57

E.—s

Extract from the Report op tub Director of the Napier Technical College. The work is carried on in branches as follows : (o) An organized day Technical School of 86 pupils; (6) an evening school, 331 pupils; (c) classes for cookery and woodwork from private schools, 88 pupils; (d) teachers' training classes in science and art, 36 pupils; (c) primary-school classes in cookery and dressmaking (six classes) 140 pupils, and in woodwork (seven classes) 165 pupils : total, 836 pupils. The day-school curriculum is divided into three courses : Mechanical course and commercial course for boys, and a combined- domestic and commercial course for girls. Ihe roll of eightysix is made up of forty-eight first-year pupils, twenty-nine second-year, and nine third-year. Of this number, sixteen withdrew during the year owing to sickness and. in the case of the senior pupils, obtaining appointments. It is a matter of regret that six of the withdrawals were firstyear pupils, as it is quite obvious that very little good of a permanent character can be done in such a short period ; at least two years is necessary if any real benefit is to be derived by the pupil. The attendance has been very good, and I have to congratulate both parents and pupils that this is so, because irregular attendance can lead to nothing less than dissatisfaction on the part of teacher, pupil, and parent. Two exhibitions of school-work have been held, one at the Agricultural and Pastoral Show at Hastings, and also an exhibition in the College buildings, which was attended by a large number of people. The College has also forwarded an exhibit of. first- and second-year work in engineering, machine-drawing, needlework, dressmaking, and millinery, also plans and full working patterns, to the Auckland Exhibition. The usual games — i.e., tennis, swimming, football, and cricket —also physical drill for girls, have been carried on, and it is a matter for congratulation that so many swimming pupils have qualified for distances ranging from 100 yards to two miles, the latter distance being covered by two girls. Two examinations were held —half-yearly and yearly —and at the latter sixty-one pupils presented themselves, with satisfactory results. I regret to have to report that Mr. Newman, having obtained an appointment in Invercargill Technical School, is leaving at the end of the year. Mr. A. Hyne has been appointed to the position. Mr. Godson, late of South Kensington Art School, has been appointed art master to the College, and will take up his duties at the beginning of 1914. Through the generositj; - of an anonymous donor it has been possible to install electric light in three workshops. The evening classes have been carried on in a similar manner to the previous year, classes being held ir English and composition, arithmetic, mathematics, shorthand, typewriting, bookkeeping, building-construction, woodwork, geometry, plumbing, engineering, machine-drawing, electricity, electric wiring, wool-classing, art, sign and ticket writing, cookery, dressmaking, hygiene, needlework, and millinery. The subjects were combined into courses suitable for the various trades—commerce or domestic—considerable reductions being made in the fees for pupils taking two or more subjects. The general attendance at the classes was, I regret to say, unsatisfactory, especially in the case of first-year pupils, any little attraction in the town being quite sufficient to keep several away. This is to be deplored, as the work of the first year is necessarily the groundwork of that which follows, and in this way the educational value of the classes is greatly reduced. The total number of individual pupils attending the evening classes, was 331. The highest average for any month was 423, the lowest 370, compared with 380 highest and 301 lowest in the previous year, but the greater number of pupils attend for two or more evenings per week. It is a matter for surprise and regret that such important classes as electricity, electric wiring, and building-construction should lapse before the end of the session for want of support. The time must surely come when the individual who is equipped with the knowledge of the scientific side of his trade as well as the practical side will come out on top. Six pupils passed the examinations of the City and Guilds of London Institute in plumbing, two in millinery, one in metal-work, and one in cabinetmaking. Nineteen pupils obtained certificates from Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons for shorthand, as follows: Five for speed at eighty words per minute, five for theory, and nine obtained the elementary certificate. An important feature of the year was the establishment, under the Education Amendment Act, 1910, of continuation and technical classes for all persons under the age of seventeen who were not being otherwise suitably educated. The attendance is compulsory under the Act, but I am happy to report that very little friction occurred, most parents assisting me in carrying on these classes. Some of the pupils were at first very disinclined for work, but gradually entered into the spirit of the scheme and have really done good work, especially towards the end of the year. Seventy pupils who had not obtained proficiency certificates were enrolled during the year, and attended for two evenings per week, taking English, arithmetic, drawing, and geography as for Standard VI, in the hope that some of them might be able to obtain proficiency certificates. This was foujid to be impracticable, partly owing to the low educational standard of the pupils, and partly to the fact that the majority of them, worked hard all day and were unfit for study. For the year 1914 arrangements will be made so that these pupils study English and arithmetic for one evening per week, and any other subject that applies to their work on another evening. Undoubtedly these classes were a success, particularly so in many cases. Our wool-classing students were successful in getting placed first, second, and third at the Agricultural and Pastoral Show competitions for wool-classing. This most important class has been carried on during the whole of the year with a roll of seven pupils. The work done during the year in all classes has been very good, and great praise is due to the various instructors for their energy and earnestness in carrying out their duties, and also for the support that they have given me at all times. In conclusion, I have also to return most hearty thanks to parents for assisting me in many ways, the staff for unfailing loyalty and earnestness in their work, the Board of Managers, also the various contributing bodies and persons for financial assistance which is absolutely indispensable. Walter Fossey, Director.

B—E. 5.