PRACTICAL EDUCATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22421, 16 November 1934, Page 14

PRACTICAL EDUCATION

WORK AT TECHNICAL COLLEGE PARENTS’ DAY DISPLAY Last night * the opportunity, which is annually afforded parents to inspect the work done at the King Edward Technical College, was taken advantage of by hundreds of visitors, and to many of them the revelation of the variety of subjects included in the curriculum and the completeness of the equipment in the various departments must have come as a surprise. It is not an exaggeration to say that the Technical College is a compact working model of a modern industrial city. The conditions under which the pupils work also call for favourable comment, as the rooms are spacious and well lighted. Even in the mechanical departments, where there are large demands on the floor > space, there is no appearance of crowding. There is opportunity here for the mechanical, practical, or artistic inclinations of most young people to find at least an elementary expression. The purpose of the school is that of. practical education; but it is noteworthy that the artistic sense is evident in every department in the arrangement of the work, in the enthusiasm with which it is carried out, and in the craftsmanship of the finished article. During the past six months the number of pupils on the roll has been very considerably reduced, the majority of the losses taking place in the senior classes. While this means that the work on exhibition is mostly that of the junior pupils, and in many cases that of first-year students, and consequently slightly more limited than might otherwise have been available, the decrease is not without its compensation, as it is_ another indication of the undoubted improvement in the number of vacancies which have been occurring in increasing numbers during, this period. Another . interesting point in connection with this matter is that the display gives a ample demonstration of what can be achieved even in the elementary classes. Despite the large influx of curious visitors the work ot the college is going on, and during the exhibition every boy and Eirl will have some task or duty to perform, Thus, the time is far from being lost, but Will be counted as ordinary school time. . No technical school entertainment is now complete without accompaniment by the school military band or orchestra. Last night a programme was presented which consisted of items by the orchestra under, the leadership of Mr T, Vernon Griffiths and by the military band. Both of these have made remarkable progress during the last few months, with the result that their playing is now of a high standard.A squad of boys performed a table ct advanced combination physical exercises, pyramid building, and advanced gpnnatics on the vaulting horse. The girls demonstration consisted of a set of physical exercises and a pierrot dance by juniors, and two sets of advanced exercises with a country dance by second-year pupils. Accompaniments were provided by the orThis morning will be set aside for primary school visitors. Hundreds of boys and girls from Standards \ and VI of Dunedin schools will be guided about the school buildings by students, who were themselves last year the schoolmates of the visitors. In the A further opportunity will bo given for visits of inspection. ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT. The various laboratories and workshops in which engineering students are trained presented a very workmanlike appearance yesterday. In the mechanical engineei ing laboratory, where a small class is engaged in demonstrations, apparatus is installed to illustrate a wide range of experimental work in statics, dynamics, hydraulics, and the strength of materials. Experiments verifying well-known, principles in mechamcs such as the parallelogram triangle and polygon of forces and many others are performed with the aid of hoards arranged round the walls and much portable apparatus. An experiment to determine the friction constant of two sliding surfaces is in progress. ■ Some new apparatus lifts been recently constructed by students, including a special type of pendulum, a flywheel apparatus for energy experiments, an Attwood’s machine for experimental work in connected bodies, and apparatus for the elastic straining of wire. The testing machine is in use testing metals for strength to resist tensile and comprehensive loads, while there is also a special machine for demonstrating the comparative strengths of various timbers. Even the uninitiated visitor could not fail to be interested in experiments with the Fletcher’s trolley, the torsion machine, and the hydraulics tank. In the adjoining lecture room there are to be seen working models of steam and internal combustion engines used mainly for demonstration purposes. The new stores, well lighted and laid out to facilitate the despatch of tools and materials to students, exercise an instant appeal for the practical man. The equipment of the main shop includes machines of all types, while the smith’s shop is equally complete. A brief survey shows work of every description being carried out in an efficient manner. Metals are being turned and screw cut in the lathes, ft sprocket is being cut in the milling machine, while, to show the capabilities of this machine, a replacement for a motor car gear box is at hand. The cylinder head of a fivehorse power Orion marine engine is having the valve parts bored, sealed, and the openings tapped in the Radial drilling machine. Various parts of this engine are to be seen about the benches together with examples ol the work of day and evening students. In the blacksmith’s shop acetone welding, forging, and brass moulding are in progress. In the plumbing shop the work of the apprentices who receive training in all branches of their craft is on view. This includes examples of the bending of pipes, wiping of joints, and trap making. i The electrical laboratory with its group of efficient workers was another centre of attraction. Here second year pupils perform easy but interesting experiments with electric lamp e and bells, while third-year boys carry out the tests on transformers and dynamos. The experimental stands of continuous current and alternating current machinery are used to demonstrate some of the normal tests while a larger machine is undergoing a brake test subsemient to being repaired. WOODWORKING DEPARTMENT. There arc three workshops open for inspection, in all of which are groups of students from engineering, building, and commercial classes engaged in making a variety of models incorporating the many joints and assemblies used in joinery. In the first are various building students, whose work includes combinations chairs, tool chests, step ladders, and bookshelves. The complete staircase which gives access to the gallery in this shop has been constructed and assembled by senior students during the past year. In the adjoining woodwork shops boys arc engaged in more elementary work, but on inspection of the models shows that their construction entails many exercises that necessitate accuracy and dexterity. In the third workshop first-year pupils are busy making such useful models as stools, palm stands, tea wagons. In this class some of the full working drawings of Ihe articles to be made arc on display. One commercial pupil was keenly interested in the task of turning a stand for an ash tray on a power lathe. Perhaps the most attractice model is that designed and made by a first-year boy who is busily engaged in the construction of a welf-proportiouel doll’s house—a two-storey model with a gaily carpeted stairway, and windows complete with coloured fanlights. Several examples of cabinet work by evening students arc deserving of special mention, as, for instance, a mahogany clock ease inlaid with ebony and boxwood strings. The machine shop connected with the Woodwork Department is an outstanding feature. Each machine i« a separate unit with its own motor independently controlled and fully enclosed in a panelled guard. This gives the shop a very neat appearance, as well as making it very safe from the point of view of the operator. The trade drawing rooms were filled with junior boys making freehand dimensioned sketches of models and actual machine parts. These are used later in the production of finished scale drawings. Drawings of cranks, valves, connecting rods, as well ns tracings and prints, arc displayed. The rooms are well equipped, and the new drawing boards using clips instead of pins are a decided success. In one room, which also acts as a reading room for students of the Trades Department, the engineers’ library is housed. I

COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT. '. Owing to the great demand for boys and girls for positions during the past few months practically all the senior commercial students have left school. For this reason there is only one section of commercial work to bo seen. In the Typewriting Department teams of first and second-year pupils demonstrate the rhythmic system of learning touch typewriting, a gramophone being used in connection with the various exercises. This machine has been recently fitted by the electrical students with an electric pickup and loudspeaker. In addition, a group of senior students give an exhibition of speed typewriting. ART NEEDLEWORK. Some of the most interesting ■ work in the school is done in the needlew'ork classes, where girls of all ages are taught the art of embroidering in all its many branches. A group of first-year girls is busy at various tasks, _ Two pupils arc working cushion covers in applique work, which inculcates neatness in working and judgment in applying the different coloured pieces of material to the foundation. Another group is embroidering sprays of flowers in gay colours on the ends of traycloths. Hemstitching and coloured threads have been used to finish off the edges. Of great interest is the revival in huckaback darning, which is used for cushion covers, purses, and bags. Two or three busy workers are found making purses with brightly-coloured cottons in this fascinating and easy manner. An inspection of the finished pieces laid out on the tables shows what a variety of embroideries is undertaken by pupils of the school. One table features applique cushion covers which evince great ingenuity in designs and in colour schemes, while a totally different style of work is that on the supper cloths, on which Italian drawn work has been done. The canvas work is very interesting, comprising, as it does, cushion covers, fire screens, and purses. The stitchery must be very evenly executed to be effective, which means that this type of work being purely mechanical shows great industry on the part of the workers. , ART DEPARTMENT. The work of the art department, whose influence is felt in all branches. of the school curriculum, is attractively displayed in the" art rooms, where it has been arranged with considerable care. Added interest will be evoked by watching groups of students carrying on with their usual work. Compositions in oils, landscape, life drawing, prints, posters, and designs, are displayed, and show some original ideas well carried out. A number of modelled heads, likenesses of fellowstudents, executed by first and secondyear and senior students, are particularly worthy of mention. Several of them reach a high standard_ of craftsmanship, another outstanding piece" of work is a decorative panel intended for the hall of the offices of an iron-smelting firm. The work done by an evening class m ticket writing is interesting. The students have reproduced samples of their best work on proper show card board, the script lettering and effective block and relief shading used in these cards is the result of a year’s careful training. In one of the art rooms there are many fine examples of Roman lettering, which are the work of first-year pupils, as well as some very creditable atilWife > paintings and figure compositions in oils, executed by senior students. The prints, which include lino cuts, drypoints, and etchings, are also worthy of mention. In the craft section suede leather work by both boy and girl students is one of the new features. In designing articles of leather a great effort has been made to avoid the useless and the tawdry and to produce good craftsmanship with original and artistic design. Where fancy papers have been used for finishing and packing leather goods, the paper has usually been hand-dyed by the student. One original touch worth mentioning is the introduction of the lino, cut as a decoration for leather. A group of students was seen at work at this comparatively simple and effective craft in its various stages, the designing, the cutting, and the printing. This craft provides the student with an excellent means of self-expres-sion, helps to develop manual skill, as well ns to lay a foundation on which may be built a lifelong hobby. DRESSMAKING. The display of dressmaking shows that the girls receive a very sound training. The patterns used are made by the students from block patterns to suit their own requirements. The dresses and blouses made by first-year pupils are all characterised by very good style and neat workmanship. Second-year students are exjiibiting some very well-made costumes and coats. In the room there are girls engaged' in the sewing of various garments, while two girls demonstrate the methods of pattern-cutting used in the school. DOMESTIC DEPARTMENT. Domestic students are fortunate in having two sunny, well-equipped kitchens for practice work. On this occasion one was occupied by the boys’ cookery class, but in the other there were two interesting exhibits. The first showed the important part that milk plays in the diet, and the other illustrated the methods of treating and preventing goitre, which is prevalent to an alarming extent in New Zealand. Domestic pupils were also at work baking cakes; FREE WORK. An innovation in this year’s time table has been the introduction of a weekly period when pupils can choose their occupations. During this time the band and orchestra hold regular practices. The free work groups thus instituted have,covered; a wide range of subjects, and have been most popular. Members of the Bachelors’ Club who became proficient in the use of the needle in the.early part of the year were promoted to a cookery class, where they have learnt to prepare simple but suitable meals and dishes for the Boy Scout in camp. Both bachelors and cooks wex-e at work. Another group has been busy constructing model aeroplanes, and, although the work calls for fine craftsmanship and attention to detail, some very good models have been completed. Interest in the models, naturally leads to interest in the theoretical side of flying and in full-sized planes—in other words, to “ air-mindedness.” A Garden Club was also formed, which has done very good work in the school garden. Only an enthusiastic worker would have the heart to work here, where one has to contend against the insect pests and the misuse of the school gardens by others, but these happy young people appear to be contending effectively with these difficulties. Indoor games of skill, such as chess, draughts, string figure making have occupied others, and a Stamp Club has had enthusiastic support. Another group has made some very attractive toys, which will be distributed to children in the hospitals. Woodwork for girls, typewriting for noncommercial students, life saving, and the care of school libraries, sports equipment, and theatrical costumes have been among the many other activities undertaken. Free work has been a very happy time, and has achieved very satisfactory ‘results, for it has proved that every child has at least one way in which he or she can be happily and profitably occupied.