The Te Aroha News Published Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday Mornings. THURSDAY, MAY 14, 1925. TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6599, 14 May 1925, Page 4

The Te Aroha News Published Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday Mornings. THURSDAY, MAY 14, 1925. TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

THE Education authorities are sometimes attacked for their shortcomings. With our system of State education the right of every boy and girl to the best that the system offers is maintained in every community. If the Department hesitates about granting a high school or a technical school when these are warranted by the number of pupils prepared to enrol, there is a feeling of indignation and a sense that the people are suffering an injustice. Unfortunately, when educational facilities to which a reasonable claim can be made are provided they are not always fully appreciated, and it sometimes happens that a very small percentage of those eligible to receive the instruction offered are prepared to accept it. This apparently is the case with the Te Aroha Technical School. In a town with a population of over 2000 there must be many opportunities for boys and girls with a commercial training, such as is to be obtained at the Technical school. When a boy goes into an office he is not expected to know much about book keeping, but he should be fairly reliable at arithmetic, write a good legible hapd and have a sufficient knowledge of English to express himself correctly. With some aptitude the ability to do this can be acquired at the Technical school and an avenue to usefulness, otherwise closed, is opened up to the boy. It seems strange, in view of the undoubted advantages, and the fact that instruction is free to all boys and girls who have gained proficiency or competency certificates, that there should be any difficulty in forming classes at Te Aroha this season. There is a good school, and teachers are selected on account of their special qualifications to give instruction in the particular subjects that will be taken, and yet there is a danger of the classes falling through because a sufficient number of pupils are not available. Only fifteen are required for English and arithmetic, and this would warrant classes in book-keeping, shorthand and typing; and, if sufficient inducement of-

fers, classes will also be started for dressmaking, cookery and woodwork. The first attempt to enrol sufficient pupils has failed and another opportunity is to be given by extending the time. The Education Board is apparently doing its best to get the classes established this year, and it is to be hoped that the support necessary to success will be forthcoming.