Technical School Teaching

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1893, 6 October 1886, Page 3

Technical School Teaching

To the Editor of the Standard. Bn,- I wish to draw public attention through j>ur columns to the report of Mr H. Hill, I) of Schools for the Hawke's Bay District, in which be describes the practical way the master of the Markaretn School letches his children. I enclose a *PT. Hxnby Bbaithwaite. Maxxaxxtu School, Markaretn occupies quite a unique position among the schools of the district, and it appear* to me to deserve more than a passing notice. When judged according to the standard wore alone the results are low, but. jodgad according to the use fulness of the work done, I am inclined to place it among the bast in my place. The children are of mixed race, bat the majority are Scandinavian* ; and the master, well knowing how the lives of the majority of them will be east, baa practically adapted his instruction to the future necessities of the children, From Standard II upward the work partakes mors or leas of a technical character. The pupils are made familiar with all forms cf business—of baying and selling, of exchange, of keeping accounts, of tendering for work, and making topographical plana of the Markaretn settlement. They at* acquainted with tba more important trees in the bush, and can botanieally describe the flowers growing by the wayside. I have carefully examined the pupils in moat of these matters, and I must confess the pleasure I experienced on finding that the children had a full appreciation of many of the social and economies! questions which will come more eloaely under .their observation in years to eeme. The topographical maps of the settlement constructed by the pupils in Standards 111 and IV are excellent; and, when mounted and varnished, readily sell to the settlers at priees varying from 2s to 10s each. The tendering by the lads for digging ■wall garden plots for the master is well earned out, and shows really good judgment on their put. I have gone over the last lot of tenders seat in for digging a plot of ground yard* by 5 yards, and I have not found relatively to much difference between the highest and lowest tenders aa I have often seen in tenders for the erection of school buildings. The method adopted by the master in teaching bis children the ut of baying and selling, and keeping accounts, is exceedingly interesting and instructive. Each senior pnpil is required to open a business account with the master. The Utter it snppoaed to purchase from the parents, hot only through the children, articles such as bread, milk, batter, eggs, and cream, and directly from the children eels, wood hens, and many other things. Then, the children purchase from the master various kinds of articles which they or their parent* may require from time to time. The account hooka are balanced monthly, and the matter expects a proper credit balance to be carried forward. The following is an account taken at random from one of the books used by the children : Da. 1685 £. g. d. July 16-Cash 1 10 *0 lyd blue ticking .. 0 10 July 29—1 whistle ..0 0 2 1 top 0 0 1 1 squeaker .. .. 0 0 1 \ 2 bats at 6s ..0120 1 bag sugar .. .. 0 12 6 July 81— 21b mercury at 4s ..0 8 0 Cr balance .. 2 810 J £5 12 9 Ce. 1885 £. s. d. July I—Brought Forward.. .. 4 16 9 .. 31—lib batter 0 16 „ 27—21b pork at 6d .. ..010 1 woodhen .006 I bucket milk .. ..036 II chickens at 6d .. ..066 „ 31—1 quarter meat ..050