TECHNICAL CLASSES FOR COUNTRY DISTRICTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3006, 25 October 1911, Page 14

TECHNICAL CLASSES FOR COUNTRY DISTRICTS.

The principle adopted by the Educational Department of subsidising at the rate of pound for pound all voluntary contributions and at the same time paying capitation on attendance at technical classes gives residents of country districts an opportunity of enjoying at least some of the facilities of technical instruction. We say some because it is neither possible nor desirable to multiply machinery and appliances and accommodation to such an extent that country residents may enjoy equal benefits with town dwellers, but in country districts it should be possible to equip, say, science rooms, dressmaking and needlework, and wood and iron work at little outlay, so that not only the young people finishing their primary education, ' but also those desiring continuation, or what is more important, supplementary evening education, may hare ihe opportunity of prosecuting their studies. In an attendance list of classes recently established in a country town we notice that shorthand and typewriting and commercial subjects generally predominate. For a farming district this seems to us a novelty, and probably appears so also to the young folk of these districts ; hence the desire to acquire some knowledge of them. As we have suggested, the department offers every facility for the establishment of truly technical classes in country districts, and care should be taken to establish them in keeping with the industries of the district, otherwise such classes are not likely to be either profitable or permanent. If local bodies, agricultural societies, and clubs would assist such movements from their funds, "then members, .and the district itself generally, would probably benefit to a greater extent than even the young people themselves, in whose interest they may appear to be directly acting. There is no more sure or permanent method of investing the funds that may in any way have .accumulated through the energy and foresight of our forerunners in the country than by the mental development of the rising : generation, who will thus be enabled to . leave more to posterity. The establish- | ment of classes in country districts will j not clash with the Technical School in. Dunedin in any way—rather the reverse. At present quite a number of country j pupils attend the school, but owing to un-j suitable train services they only go in every second day, and that makes a break i in their studies which has an unsatisfactory result both for the student' and master. At the same time, the special staff and extra opportunity for detailed classification of the pupils enable them to get the benefit of fuller and better tuition than would be possible in country districts where either the numbers would not bs sufficient to form classes or a multiplicity of subjects would be taught by a single teacher. We commend Mr Fleming's idea to the attention of inland farmers, and would consider for a moment the value of such instruction from a commercial point of view. The aimless life led by lads in country townships after their day's work is over is very deplorable, and leads for companionship more frepiently to the dramshop than anywhere else. Technical classes would give them an object in life and enlarge their capacity. We quite recognise that the place to learn farming subjects is on the farm itself, but there are some allied subjects which the technical class can deal with, which cannot bs taught on the farm, and such instruction properly schemed cut would have the tendency lO direct farmers' sons or employees "towards" instead of <: away" from the farm. They will tend to proficiency in handicraft, and save young farmers many a pound for dear labour, and in that way increase the productive power of the country. Apart from its utility, the scheme is' one which will prove of practical philanthropic value to the country town ships, and for that reason ought to be encouraged. It will do more when it becomes popular to raise the tone and increase the usefulness of country lads than all the hare-brained schemes of fools and fanatics.