TECHNICAL EDUCATION

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11522, 18 May 1923, Page 12

TECHNICAL EDUCATION

THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE

VARIOUS REMITS PASSED AT YESTERDAY’S MEETING. EX-PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS. The Technical Education Conference was opened at the Wellington Educa tion Board room yesterday morning, Mr W. F. Dunvard (president) presiding over a full attendance of delegates. Those present were: Auckland Technical College, Messrs H. S. W. King and G. F. Park (Director); Auckland Education Board, Mrs N. E. Farmer and Mr J. P. Kaluugher (Supervisor of Manual Training); New Plymouth Technical College, Mr A. T. Moore (Director); Hawera Technical High School, Messrs R. S. Sage and A. Gray (Director); Stratford Technical High School, Mr G. it. R. A mess (Director); ’Wanganui Technical College, Mr I. E. Newton (Director); Wanga nui Education Board, Messrs W f Dunvard and W. H. Swanger (Supervisor Manual Training); Feilding Agricultural College, Mr L. J. Wild (Director) ; Napier .Technical College, Messrs T. W. Bear and R. C. Wiight, Masterton Technical College, -Mr G. Selby; Palmerston North Technical Board, Messrs W. F. Dunvard and I'L I>. Opie (llircctor); Wfoßingt.o’f Technical College, Messrs W. H. Bennett, H. It. Partridge, and C. H Chapman; Wellington Education Beard, Messrs E. Howe, London, and G. L. Stewart (Secretary); Nelson Technical Board, Mr G. Cockburn (Director); Greymouth Technical Board, Mr J. Hutton (Director); Westport Technical Board, Mr A. E. Brockett (Director), Invercargill Technical Boird, Mr W. Aldridge (Director); Dunedin Technical Board, Messrs D. Larnach, W. H. Steel and A. Marshall (Director); Igmaru Technical Board, Mr W. Fossey (Director) ; Ashburton Technical Board, Mr It. J. Thompson (Director); Christchurch Technical Board, Messrs C H Opie, E. H. Andrews and D. E. Hansen (Director); Christchurch Education Board, Mr R. Grant (Supervisor of Manual Training); Puliekclie Technical High School, Mr TV. F. J. Munro. Messrs .T. Cnughlev • Director of Education) a|l W. S. La Trobo (Superintendent of Technical Education) were present as representing Hie E’ducation Denartment ! Brief addresses (reported elsewhere) were delivered by the Hon. C. .1. Parr (Minister for Education) and Mr J Caughley (Director of Education) on the progress and importance of technical education; and Mr A. Marshall (retiring president of the conference) spoke on “The Past and the Future of the Technical High School in New Zealand.” INSURANCE AGAINST UNREST. Briefly reviewing the development of technical education in New Zealand, Mr Marshall pointed out , that the technical high school system had been to well developed that there were fine schools, not only in the main centres but also in many provincial towns throughout the Etommion, which, in addition to providing for characterbuilding. mental development, and culture education, enabled the teachers to discover the bent and gifts of the pupils, to encourage and emphasise the cultivation of those gifts, and at the same time to give a bias towards the vocations for which the children were apparently best fitted. He ventured to assert, however, that through no fault of the system nor of those entrusted with its direction, the influence of the technical high school was not affecting as it should the trades and industries of the Dominion. Owing to the social, economic and industrial conditions, the great mass of the people failed to take full advantage of the educational facilities available. The result of this state of affairs must he to produce a body of “frequently unemployed” who were 1 for the most part unemployable. Educational experts held that a national system of technical education was a premium aiding the prosperity of the country, and at the same time affording insurance against restlessness, disorder, lawlessness and crime. TO REACH THE PEOPLE. Technical education was especially necessary for those on the success of whose work depended the welfare of the nation; and it therefore behoved the various Government departments, the general public, employers and trade unions, to use every endeavour to eolve the problem of reaching the mans ,of the people with technical education. He urged that, to this end: (!) Pupils should be allowed to enter upon a secondary or a technical course at an earlier age than that at which tho Standard VI proficiency certificate was usually gained; (2) that the impatient-ly-awaited accrediting system,' instead of the university matriculation examination, should lie introduced, and that several subjects of outstanding importance in technical school courses should he added to the list of optional subjects for matriculation; and (3) that special provision should he made in training colleges for the training of technica'l school teachers. He expressed regret that the number of girls taking the home science course was small as compared with the demand for trainees in home science; and, as a remedy, the adoption of a half-day work, half-day-schooling system. He also urged the need for the provision of full rural training courses in country technical high schools; so that the trainees would be . sufficiently advanced to continue their education at one of the State farms, taking part in tho actual fnrming operations, and at the same time receiving the specialised training so essential to success. APP RENTICESH IP DIFFICULTY. As a solution of the apprenticeship difficulty, he suggested that boys should enter trades at an earlier age than at present, and that for the first foui years two lads taking alternate halfdays at work and at school should bo regarded as one apprentice; and that for tho next three years (beginning at 18 and ending at 21 years of age; each should work full time, giving one evening per week to study making for citizenship, and one to perfecting himself in his own special trade work. He held that the average worker, educated and trained in this way, would be a competent tradesman, a desirable citizen, a satisfaction to his employer, and a pleasure to himself. (Applause.) SUNDRY REMITS. The following remits were passed: “That, in view of the greater diftiem ties of organisation of technical schools, their regulations should lie amended P. allow of working conditions at least as good as those of secondary schools.” “That the Minister for Education bo asked to appoint immediately a woman inspector to inspect and organise the teaching of home science subjects in the primary, secondary, and technical schools of the Dominion.” “That before any changes affecting

the internal organisation of technical high schools, such as standardisation of text-books, are adopted, the Minister be asked to place the proposals before the annual May conference.” “That the attention of the Minister be drawn to the difference of salaries payable to technical teachers in the general division as compared with primary teachers, and that he be asked to nrrange for bettor salaries for the former.” Other remits asked for: —(1) House allowance for directors of smaller technical schools; (2) 26 per cent, technical capitation, suggested eliding scale; and (3) manual capitation to be fixed by department early in year.