TECHNICAL CLASSES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19885, 11 March 1939, Page 8

TECHNICAL CLASSES

i HIGH SCHOOL FACILITIES COMMERCIAL ENTRIES TRADES' APPRECIATION Most of the evening classes for which provision is made in the Gisborne High School prospectus have been started, and the prospects are good for a successful year in this branch of the school's activities. To some extent, this improvement is a reflection, of the successes gained during 1938, in outstanding classes such as the accountancy course, which had a number of successful students. The low fees were especially appreciated by many parents of students, and the free places for young people who are entering employment, and therefore cannot follow courses in the normal way of attendance at day-school, a'lso constitute an attractive feature. Engineering, plumbing, motor and building trades are taking full advantage of the facilities provided for youths, and a sufficient number have enrolled to enable examination subjects to be studied last year. The new domestic block offers excellent facilities for home and business girls who wish to extend their knowledge of cooking and dressmaking. Coal, gas, and electric cooking equipment is available in well-lighted rooms for these students. Electrical Trade Interest There is some indication that the electrical trade, which so far has been most backward in its, demands on the school and has put up a poor showing in the registration examinations, will avail' itself of the classes in technical electricity and electric wiring. The younger apprentices are especially keen to secure such class instruction, though a few older entrants must still enrol" to justify the commencement of the course. The plumbers l>avc a large new vjor.kshop off Grey street, where a large class can be handled with ease, and work has commenced already. The plumbers are perhaps the keenest tradesmen in Gisborne, in their regard for technical classes, and their work has been a credit to then- instructor, Mr. L. W. Patterson. An art class in drawing from life, conducted toy Mr. Eric Gully, should be more widely known to students of all ages. Excellent work has been done by many students of this course; but it "would be most beneficial if those interested mainly in show-card writing took a wider view of commercial art, and gave this life class their support also. A possibility of instituting a class in Maori this year has 'had to be relinquished, as the number of pupils offering was just too small to justify the commencement of instruction.