TIMARU TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19670, 12 December 1933, Page 10

TIMARU TECHNICAL COLLEGE

BOARD OF MANAGERS MEET. The Board of Managers of the Timaru Technical College met last night. Present: —Messrs A. Stead (chairman), A. Washer, F. Burrow, ,T. Gliddon, P. R. Talbot and W. I. Tait. Value of Agriculture. A letter was received from the Seddon Memorial Technical College Board of Managers regarding the position accorded to the subject agriculture in the public examinations conducted by the Education Department and the New Zealand University. The Board felt that in view of the radical changes likely to be produced in the secondary school system because of the proposed adoption of the school leaving certificate examination the present time was an opportune one for again raising the question. In the university entrance scholarship examination while Latin. Greek and mathematics were given 600 marks, agriculture was given 300 marks, or in the intermediate examination, while mathematics, Latin, French and Maori counted 400 marks, agriculture was given only 200 marks. It was considered that agriculture was at least equal to those of the most important subjects in the syllabus—English alone being considered more Important. It was decided to support a proposal that the Department be asked to improve the standing of agriculture in the schools. General. A suggestion that the College should consider the advisability of forming a band or orchestra was oilered by Mr Burrow, who said that at present there was no music or singing for the boys. The principal (Mr F. L. N. Tuck) said that the suggestion had been placed before the pupils some time ago but the response had been very disappointing. If. however, an orchestra or band were started, it might increase, but time appeared to be the greatest difficulty, as half the pupils did not arrive from the country until 10.3 d a m . and many of the town boys were working long hours a.s well as attending school. The matter could be kept In view. A report on visits to the day and evening classes of the College was submitted by Mr Burrow, who said that everything at the College had been progressing satisfactorily. Mr Talbot reported that the shearing elm at Smithfleld had been working well.