HARD WORK AS A METHOD

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 9 October 1912, Page 5

HARD WORK AS A METHOD

REPORT ON TECHNICAL TRAIN-

ING

LACK OF TRAINED TEACHERS

A report presented to the House of .Representatives to-day states that last year the number of public schools in which recognised classes far manual instruction wore held was 1436. The number of pupils in attendance at recognised classes tor cookery was 6110, at woodwork classes (5742, at agriculture classes 15,000, and m other branches of manual instruction 118,026. The payments by way of eapitaudu and subsidies on voluntary contributions were £20,892, and special giants to buildings and equipment totalled £4745. lhe report states: It is gratifying to note an increasing tendency on the part of teachers to regard hand work as a method rather than as an isolated subject of instruction, and to provide for training m hand work. Under the heading of "other school subjects" the report states that it is a matter for regret that very few public school teachers have given instruction to their classes in either workwork or cookery in spite of tlu fact that during recent years special classes in these subjects have been established by Education .Boards with a view, presumably, to giving the teachers the requisite training. Local interest in the school gardens and experimental plots continues to be well maintained. Instruction in rural pursuits is given dii connection with the. secondary departments of district high schools in Taranaki, Wanganui, Wellington; Hawke's Bay - and feouth Canterbury. Similar courses are being arranged with district high schools in Auckland, in North Canterbury and Otago. lhe opposition to these classes to which reference was made last year seems to have largely disappeared The arrangement for teaching by visitincr instructors is said to be unsatisfactory from man) points of view, but is unavoidable owing to the scarcity of teachers qualified to undertake the workIt js said to be a matter for surprise sthJ 0?0^-* With the facilities ex! ™", to t r trammg the proportion of trained teachers able and qualified to givo instruction on modern lines to secoftZl f SSeSi in x th-° VarioUi-- branches nL ? al a"d P}l^slcal science, continues to remain quite inadequate. Satisfactory progress is said to have been tnudo by the controlling authorities and managers throughout the .Dominion in ovt™ rfctor, of P™viding, improving and extending facilities for technical inltrue-t^-v'o n?"k g *-th ° £5000 in VO^n" taij contributions was received. Thero Z B m° W* buildings t?. ailable for technical classes. The ©neinoerrng elates arc well attend, and the demand for commercial instruction continues to be maintained.

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