Technical Education

Southland Times, Issue 19012, 3 April 1903, Page 4

Technical Education

POINTS FROM THE ANNUAL

REPORT,

The annual report of the Director of Technical Instruction, Mr W. A. McCaw, ia an exceedingly interesting review °* the progress of technical education in Southland during 1902. The report is a comprehensive one, and when it appears in printed form should bo read with interest. In tho meantime wo may extract the main items of interest.

The total number of students enrolled for the winter classes was 478 as compared with 433 in 1901, an increase of 45.

Nineteen classes were established, tho most successful being thoso for bookkeeping, singing, mechanical drawing, and cookery.

Classes for chemistry nnd sanitary plumbipg failed for lack of support. Tho Director hopes to see the latter class inaugurated this year "as undoubtedly ttere is room for improvement in tho general sanitary plumbing methods at present followed in the town."

The teachers as a whole stowed great interest and enthusiasm in their work.

The students were beginning to take advantage of the facilities offered by the classes for preparation for tfcc examinations held under the Board of Education, London, in science and art subjects, and under tho City and Guilds of London Institute in technical subjects. At the former examinations held in June last 9 students presented themselves in Machine Construction and Drawing, 12 in Freehand Drawing, 2 in Model Drawing, and 1 in Drawing in light and shade— the results were not yet known, In the latter department one student presented herself for examination in plain cooking and passed. The certificates yaiued at these exams, are of world-wide value."

Country classes were held at Gore, Mataura, Queenstown, Orepuki, Glenorchy, Pahia and Wild BusK At most of these centres the work covered wasr.iincipally that required for S. V. ami S. VI., but at Gore, dressmaking, bookkeeping, and shorthand were taught, and at Mataura dressmaking and ringing. The work at- Gore was hindered i>y the want of suitable buildings. More commodious premises were in view for the coming year, and it was hoped to enlist the co-operation of the Borough Council in securing a suitable central site on which permanent buildings might be erected.

An effort will be made this winter to establish technical classes in some of the larger centres, especially those in which there are District High Schools. Manual instruction in schools made great progress. In 1901, though quite a number of schools had done a little in the way of (introducing hand and eye work into their schools, only 9 schools with a total of 1355 Children in attendance at the classeg had carried ou tho work during the wlole year so as to enable them to earn capitation. 1" 1902 the number of schools entitled to receive capitation was increased to 39. with an attendance at the classes of 3705. In the preparatory classes and lower standards the work done consisted principally of exercises based ou kindergarten methods, while in the upper standards woodwork was carried on in the town schools and cardboard modelling and First Aid in a few of the otter schools. Thou work would" grow and develop. Children thus trained in the preparatory classes were found to be quicker and more intelligent when they passed into the higher standards, for the reason that there had been developed within them "the regular and easy coordination of hand and eye and brain" that leads them to thoroughly comprehend the why and the wherefore of their daily tasks. It was safe to say that wten the promised new standard syllabus was issued handwork classes would be found iv every scbool. A feature of the year was a visit paid by the boys of the woodwork class to the Woodware Factory by the courtesy of Mr Riddell. There the boys saw machinery perform in the twinkling of an eye work that they had been doing laboriously with saw, chisel and mallet. Teachers' training classes had been carried on. At Invercargill cookery and dressmaking classes for women and a woodwork class for men were conducted on Saturdays. At the examinations under the City and Guilds of London Institute 22 teachers sat for manual training and woodwork : 20 for the first year'B and two for the final. Thirteen of the former and one of the latter were successful. A large number of teachers were' preparing for each. exam, in Juno nest. ' .

At the examination in dresscutting 28 teachers sat and 25 passed.

Over 20 teachers bo candidates at the plain cookery examination of the City and Guilds of London Institute in June.

At Gore classes in paperwork, plasticine, modelling and brushwork were attended by 35 teachers of both sexes. They were conducted fay Misses Birss, ifcLeod, and -Pratt, of Invercargill. It Is proposed to establish classes iv woodware and cookery.

For the benefit of teachers who cannot attend the classes in Invercargill and Gore, it is proposed to hold a summer school in Invercargill towards tho end of the year, at which they will receive all the assistance possible to enable them to come into line with their brethren more favourably situated.

The Saturday training classes imposed an additional strain on teachers, the Director Y _ said, but it was unavoidable, and only temporary. The Education/ Department was wisely not hurrying the introduction of manual training classes into ordinary schoolworlc There was no doubt, however, that in a short time proficiency in any one or more of the new manual training subjects would, -other things being equal, secure promotion to teachers so qualified.

The gf nances were thoroughly . sound. The * receipts from all sources were £1174 and the expenditure £948, leaving a credit balance of £226. The expenditure included JB2OO paid en account of the new technical school, which would be refunded, and about £73 was still due as capitation.

In conclusion, Mr McCaw expresses his deep sense of indebtedness to Inspectors Hendry and Braik for the valuable counsel and. advice he has received from them, and to Mr Neill, secretary of the Board, for much assistance rendered.