THE TECHNICAL CLASSES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13230, 9 March 1907, Page 4

THE TECHNICAL CLASSES.

The pieparalionu now Iwing m«do for the reNuniplic.it of work hy <lie Timni'u Tool)liical Classes should vevi<-c in the public'/ wind tho inLewt which hod been «dlow«d

to flag during ilie long summer holiday." It 3s not to be expected/that tlie public generally will take much interest iu the Technical Glasses: but citizens who lave the future welfare of the industries aiul commerce of the town at heart, should do; and • especially should those who are engaged in pun-uits which call for the exercise of trained intelligence in the employees. endeavour to ensure the success of classes -in which, the instruction is directed to the provision of jueh training. It is a common complaint everywhere, however, that employer.? do not trouble themselves with what goes on in the technical schools; though they are willing enough to recognise the value of the training given by well-established institutions. by accepting their certificates as prima facie evidence ,of the fitness of tho-e who present them. This is the experience of places where technical schools have been iu existence for many years, and it would be vain to expect the employers of Timaru to take up a, more actively sympathetic attitude towards the movement than their fellow craftsmen elsewhere. The work then must be carried on under the stimulus of a general sense of the need for it, and a general recognition of its value, expressed through the energy of a_ comparatively small number of enthusiasts for tie sy.-tem. These are not necessarily, and perhaps are not often, persons engaged in productive occupations; but -cbyiously, if any sucli are to be found, other things being equal, their assistance should be assiduously sought and Tetaiced as long as possible. , The '" practical man" in his own''line, liowever, may be impracticable enough in dealing with so highly specialised a subject as education, an art that has its own elabcrate technique. The Managers of tie Timaru classes have had their heart .in their .work, but could not personally devote the. amount of attention, to it that hope for success and they therefore did well to appoint a Director to ; whom their principal duties could be delegated. " In Mr Bitcliings Grant they were fortunate enough to secure a Director with a full-measure of enthusiasm-, and a previous experience that should enable hiui to organise classes with success. The

programme for the current year las been issued, and: it now (remains for parents and employers to recognise the value of the specialised instruction in tlie several arts of industry and commerce that has been provided for. Parent -and employer should co-operatein inducing lads and youths to'..take advantage; of the opportunities for obtaining technical instruction that ate now offered them ; a few examples of such co-operation would in all probability prove, contagious. The technical subject-? to be: undertaken 'this year are liot numerous, but they are all useful and appropriate to -the circumstances ol tl.e town. in the near future, no doubt, the number will be considerably increased, 'and the success of those now being undertaken would tend to shorten the interval. We wish the Technical Classes'of Timaru and other centres in the district, a year. - ' ' ' '