TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 March 1920, Page 2

TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

DIRECTOR'S MONTHLY REPORTi

The Director (Mr. A. L. Moore) reported to the Taranaki Education Board yesterday as follows :

New on roll, 120 (1819, 113); science subjects other schools, 24 ; total 144. This year shows an Increase over the roll number as (it toe end of last year. Of the 113 on the rolls of last year 8 were discharged soldiers, seven of whom have obtained employment in the vocation for which they were receiving Instruction here. All the third year and a number of the second year commercial students have obtained employment. A number of second and third year engineering students have also commenced work. Allowing for a number of old pupils who have yet to enrol there are fewer enrolments this year than formerly, aqd this may be attributed, I think, to two -causes: (I) lack of boarding accommodation for the country pupfls, and (2) the economic pressure by reason of the high cost of living causjns Barents, to send their children to work after they leave the primary school in order to »well the family purse. The courses have been remodelled this year and every course while not losing Its vocational {rend has the, elenjentsi of a sound general education which I hope will help our pupils to perform their duties as citizens with thoughtfulness. wd a sense of responsibility. During the month ill-health comj pelled Mrs. Wishart to resign her position as I teacher of type-writing. The Increased equipment of typewriters and rc-organlsatlon of the classes will enable Mr. G. H. White to teach the shorthand and type-writing, for which he was originally appointed. Since the opening of the school the slow train by which the country pupils travel has been up to half-an-bour late every day; thlg makes It very difficult for the pupils and staff to do justice to their work. I hope to be able to form a bugle band In connection with the school cadets and am obtaining Information ais to the coat of instruments.

Evening Classes.—The evening classes opened! this week with fair enrolments but so U\c are not completed. An encouraging interest has beon shown in the formation of senior classes and I hope to be able to report enrolments next month. Mr. Gorringe, of Auckland, has accepted the position of wookwork Instructor, and will take up his duties from the Ist April. lam not starting evening wookwork and drawing classes until lie arrives, In the meantime Mr. Sandford lias kindly consented to carry on until Mr. Gorringo arrived. There is now an extra class hero so that it will not be possible for ono instructor to do the whole of the work. Failing sufficient work feeing found for a second instructor Mr. Sandford has intimated his willingness to continue as parttime instructor- until the end of the year. Eltham.—During the month I visited Eltham and have arranged with Mr. Jackson to commence dress-making classes there and also to supply a teacher for shorthand and typewriting. .Mr Jackson having been appointed headmaster of the Tawhlti School, has resigned as suyorvlsor of the technical classes at Elthani. He has made arrangements for the classes to commence and Is handing over temporarily to Mr. Sheat. It will be necessary to appoint a permanent supervisor there. The tar-paved footpath leading to the entrance of tlie school Is very much broken and over-grown with weeds; I would suggest that a concrete path be laid. An outside lapip is also needed to light this pathway from the gate to the door.

AGRICULTURE. Mr. H. C. Johnson reports as follows: The work has been completely disorganised on acoount' of the uncertainty of the openlnK of schools. No secondary classes were held at all but complete arrangements have now been made for the carrying on of same. I have visited rive primary schools, while Mr. Syme has visited seven. In addition, in company with Mr. Trimble, I interviewed the commissioner at Kaimata School re the fencing off of a separate part for vegetable gardening. It was agreed that sufficient scope presented Itself in the* beautifying and improving generally of the grounds and that sufficient material for the lessons cotiid be drawn therefrom.

I also visited Hawera School to report on the school gardens—a separate report on this matter has been submitted to the secretaryj Arrangements are such now that Mr. Hurley is free from secondary work every Thursday. Mr. Syme reports as follows: Primary Schools: The following schools warn visited: Korlto, Norfolk,. Jutraiigl,. Hillsborough. A start has with the work in most of these schools, mainly in the direction of getting the school grounds into order again after the holidays. Secondary School Work: Opunake.—The High School is at present cteed owing to tho epidemic.

GENERAL. Miss Howard has resigned her position of domestic science teacher and wishes to leave on the 10th Inst.; this will mean making temporary arrangements until such time as another teacher to be appointed can take up her duties. Mr. Sandford has. also intimated to me that ho wishes to be released at the end of this month. There Is too much work for one instructor; it will therefore be necessary to appoint, If possible, a part-time Instructor. MANUAL AND TECHNICAL COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The Manual and Technical Committee of the Board reported as follows:—That the matter of wookwork classes at Eliham bo left to Mr. Moore to arrange; That the architect be. instructed to put down a concrete footpath from the road to the Technical School at Eltham and have the light installed as recommended by the director's report of the sth March; That Mr. Neville Martin be appointed temporary commercial Instructor in the Hawera Technical High School; That Mis 3 V. MSKenzle be appointed Commercial Instructor in the Hawera Technical High School; That Mr. G. M. Gorringe be appointed Woodwork Instructor In the New Plymouth Technical School.