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Extract from the Report of the Timaru Technical School Board. The subjects taken in the day classes were shorthand, typewriting, book-keeping, English, commercial correspondence, arithmetic, dressmaking; and for the latter half of the year a class in cookery was formed, but, unfortunately, was not attended by many of the pupils, although the work done was admirable. Forty pupils enrolled for this course, and thirty-three entered for the full examination at the close of the year, and there were no failures. In the evening classes there were 273 pupils who enrolled for the various courses of work, which were commercial, domestic, engineering, and wool-classing; and, excluding pupils from the high schools, who have attended wool-classing and typewriting classes, these pupils entered for 790 weekly attendances, and including the high-school pupils the weekly attendances were about 870. The attendance of the pupils has been remarkably good throughout the year, and the result has been the splendid results obtained at the annual examinations. The total number of pupils enrolled in all classes was 398. In the middle of July alterations were made to the wooden building at the back of the school so that work could be carried on in engineering and smithing, and a class of thirty pupils commenced work on the 29th July, having a full equipment of hand tools only— i.e., vices, chisels, files, hammers, forge, anvil, &C Alterations were also made in the main building by the erection of a partition, cutting doorway through to dressmaking-room, and also by installing the electric light in all the rooms in the lower floor, making the lighting as complete as it is possible to be. Classes were carried on in the following subjects : English, arithmetic, mathematics, electricity and magnetism, machine drawing, cooker)', dressmaking and needlework, ticket-writing, woolclassing, woodwork, civics and commercial correspondence, shorthand, book-keeping, typewriting, and physical culture (day classes only). New classes commenced at half-term were day dressmaking class, engineering, and ticket-writing (evening), the latter class, although small in numbers, doing very admirable work. An exhibition of pupils' work was, by the kindness of Messrs. J. Ballantyne and Co., held in the firm's window in Stafford Street, the exhibits covering as much as possible the courses of work done. Two teams of girls from the day school and one from the evening classes were formed for basket-ball and played regularly throughout the season. Arrangements are in hand for extending the day classes to include a complete domestic course in addition to commercial course for the girls, so as to fit them for home life as well as office life, and also a complete day course in engineering subjects, both in theory and practice, the work to be graded so as to be equally suitable for either electrical, mechanical, or agricultural engineering, the latter branch demanding more than ever before a knowledge of engineering, smithing, &c., where so much machinery is used on up-to-date farms. The course will include practical arithmetic, geometry, machine drawing, electricity; steam, oil, and gas engines; physical science, and practical work in the engineering workshop. A commercial course for boys will also be provided. W alter Fossey, Director. Extract pbqjj the Report of the Temuka Technical School Board, In spite of the unrest caused by the war and by the influenza epidemic the Managers have cause for gratification that the year closed so well, for although the roll dropped this year from 119 to seventy-six, and the number of classes from eight to six, the credit balance was a little better than at the same time last year, showing that the attendance of those who did enrol was satisfactory and that the expenses were kept down to a minimum. The following classes were conducted : Two dressmaking classes, a wool-classing class (which had a very enthusiastic attendance of students, including three returned soldiers), a motor engineering class, a cookery class, and a sheep-shearing class. The students of the last-named class included two returned soldiers. The shearers shore 1,600 sheep for various farmers in the district, and the work, they did was creditable both to pupils and teacher. Our wool-classers competed in the wool-classing competition at the Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association's Show, and secured first prize in the class for beginners and equal second in the senior class. During the coming year the Managers hope to have a full school of students keen for work, and we would advise trying classes that are likely to be useful to those who are now taking up small holdings in the district. . We think classes in dairying, bee-farming, poultry-farming, and agriculture could be launched, and such classes with competent teachers in charge should be very successful. .Before it is too late we desire to sound a note of warning to those young people who leave school at the age of fourteen and who do not bother further with their studies. Certainly there are a good number in this district, and very soon, unless a change comes, they must be classed among the inefficients, because the standard of education in this country, and in fact throughout the world, is becoming higher and trade competition keener in consequence; but apart altogether from the material aspect there is the fact that study uplifts, and the Workers' Institutes are becoming alive to the possibilities of education even if it has to be undertaken in the evenings. The leakage between the ages of fourteen and eighteen is far too great. Compulsory attendance is being tried now in some parts of the Dominion with good results, and why not in Temuka? The Board once again thanks the various local bodies and private individuals for their continued support in the form of substantial donations, which are a great help to the school. G. B. Cartwriout, Chairman. J. T. Smart, Secretary.