SPECIAL INTERVIEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11535, 21 November 1900, Page 3

SPECIAL INTERVIEWS.

»■ CHAT WITH MR. J. MUIR ON J i EDUCATIONAL MATTERS, -■j ADVANTAGES OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION. A Hebald representative called on Mr. Jas. Muir, a well-known Aucklande., who has just returned from a trip to Great Britain and the Continent, extending over some eight months. For many years past Mr. Muir has taken an active interest in educational matters, and prior to his departure foi the Old Country occupied a seat on the Auckland Education Board, and as in his absence he has made it his bmsiness to investigate the educational systems of England and Scotland-, ] he brings back with him much information that may be expected to prove of value tothe local authorities. However, as this in-1 formation is to be placed before the Auckland ' Board in, the form of an exhaustive report, Mr. Muir did not feel disposed to go into j detail concerning what he had seen and heard, but at the samo time courteously gave oik reporter a few facts concerning educational matters that should prove interesting. "I suppose, Mr. Muir," queried the reporter, " youi tour gave you an opportunity to visit many of the public schools, and draw comparisons between the systems in vogue in other countries and the system prevailing in this colony?" "Yes; I visited quite a number, starting with Australia, and then following with the various centres through which I passed in j the Old Countrythat, is to say, England and Scotland; probably some 50 in all. Jn every instance I was treated with the utmost courtesy and all possible information was placed at my disposal." "Did you find any improvement in the ; sanitation and ventilation of the Home schools as compared with our own schools?" "Yes; I noticed that in all the principal centres the very greatest attention was paid both to sanitation and ventilation. The buildings, with the exception perhaps of the smaller country schools, were substantial, and built of brick or other similar material— nothing being of woodwith fine, large, airy classrooms. In the more congested centres they were of two and sometimes three storeys, and in such cases the Sturtevant system, providing for a down draught, was generally in vogue. By this means the fresh air is forced from the ceiling- down through spaces to the floors occupied by the children, the valve to regulate the temperature bt*«ig under the control of the class teachers, while the forcing power is supplied by means of on engine situated in the basement. Thus in the hot weather the rooms can be kept cool, or, on the other hand, in tho winter kept warm. The same measure of attention is paid to sanitation, and I was much struck with the white-glazed troughs provided m tho larger institutions for the children to wash their hands in. With the exception of special cases of necessity, special hours are fixed for the washing process, the children being then under tho supervision of the janitor, a system that at once commends itself, as preventing a waste of water." " I believe the teachers of the primary schools undergo a course of instruction before receiving appointments?" "That is so—at least, as far as all the more important cities are concerned. These large towns have their training colleges for teachers, where candidates undergo a course of two years' training, the instruction in most instances embracing technical education, and from what I saw I was perfectly satisfied that tho training proves of great value to them in their profession. So numerous are the candidates, however, that all have not the opportunity of passing through the course, and some by serving a certain number cf years at teaching and passing examinations are granted certificates enabling them to take positions, but preference is always given to those who have gone through the training colleges, and naturally so, as in tho event of their employment beiiig in country districts, where no technical schools exist, they have the. advantage over other applicants of being able to instruct in technical education."

" Did you find tho school syllabus overcrowded?"

"No; in all cases the teachers managed perfectly well: not finding the syllabus overloaded or irritable Generally speaking I should say that the school syllabus throughout the Old Country is more enlightened than is the case in this colony. The teaohors seem to be given a good deal, ot discretionary "power, and the supervising examiners rely a good deal on them: often consulting thorn on school matters. I noticed examinations by inspectors are also becoming less frequent, and aro left more in the hands of teachers, who are allowed to move the children up in the classes, reports, of course, being provided to the authorities as to the fitness, cf the children for such promotion." " As to technical education?"

" Tho Home authorities are thoroughly alive to this important branch of education, and I was also much pleased to note that the New South Wales authorities are moving in the matter. In Sydney the technical school covers an area of four acres of ground, and the authorities are negotiating for the purchase of an adjoining area of similar size, with a view to extending the school. All centres of importance in England and Scotland are paying attention to technical education, and boast well-equipped institutions, whilo in many of the larger primary schools technical education claims attention. In London, for instance, there is hardly a trade or industry that is not taught at these technical schools; and so successful have been the result that employers in many cases do not show a disposition to accept applicantsas apprentices to the particular trade in which they are interested unless they come armed with certificates, showing that they have passed through one or other of the schools. That this is a boon to young people just entering upon the more serious side of life is very apparent, as the certificate is practically a passport to an apprenticeship; they can find employment where other applicants fail, as their knowledge, of the use of tools makes, them more useful to employers and saves the latter considerable expense in breakage of the tools, often attendant upon the efforts of raw beginners. On visiting Manchester I found that, a new central technical school, costing a quarter of a million of money, was just nearin" completion." " How arc the schools maintained financially?"

"Tn most cases by local rates, supplemented by Government aid. Tho Question of finaneo is one I intend to bring before the Auckland Board, should that body feel disposed to make any use of the information I have collected, and I do not wish. to anticipate the report, otherwise I might have felt -posed to go into it at greater length." "You take some interest in agricultural matters. I believe, Mr. Muir? In what position did you find agricultural matters at Homo?"

" I was pleasantly surprised at the position of the farmers now. as compared with the condition of affairs existing before I left the Old Country, pome 20 years ago. I speak of the middle-class farmers, of course, men leasing farirc of from. say. two to throe hun fired acres, and possessed of a fair amount of means; anything from £1000 to £2000. Twentv to twenty-five years ago landlords did not relish the idea of lowering rentals, and. as a eonsoouonce, farmers in many cases had an Uphill fight to hold their own. but things have changed now, and the landlords have pome, to recognise that if they are to cone with foreign competitors rentals must be brought more in a line with the prices offered bv tenants—force of circumstances one might almost call it. Th- result is that these farmers can live very comfortably, and prefer to stay at Home rather than try their luck in other countries. Wages of farm labourers have also pone up, and it may bo said that on the whole farmers and their hands in the Old Country have little room to complain? .