TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3823, 21 June 1927, Page 18

TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

HON. MR WRIGHT’S CRITICISM STATEMENT BY MR ALDRIDGE. ' Recent criticism of technical education by the lion. Mr Wright (Minister of Education) was referred to at Wednesday’s meeting of the managers of the King Edward Technical College. The Principal (Mr Aldridge) submitted the following report:— “At Palmerston North on May 31 last the Minister of Education stated that technical education was growing too fast, and he hinted that the cause of this rapidity of growth was to be sought in the undue zeal displayed by the principals of technical schools. If the Minister’s remarks were a solitary instance of such criticism, they might be taken only as the sign of in excusable irritation arising from the request, which he bad just heard, for a great extension of the buildings of the Palmerston North School, but technical education has been decried rather freauently in the last few years, and I feel that unless more pains are taken to understand the work carried on under that name, technical schools' are likely to receive lass and less encouragement at headquarters.” Mr Aldridge attached io his report a table taken from the New Zealand Year Book showing the amount of growth recorded between 1915 and 1925 in the various branches of education, in New Zealand, which are dependent upon Government support, and then continued his report: “It is obvious that the cost of education has greatly increased in all branches, but at no greater rate in the technical branch than in others. It is true that technical high schools increased markedly, but 1000 students out of the increased number are really following an academic course in schools, which are.the only ones of secondary rank in their district. The number of students attending part-time courses has actually decreased. . There seems then no special re.ason for singling, technical school

out for criticism on the ground that excessive growth in roll number or cost.

A summary followed of branches of work undertaken by technical schools, after which the principal continued: “The above summary of the present activities of technical schools showshow unprofitable it is to speak in general terms of technical education in New Zealand as a whole. Criticism will be of value only in so fap as it is definite. The Minister's suggestion that principals of all technical schools have been too anxious to add to the number of classes taught is easily disposed of. From the primary schools there leave each year 13,000 pupils with the right to free education for two years, and the chance of gaining the right for three years moreIn cases where secondary or technical schools are conveniently hear, experience has shown that parents will make full use Of them, -Claiming for their children those educational advantages which the law of the land has given them, without waiting for any campaign of intense advertisement on the part of'the principal of the school.” The Chairman (Mr T. Scott) said he did not know how the Minister’s criticism applied .to the North Island; it certainly was not justified in Otago. The Principal, in reply to a question, said that expenditure in many departments of education had increased, and there was no reason why the technical branch should be singled out for comment. The Chairman,: We have made it a practice not to start a class unless v/e have 12 pupils. If 12 pupils come forward it is right we should find a teacher and start a class. Mr G. Clarke remarked that there seemed to be an overlapping of instruction in the high schools and the technical school.

Mr J. H. Wilkinson said the expenditure on education had increased by leaps and bounds in recent years, and there was a growing feeling that the country was not receiving an adequate return for the money expended. It appeared to him there was a tremendous amount of overlapping in connection with the high schools and the technical colleges. Subjects such as domestic science and commercial knowledge were taught in both institutions, and the expense that was caused by this dupli-

cation ought to be removed. It could be avoided under a better-arranged system. This fact had stressed. itself on the Government, especially during the jnancial stringency, and the new Minister had s°:m the necessity, in order to get money to carry on the primary schools’ work, of applying the pruning knife. Primary schools should not be starved by the expense of technical schools. Air J. T. Paul thought the whole education system should be overhauled. Over a long period of years, generally from political motives, and irrespective of what Government was in power, the educational needs of the country had been subordinated to the political situation. The whole question of education would have to be reviewed. They should not take one section of it and say it was overdeveloped when it was known that waste occurred in all sections. The Principal’s report was received, and it was decided to forward to the conference on technical education, to be held shortly, a remit on the overlapping of instruction.