E.—s
4
matter is dealt with in such a manner as to enable those whose science training may be limited to comprehend its meaning, and the method of dealing with matters generally is empirical and practical. That the instruction has value was well shown by a farmer in attendance at one of the classes, who remarked at the close of a lesson that if the knowledge he had gained that day had been available ten years ago it would have saved him many hours of hard, work and hundreds of pounds in hard cash. The establishment of classes in wool-sorting, exclusively for women, is a new and interesting feature of the work, while combined classes of men and women are not at all uncommon. An increase in the number of classes in subjects related to the home has to be recorded. These classes are for the most part attended by those who desire the knowledge for special and home use. So far no serious attempt has been made to provide the necessary technical instruction for the large number of young persons engaged in the trade, but some of the classes in conjuction with the domestic course in technical high schools provide the preliminary training for many of those who after wards take the special course in home science and domestic arts at the Otago University. The number of students in attendance during the year at this special course was sixty-five, of whom thirty-eight are holders of Government bursaries, and may be regarded as prospective teachers of domestic subjects. Three degree and five diploma students completed their course in 1918. Some of the most important positions as instructors in domestic subjects at technical schools and other colleges are now occupied by those who have graduated from the Otago University homescience course. The provision of this higher training for teachers of domestic subjects, and the expenditure on bursaries, appear to be amply justified. The University work has, however, been somewhat handicapped in the past by the lack of adequate kitchen, and laboratory accommodation. This year provision has been made for the erection and equipment of the necessary buildings, which it is expected will be ready for the opening session of 1920. Payments totalling £2,160 were made by the Government on account of home-science bursaries, being an average payment of about £58 per bursar. In spite of many disturbing elements, the steady increase in the number of students taking up courses in related subjects bearing on particular occupations is being maintained, and it is satisfactory to note that a large proportion of those taking a group course are not evading those subjects which must ever be regarded as basic. The importance of raising the standard of intelligence and of widening the outlook of our young mechanics cannot be too strongly emphasized ; the inevitable alternative confronting him is that he must drop into the position of a machine-minder —"an automaton working at the dictate of some one who does the thinking for him." From the ranks of those who are prepared to undertake this intensive training the future teachers of technical subjects may naturally be drawn, and it is hoped that provision will early be made whereby a constant succession of well-trained teachers will be secured. The difficulty of obtaining teachers is not so great as in past years, but the instructor skilled in his craft in all its bearings, " apt to teach," and with a full knowledge of the working-conditions of his particular trade, is not as numerous as could be desired, and serious attention will have to be given to meet the demands for such teachers that future developments in technical training will make.
Number of Students Receiving Free Education under the Regulations for Free Places.
1917. 1918. i Males. Females. Totals. Males. Females. Totals. , • ,. ■, i First year Junior free pupils a j, 1 '■ (Second year (First year Senior free pupils j Second year (Third year 806 461 394 265 145 610 450 413 268 165 1,416 911 807 533 310 854 522 422 276 135 695 1,549 409 931 396 818 314 590 188 323 Totals .. 2,071 1,906 3,97-7 2,209 2,002 1 4,211