TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144666, 28 April 1915, Page 7

TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

SHOULD IT BE COMPULSORY? REPORT BY DIRECTOR. At the meeting of the Taranaki Education Board to-day the Director of Technical Education (Mr. A. Gray) presented the following report;—' in accordance with your instructions to report on school committees’ request tha t the board should bring into; operation the compulsory attendance clause of the Education Act, I have to state as follows; Clause 124 of the Act reads: ‘•(I) On the application'of the school committee, the .Education Board may. hith the concurrence of the Minister, mhke regulations requiring the attendance at a technical school .or at continuation classes or technical classes of young persons within the school district who are not otherwise receiving a suitable education or who are not,specially exempted from such by the regulations; provided that no young person shall be required to attend a technical School or n continuation or technical class if it is hold beyond two miles (measured along the nearest road) from the residence of such young person, or to attend such classes lor more than five hoars m any one week or for more than 150 hours in any year.

“(2) If any person knowingly employs a young person at any time (other than the ordinary hours of employment) when his attendance is by any such regulation required at a continuation class or technical class, he shall be Ijable to a fine not exceeding two pounds and not less than five shillings, or in the case of a second or subsequent offence, whether relating tq_the same or another young person, not exceeding five pounds. "(3) Any parent of a young poison who docs not regularly attend a technical school or a class or classes as required by such regulations is liable to the like penalties as the aforesaid. “(4) All proceedings under the two last preceding subsections may ho laid am! taken in the manner and by persona prescribed in sections 63, 64, and Bo of this Act. ‘•(o) Where complaint is made to a magistrate that any young person rc- ’ quircrl by such regulation to attend a technical school or a continuation class or classes has been guilty of gross misconduct or habitual disobedience, the magistrate may, after such inquiry as ho thinks fit, require any parent ol the young person to enter into a recognisance to the satisfaction of the magistrate for the good behaviour of the young person for the remainder_of the period during which he is required to attend as aforesaid.

“(6l For tho purpose of this section ‘young person’ moans a boy or girl over the age of fourteen years hut not over tlie ur.2 of seventeen years. ‘Ordinary hours "of employment' means, for any young person, either (a) in the case in which the ordinary hours of employment arc prescribed for such young person by any Act or award or industrial agreement. the hours so prescribed; or (h) in the case in which the hours are not so prescribed, the ordinary hours of employ mein usual in the district m the trade or calling in which such young person is employed, exclusive of overtime." , The administration of this clause would entail a groat deal of extra work nu the director, but after going carefully into the matter I have to recommend that the clause bo brought into operation on June 1. and that (the minimum attendance for this -year bo four hours a week for hoys and two hours a week for girls. To obviate the necessity of the girls coming out at night I am prepared to conduct classes for thorn during tho daytime if u can possibly be arranged. Parents should dearly understand that this tuition is absolutely free, as tlie department meets tho extra costA of the tuition by increased capitation. Since this payment is made out of the Consolidated Fund, it should he obvious that the New Plymouth parents have been paying for the education m children in other centres and have boon getting no advantage for themselves. There are at present a number of students who without free Action still take technical classes as paying students. These deserving students would he relieved of the necessity of paying fees. ' , , If the board decides tq enforce the clause. I am prepared to place myself entirely at the disposal of parents ami pupils during the coming month, and 1 have no doubt that suitable classes can ho arranged for all students. For those who do not wish for classes in connection with any particular trade or profession, wc can offer a choice from such subjects as leather work, drawing and painting, singing, carving, French, and in a few months wo shall he able to odd beaten copper work and enamelling.