BIG NUMBER OF ENROLMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 23675, 25 November 1938, Page 8

BIG NUMBER OF ENROLMENTS

EVENING SCHOOL OF TECHNICAL COLLEGE OPPORTUNITIES GIVEN BY NEW REGULATIONS The opportunities given to boys and yourig men by the amendments to the free place regulations and the effect these amendments have had on the work of the school were discussed by the principal of the Southland Technical College (Mr C. A. Stewart) in his annual report, on the work of the evening school. A big increase in enrolments was also reported. The report was presented last evening at a meeting of the Southland Technical College Board of Managers. There were present: Mr A. le H. Hoyles (chairman), Miss C. McLeod and Messrs W. Carswell, A. J. Service, A. J. Ball, J. Weir, L. Holmes and W. G. Tait The principal’s report stated:— . * “Rather important amendments in the department’s free place regulations, introduced for the first time this year, aimed at bringing free place facilities within the reach of practically all adolescents and adults who have not already had a full post-primary education. This extension of privileges certainly had some effect in increasing our enrolments, especially of older students, in practically all courses. For students over-21 years of age, the fees have in the past been high enough to act as a deterrent, more particularly for married men on wages or not in regular work. This year it has been a pleasure to note the steady keenness of the older students, such as journeymen in the engineering trades. They have set a fine example to the younger boys. I feel certain that for some years we may expect a bigger proportion of these mature students anxious, to take advantage of the opportunities now within their reach. “Our increased enrolment, however, has been much greater than could be accounted for by mere relaxing of free place conditions. Our total number of individual students enrolled for the session was 888, compared with 619 for last year, an increase of 43.5 per cent. Of the total, 760 were free students, and the remaining 128 paid fees. We conducted in all 89 classes (as against 68 last year), and had to discontinue only one because of lack of continued support. Of the full-time staff of 27 assistants, 23 were regularly engaged for evening classes—s 4 classes in all. .The other 35 classes were taken by 22 parttime instructors. In other words the full-time staff, engaged mainly in the day school, forms the mainstay of the staff for the evening school and so ensures continuity of teaching methods land due care of equipment. On the | other hand, we have an adequate staff of visiting instructors to keep the instruction in touch with up-to-date practice in industry and business, and to keep us informed of the needs of employers. UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE “Most of our University Entrance classes have this year been well attended; but we fully realize that, in present-day conditions, very few parttime or evening students pass the examination unless* they have practically- reached the standard before leav-

ing a full-time school. It is now a very r..re thing for a student to do all the matriculation course by part-time study. While we recognize our obligation to help young people in employment who are ambitious, to pass the university entrance examination as a preliminary to more advanced studies, we are under no delusion as to the sup- j posed superior cultural value of a I matriculation course. Our technical I schools have been fortunately free to I develop individuality, and to work on sound educational lines uncramped by the syllabus of external examinations. “In the commercial course we have had a bigger number of classes than ever before, especially for shorthand and typewriting. Both for the day school and for the evening school we are feeling the need of a second typewriting room. Our classes in needlework and dressmaking are also stronger numerically than in any previous year. “In the art department we cannot reasonably hope for much development until we have really suitable, comfortable and attractive quarters for the work. I have every reason to believe that when accommodation and equipment are provided the work will flourish. Great credit is due to past and present teachers of art work who have done so well in spite of most unsuitable and depressing conditions. “The work in building construction., joinery and cabinet making, has made good progress since we moved into the new workshops, and we have evidence of closer co-operation with the employers. It seems inevitable that the training bf apprentices and juniors must be left more and more to the technical schools. As the number of students increases, it becomes possible to make the courses of instruction more differentiated to suit the various types of employment. “REMARKABLE EXPANSION” “Undoubtedly the greatest expansion in recent years has been in the engineering course. And this year the growth has been really remarkable. Apart from the more or less routine classes in workshop, machine drawing, mechanics, engineering processes and the like, there has been developed a very full course of training for apprentices and others in the motor trade, and this has been recognized by the New Zealand Garage Proprietors’ Association as the most complete and satisfactory scheme in the Dominion. Classes are held in garage work, motor theory, motor electricity, panel-beating and welding. Our class for A grade motor candidates has done a very good year’s work. For financial help we are indebted to the New Zealand Garage Proprietors’ Association, and for systematic help in carrying out the scheme, to the local branch of the association. We have had-the co-operation of the part-time staff with the three full-time teachers of engineering. Other classes of recent growth have been those in diesel engineering, aero engineering and sheetmetal laying out. “Another pleasing feature of the year’s work, and another evidence of help from the employers in trade, has been the increased number of film and other displays on various aspects of engineering and manufacturing work. Travelling representatives are increasingly willing to undertake directly educational work without direct propaganda. “From this report it might appear that we attach undue importance to mere numbers of students and classes. We realize the danger of such an attitude. I should point out again, however, that increasing numbers make possible greater sub-division and specialization; and it is certainly all to the good that there should be a growing number of young people (and others not so young) who are willing to give up two, three, and even four evenings weekly after work to systematic selfimprovement. There has certainly .not been less zeal or a lower general standard of work than.in previous years. On the other hand; there has been, in some departments at least, a greater readiness to take a complete course of studies rather than merely one or two isolated subjects. ' WORK OF STAFF “Of .the part-time staff, I should report that, almost without exception, they have co-operated well, have taken trouble to make their work interesting and practical, and have realized that with younger students in particular, it is necessary to stimulate interest and to set an example of activity. I consider that we have been very fortunate in our part-time instructors. Next year we propose to try out, in at least one class, the advantages of engaging a panel of instructors for different aspects of the subject: the suggestion has been officially approved, although so far as we know, it has not yet been tried elsewhere. “It seems reasonable to expect a continuation of the growth experienced in recent years. Expansion in some directions is practically impossible until we have more adequate and suitable accommodation. Practical engineering classes require additional lathes, and I confidently expect a substantial departmental grant for this purpose. The department recognizes our urgent need in buildings, and I feel confident that, in a very short time, a large building programme will be under way.”