Technical Education.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7871, 13 July 1905, Page 2

Technical Education.

(CLASSES FOR NEW PLYMOUTH.

A special meeting of the New I ly mouth Central School Committee was held in the Borough Council Cliam.-crs on Tuesday evening to consider proposals made by Mi Spcncir, Inspector of Schools, as to the use [ui the Central School buildings tor continuation classes. Mr Spencer waited on the meeting and went fully into details of proposals, stating that it was his wish that the classes should he started without delay, and it was first necessary to obtain the consent of the committee for use of buildings ami to have a committee ol management with superintendent and secretary who would conduct the classes. Plans of the proposed building had been sent to Wellington, but it will probablv he some time before circumstances permit of this building being available. In the meantime it is proposed to make a start with classes that can be accommodated in present buildings, and the co-opera-tion of the School Committee will \x of great assistance. The subjects to be selected are very numerous and embrace a Wide range, seems a pity to have to acknowledge the fact that to the present time certain oi our advanced educational systems are conducted outside the colony, and are done by means of correspondence which should not be the ease when we are just,as well able to cope with requirements locally. There is very little doubt but that students will be permitted to travel Tail free, audit is a great pity there is not a train from the country timed to arrive at New Plymouth about nine in the morning. The classes would be partly self-supporting from fees payable i>y students ; a subsidy is also offered, which indicates thai financial requirements will be provided for, and an) particular class which shows j weakness of support could be discontinued.

Mi Dempsey, head master of the .idiuol, stated that the main obstacle as to the use of the school building was the cleaning o! the school after use, otherwise he and others of the teatiiing staff wete most willing to assist tbe proposal.

After considerable discussion it was unanimously resolved : " That having heard proposals as outlined iby Mr Spencer, this committee warmly approve of Hie establishment of continuation classes, and pledges itself to heartily co-operate in the movement." Mr Spencer was tiianki-d for the part he had taken in initiating ihe proposals. A resolution Was then passed forming the whole School Committee into a committee of management in connection with continuation and 'technical classes, and the Chairman, Rev. Osborne and Mr Maunder were appointed a sub-committee to confer with the Inspector and draw up a scheme with a list of subjects to he undertaken, and to report on same at a meeting of the committee on Monday next.