TECHNICAL AND ART SCHOOLS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14089, 18 December 1907, Page 3

TECHNICAL AND ART SCHOOLS

THE INSPECTOR'S REPORT,

ART SCHOOL CRITICISED,

At yesterday's meeting of the Otago Education Board the report of tho Rev. E/ C. Isaac, inspector of technical education, was received. THE TECHNICAL CLASSES. Dealing with the technical classes the report says:— "There is a very marked improvement in the method of instruction in the cookery and woodwork classes at tile Dunedin Technical School centre, The work is noiv altogether satisfactory. Good work in these subjects is in progress at the other centres.

"It will be noted that tho equipment for classes in elementary physical measurements throughout the district is only fair. This is due to the fact that the initial grant for tlie equipment of classes was absorbed in the cost of alterations to tho school desks. Tho balances and aoparatus made by the pupils are. on (he whole, satisfactory ; but it is considered that each schcol in which tho subject is taught should be provided with one good balance and a set of standard weighis. The board's substantial balance on the credit side of the manual and technical account should make this possible." THE ART SCHOOL. The following comment on the Art School is made:— "Speaking l generally, the work of this school is fair. ]n the art classes students are helped too much. Instead of criticising the work and pointing out the .students' mistakes {if students are unable to discover them) parts of the students' work are done by tho instructors-, so that when a piece of work is s(|en, either in progress or completed, a just estimate of it cannot, lie made, as the work is partly the students' and partly the instructors'. The impression left- on the mind at. the close of tho inspection is that tho instruction given at the school may enable ;>upils to pass examinations in subjects which call for the exercise of memory and maniuplative skill, but does not help them to use tho media in which they work for spontaneous and independent expression. Alter a course of instruction students may become good copyists, but the imagination would lie dormant, bceause these does not appear to be anything in tho art atmosphere of tho school to stimulate it. The methods of instruction and tho conduct of the school generally need to be modernised."

The Kev. Mr Frascr moved That as ( this report is the iirst ever presented by an inspector from tho department 011 tho Duncdin School of Art, anil as the board would like to know what value to attach to this and subsequent reports, Ihe board would appreciate information from the Minister as to what specific subjects the Rev, Mr Isaac is competent to report on, and what was his training and experience in lechnical education and art prior, to his appointment as inspector for technical education and art for the Dominion of Mow Zealand. Mr Isaac reported to this board 011 the following subjects—bookkeeping, dressmaking, wood-earring, nractical cJeetrieity, .painting and deco.Uting, chemistry, plumbing (practical). Jinglisli, commercial law, French, elocution, arithmetic, mathematics, mechanical engineering, practical mathematics, cookery, physics, horticulture, physical measurements physiology and iirst aid, elementary agriculture, freehand and model drawing, painting, light and shade, drawing from the antique,' drawing from life, geometry (art), pen and ink drawing, painting in monochrome, drawing plant forms, blackboard drawing, modelling, mechanical drawing, architectural drawing, and brush drawing, etc." He hoped the board would allow this motion, to go forward, and be presented to tho minister. The information asked for was only such as any members of Parliament might rnovo to have laid 011 the table of tho llousc. If Mr Isaac had the. necessary (jualifications to onable him to intelligently report 011 all tho numerous and varied subjects included in tho technical education syllabus, tlioy ought to know it, and Mr. Isaac ought to bo treated with respect, lie had come in contact with tho;e whose work had been inspected by Mr Isaac, and the invariable statement, was that when ho was challenged to give a practical demonstration in what lie had criticised, the teachers bad failed to get proper instruction from liiin. In justice to the gentleman himself and to the public, the board should get 11 ' direct answer as to the qualifications and trainj ing of Mr Isaac to control this iinnortant department, 011 which £65,000 a year was expended.

Mr Israel said ho hoped the motion would get short shrift. It was a piece of impertinence to the Minister of Eilucaton. ami would do the board no good

Mr Mitchell said lie did not think the inoiion was of a character io call for tiio remark made by Mr Israel. It was a perfectly legitimate motion. Mr Isaac was sent round to report 011 a multiplicity of subjects, and they did not know that he bad ever taught or studied one of them; and yet he ivas 6et up as (he mentor of men and women who had taught- these subjects for many years. They bad the right to know wlio the man was who reported on their schools. They were taking the earliest opportunity of asking for that information, as this was (lie liret direct report they bad ever received from Mr Isaac.

The Hon. Mr Fergus said lie entirely agreed with Mr I'raser in thinking that Mr Is.iao bad not had experience in all the subjects he criticised. It was a. great pity lie should have been appointed, especially for tho Art School. At the same time, until they got Mr Huiton's report on the strictures that had been passed, be did not think it would bo wise to carry the motion. In tho meantime, he took if, it was sufficient for them io wait, until their director bail' reported and shown wherein he thought Mr Isaac was wrong, and then to take up the question at -.1 future meeting. It was not a matter that tliey could allow fo remain where it

wa.s. lie accordingly suggeslcd lliaf the mailer bo held over until a report from the dircclor of Iho Art- School was obtained.

The liov. Mr Fi-aser said that what lie desired was th.it they should move along lines lliat would ultimately do good. lie I was (jiiilc prepared lo accent, Mr Fergus's suggestion and hold the motion over until tho Ixiard had an authoritative report on the subject. He would .just. a<iain Fay that this was the first report he had seen laid on the board's table regarding tho Art School, and therefore, in the interests of the public, the board, and ihe staff, he Ihoutrhf they had a rieht to know whether Mr Isaac knew anything whatever of the subjct'l. To bis mind, they might as well make Mr Isaac military adviser to the Government as insjiector of art. The Chairman deprecated any attack on an officer, or oil the Government appointing such officer. They knew, however, that in connection with technical instruction Mr Isaac's report of two years ago was far from satisfactory. The men criticised on I hat occasion were competent tradesmen, and it was mouths after the. inspection that Mr Isaac's report was v"itleu, and it was only then written because ihe lioard had demanded it. No doubt Mr Isaac was an excellent man in many rcspccfs, and he might lx> right in connection with ihe Art School. Ho concurred in the suggestion that ihe motion should lie held over.

Mr Mitchell: The report previously made by Mr Isaac was never made lo the Minister.

Tho Rev. Mr Eraser's motion wa.s then, hv leave, withdrawn, it being understood that the secretary was to obtain from Mr Hulton a report on the statements made by Mr Isaac.