step in technical education, and one that will meet an actual want. The success that has attended the class for landscape and figure drawing at the Museum, which class is* I believe, maintained by private munificence, would be surpassed by such a school as 1 venture to advocate. I say a school, for a large percentage of those boys and young men who come pouring down the streets about seven a.m., on the way to their work, would then have what they now desire : first-class instruction in mechanical and architectural drawing. I hope this subjeot will have your powerful advocacy, as it is a sure and easy commencement to technical education. I » m . &c., Artisan. [We have frequently written on the above subject, and commend "Artisan's" letter to attention.—Ed.]