THE TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11453, 19 June 1899, Page 2

THE TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

"" TO THE EDITOB. '*'* v''.;-y <i T^'~_f£_ X^pty '■ to your correspondent . Direct Tax, 'whose letter on the above Sub-*" ject appears m your issue of this morning, T have to;say-that- it is no doubt the,case that some pupils of the High School ''do'attend'classes at the Technical School, and also .that people in what may be considered comfortable circumstances take advantage of the-teachine provided there.,: I find the same thin* very common in connection with the seventh stai"dard of our primary schools, many people'in excellent circumstances keeping their - boys and girls there,; not -on account -of <: the superiority of the teaching, but because-'they cioii t .like, .paying fees.*. Even in ,'my limited experience, T have observed that the iriajbrity oLpepple'don't like to part with their'inoney--0 In regard to ;the first case, the few-HWi behool pupils who do attend these technical' classes usually do so' for extra work* in •special' .subjects in which they find''themselves we-ik 1 have myself recommended pupils who were" backward, or had been late in beginning, to go to these classes for chemistry, physics;, etc ?. re i8:- aT d t0 th« se'Col-d, I do'not see that there should be any restrictions placed by those responsible for the ciirryiugron of the school or any differential fees charged, because certain people take advantage of what was primarily meant for .others: Who is to judge whether a man is a poor or .a well-to-do tradesman, whether A is so much better off than B, that he. ought to be charged a double fee? ' Such restrictions won't* work in practice, and if , they were attempted to be enforced,* they would ruin the institution. No one would resent it more than the poor man, who does .not wish to blazon it forth that he is poor.-* In regard to the present effort to raise funds ■foi" additional buildings,' I thank " Direct Tax for his contribution, and trust that his excellent example will be followed by those well-to-do people:who, now and in the past, have, taken advantage of the Technical School, and who have an .opportunity of showing,their appreciation by forwarding a donation to its funds.—l am, etc., i- y - ~'. 7_ '. ' .Geo. .m. Thomsoit, *': '■■.-■■' ~ June 17. Hon. Sec. T.C.A.