TECHNICAL COLLEGE MANAGERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3954, 24 December 1929, Page 69

TECHNICAL COLLEGE MANAGERS.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the King Edward Technical College Managers was held on Tuesday afternoon, and was attended by Mr T. Scott (chairman). Mrs Herbert, and Messrs W. G. Baird, C. Conn, E. F. Duthie, J. Horn. J. J. Marlow, J. T. Paul, L. Sanderson. W. Steele, J. E. Wheeler, and J. H. Wilkinson. PRINCIPAL’S REPORT. The principal’s report for tiie month of December stated that the Technical High School closed on Thursday. December 12. A very large number of parents and friends had been present. Under the restrictions agreed to last year, certificates had been awarded only for consistently good records of two years or longer in the day school. That the earning of one of these certificates now conferred some distinction was shown by the small number awarded—26 first class and 59 second class. '1 he new practice was being extended to evening classes immediately, credit being given for a course previously begun in the day school Miss Owens service with the board expired with this year, much to the regret of staff and pupils. Mr R. Hynes had taken up duties a few days ago as head of the engineering department. As usual, during the last few weeks of the year, a number of industrial concerns had allowed parties of pupils to visit their works. Special letters of thanks were being sent to the following for their courtesy in this matter:—R. Hudson and Co.'. G Methven and Co., Ltd., Crystal Ice Company, Ltd., City Gasworks. Sc-oullar and Chisholm. Ltd., Thomson and Co., Royal lee Cream Manufacturing Company. Ltd , Hogg and Co.. Ltd., Byrd Expedition ship, Otago Daily Times Office. EVENING CLASSES. The principal’s report on evening classes for the year 1929 stated that the system ot evening classes inaugurated in 1890 by the lechmcal Classes’ Association had now continued uninterruptedly for 40 e m- 5 ’ 'Y 0,, n be fitting to hold some public function early in next year to celebrate this anniversary, e ,d at the same time to unveil in the college buildings tablets commemorating rhe services ot those who had founded tnat association, and supported its early efforts. The fortieth year had not been especially remarkable, but the quiet progtess that had been experienced now for some years had continued. The following table showed that the roll number during the past three sessions had not varied much: —

Ihe number of classes conducted had been the greatest yet attempted, being based on prospects of high enrolment during the first term, but within a few weeks of opening, the disastrous floods of March 19 had reduced the attendance considerably, and in a number of cases permanently'. The hard winter with its attendant sicknesses had caused many gaps in class rolls, and it had been only by strict attention to correspondence about absences that attendances had been kept up In the third term, practically all entrants had been transfers from our own and the Boys’ High School. A feature of this year’s work had been the development of senior work and a corresponding slackening in the demand for first-year instruction. This was a good sign. The abundant facilities exist ing for post-primary education should ultlmately’ relieve technical schools of firstyear work almost entirely. In secondyear classes the number of senior free places awarded in the whole institution during the past three years had been as follows: —

As far as evening classes were concerned, no small credit in this connection was due to those teachers of English and mathematics in trades classes, whose methods of presentation had helped to ensure regular attendance at subjects which had been once regarded with distaste At the commencement of the year it had been thought that higher fees would be charged by the Education Department but fortunately the Minister had vetoed the proposal. The board’s innovation of charging by the half-year instead of by the term had proved a boon to the office staff, and had been well received by students. It had eliminated almost entirely the practice of entering classes for a period of less than a year. At the same time the new system of recognition of classes introduced by the department, having as its basis an easily understood system of averages, had stabilised arrangements and had been largely responsible for the development of classes taking advanced work. In the building course a separate fourthycar class, in commerce, a class in senior office practice and in mechanical engineering a fifth-year course had been most encouraging additions, as had been also the added seriousness and sustained interest noticeable in senior classes in the art course. Classes in the skilled trades for apprentices had worked smoothly, as there had been no case of new apprenticeship orders enforcing attendance during the year. In plumbing, printing, and building these classes worked very well. In painting and motor engineering there had been greater readiness to accept college courses and college discipline, an im-

provement that might be connected with the ending of the apprenticeship period for some students who had come at first unwillingly. In the case of the painters, there would be an extra class next year, a development that was chiefly due to the sound teaching method of the present instructor. Mr M. Brown, seconded by the Apprenticeship Committee. In plumbing there had passed the Plumbers Board examination during the year seven students in theory and seven in practice, which would reduce considerably the number of senior students in the advanced class. Up to the present the electrical classes had not been well attended by apprentices, but repeated failures throughout New Zealand in the examination of wiremtn’s registration would probably soon lead to classes of this kind being formed at Technical Schools, their own included. The equipment in this course was now practically complete and was a tribute to the foresight and ingenuity of the instructor. As he was already fully occupied with classes in electrical engineering, another teacher would be needed if any continuous instruction in electrical engineering was called for. Similarly any extension of the course for motor apprentices or the introduction of boilermaking into the syllabus, would require the services of more part-time teachers.

The system of appointing co-examiners had persisted from the foundation of the Technical Classes’ Association, and had been of considerable assistance in the past in enforcing a high standard, especially in theoretical work. But the increasing difficulty of finding persons able and willing to undertake the work and the presence of full-time senior teachers in each department made it now advisable to discontinue the custom, as far as our fulltime staff were concerned. In other cases the system continued to work well, and would no doubt in time gradually lead to committees being officially asked to act in this and other capacities in connection with evening classes.

The board, recognising the part now played by Apprenticeship Committees in governing the conditions within their industry. had asked them to visit the annual exhibition of students’ work’ and to present a written report upon it. together with any suggestions they might care to make. Some such plan as this might point the way to closer co-operation and ultimately better handling of the problems that concerned both industry and the Technical School. GENERAL. Accounts amounting to £269 13s were passed for payment. It was decided to purchase 12 British typewriters at a cost of £l3l 16s, and to recondition the old typewriters at a cost of £45.

Roll number at end of each term. First. Second. Third. 1927 .. 1043 1007 1041 1928 . . 1074 114;’ 1127 1929 . . 1099 1062 1056 Total numbers for year. Enrolled. Left. 1927 1265 224 1928 1381 254 1929 1320 264 The total numbers enrolled in day and evening classes in these years had been:— T.II.S E.C. Total. 1927 . . 588 1265 1853 1928 . . 630 1381 2011 1929 . . 668 1320 1988 Deduct transfers . Net total. 1927 .. 39 1814 1928 .. 80 1931 1929 . . 79 1909

Year. T.H.S. Evening school. Total 1927 . . Ill 106 217 1928 98 121 219 1929 88 140 228