TECHNICAL COLLEGE BOARD

Southland Times, Issue 17655, 12 February 1916, Page 7

TECHNICAL COLLEGE BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Southland Technical Hoard was held yesterday afternoon, there being present : Mesrs H. E. Niven (chairman*, A. U. Wylie, ALA.. W. Ashley, 11 Biddell, .1. Gilkison, and St. .1. i.nngh nan. An apology for absence was received from Air W A. Cox. The chairman, on behalf of the Board, extended a welcome to the table to Mr Longhnan who takes the place of -Air Carswell as representative of the Chamber of Commerce. Air Longhnan briefly thanked the Board for their welcome to him. CORRESPONDENCE. The Chamber of Commerce notified that Air F. St. .1. Doughnan had been appointed toD’eryescnt them on the Board, vice Air Carswell. Received. The Southland Patriotic Cimmittee asked for the loan of a blackboard to enable a returned soldier, who lias lost the use of his right arm, to practice, so that lie could obtain a position on the Education Department.—Granted. The secretary N.Z. Technical School Teachers Association asked for information as to <a) the average capitation earned by each Ist, -nd, and 3rd year pupil; (b) the numbers of such pupils who leave during the session.—lnformation to he supplied,, Aliss A. E. Bell wrote notifying Unit she bad started a home for girls coming to town for higher education, and stated her terms. —To he left in the hands of the Director. Aiiss Pyle wrote in similar strain. — Similarly dealt witli. The secretary Avenal Swimming Club ■wrote stating that the girls could have the use of the dressing shed at Avenal on Monday and Friday afternoons up to 5 o’clock at an annual rental of £l.—Accepted and arrangements for an instructor are to be made. The Southland Education Board advised that the Board should in future keep its own banking account. —The authority is to be given effect to, cheques to bo* signed by the Director and one member of the Board. Wm. Grieve asked to be relieved of his duties to join the Expeditionary Force. —Held over to enable applicant to put in an application, for leave of absence. . The Education Department advised that after ]916 no Dower General examinations in any subjects of science and technology would be held.—Received. The same body advised that they would not hold a national competition in 1916. —Received. OTHER BUSINESS. | Accounts amounting to £O3O Os Sd were passed for payment. It was decided to procure two additional Are extinguishers, one to replace tlie buckets at present in use. the other for the draughting room. On the motion of Air Ashley it ■ was resolved to have the proposed gangway between the College and the Education Board buildings constructed without delay, thus minimising the danger in the event of a fire upstairs. Messrs Ashley and Longhnan were appointed as a visciting committee for the month. DIRECTOR'S REPORT. • TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL. The Technical High School re-opened on Tuesday, February Ist, and up to the present time 116 new students have enrolled. About 60 of last year’s students have not returned, most of them having entered into employment in the vocation. As 09 have re-entered tlie attendance is -16 students, which is an increase of about 26 over tlie attendance at this time last year. The classes are made uq as follows ; Gills. Boys. Total. Commercial 161 e2 la> Domestic Science .. 33 Trades 3 '* Agricultural .... y s Total -Iv This will necessitate the formation of an additional class and tlie aixiintmcnt of another instructor, and 1 would recommend the appointment of a teacher for book-keeping and commercial correspondence. Aliss A. Hastings has accepted the position of commercial mistress, but is unable to take her her duties till tlie end of this month. Fortunately Airs Browett is able to carry on her classes in the meantime. Our accommodation is now severely taxed, as 1 cannot recommend the continuous use of the attic room as class rooms, and tlie provision of another class room must bo considered. The Education Department has awarded senior free places to 3 8 students who were in attendance at junior free pupils, and whose free places expired in December last. One holder of a junior free place has been deprived of it for failing to make reasonable progress, and in two other causes the free places have not been continued for a similar reason.

EVENING CLASSED. The Art Classes and Day Domestic Science Classes resumed on Monday, February Sth and the other evening classes will resume on February 2Sth. Senior free places bav been awarded to Jftl junior free students who were attending the evening classes, and three Other eases are under consideration. Although there lias been an increase In the number of free students and in the capitation earned, it does not appear that free places are appreciated by the ladders as they ought to be, and the jsarne statement would hold true with * regard to concessions granted to apprentices. I would favour the adoption of the system recommended by the Council of Education requiring ''Very applicant for a free place to deposit a sum not exceeding thirty shillings on enrolment, on the understanding that it will be returned at the end ol the year if the student attends not less than f<o per cent, of the classes held. Apprentices. might he required to pay the full fees at the beginning of the session, and half the fees could be refunded at the end if the attendances wore satisfactory. The student who attends irregularly is one of the most serious impediments to the progress of the class generally, for he monopolises unduly the attention of the teacher in explaining to him work that he has missed. By the death of -Mr W. G. MchalTcy we lose an educationalist who was long associated with the evening classes. Mr Mehaffey conducted the English classes when the evening classes started in IB9G and I believe that he did so continually until the end of TU2.