TECHNICAL COLLEGE BOARD

Southland Times, Issue 17934, 27 January 1917, Page 5

TECHNICAL COLLEGE BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. The Southland Technical College Hoard met last evening 1 . Present: Messrs W. R, Riddell (acting chairman), .Ino. Stead, J. 11. Reed, A. L. Wylie, W. Ashley, A. Peterson, and J. C. Thomson, M.P. Apologies were received from Messrs H. E. Niven, P. A. de la Perelle, G. T. Stevens and \V. A. Cox. The secretary of the New Zealand Federation of Master Plumbers forwarded copy of a lengthy paper whicit had been submitted by Mr J. H. Douglas to a meeting of the Federation, and which dealt with the technical instruction of plumbers.— Referred to a sub-committee consisting of Messrs Riddell, Ashley, Johnston and Peterson, Following is the DIRECTOR'S REPORT. Technical Tligii School re-opens on Tuesday next, January 30th. Fifty-two students who have attended for two years us holders of Junior free places, have been recommended for senior free places. For several years, a few students taking the engineering course have been candidates for the Public Service entrance examination, but It lias been impossible for them to compete on even terms with High School pupils, since our course of instruction Includes a number of subjects which are not found In the examination syllabus. 1 would therefore ask that the Minister be requested to amend the syllabus slightly, to permit engineering students to enter for the examination on satisfactory terms.— The returns for the Technical High School show that the average attendances for last year were particularly good, and the average amount of capitation earned was the best yet recorded.— In view of the importance of games for the girls, 1 would recommend that athletics he treated as a subject in the school curriculum. as the staffing is such as to permit all students to take part in organised games, under proper supervision.— I have also to recommend that a part time teacher be employed to assist in carrying on the work in the art classes. This work has steadily increased, and the point has been reached where assistance Is required. Evening Classes. arrange for the commencement of art classes, and the day dressmaking classes on February sth, and other evening classes, about the third week in February. Twenty-nine students attending the evening classes who have held junior free places for two years, have been recommended for senior free places.—Dp to the present, apprentices have been admitted to classes at half fees, but in certain sections, they have attended very irregularly. 1 would therefore recommend that apprentices whose average attendances fell below 80 per cent, last year, be required to pay full fee when entering this year, on the understanding that half the fees will be refunded at the end of the year, if their attendance has been satisfactorily regular. — I propose also with the Board’s consent, to require all paying students i!]) to a certain age, to bring notes from their parents, when they have been absent from evening classes. The report was adopted with the exception of the recommendation re the embodying of athletics in the curricula hj, which was held over pending inquiries as to the method adopted in other schools. Messrs Gilkisou and Stead were appointed the visiting committee for the -•>iiuing month-