TECHNICAL EDUCATION

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2114, 24 June 1907, Page 2

TECHNICAL EDUCATION

APPOINTMENT OF A DIRECTOR.

EXCELLENT PROSPECTS OF SUCCESS.

That tho timo lias arrived when united ofTort should be made to promote technical education m tins district, and bring Poverty Hay into lino with the other centres which have mado considerable progress in this' direction, will be generally admitted by tho thinking community. Tho proposal of . the Hawlce s Hay Education Board for bettor organise lion of scientific' and technical traminc by tho appointment of a quail lieu director, re-opens the question. From enquiries made by a “Times representative it would seem that tlio proposition is generally approved, and that a little co-operation on the part of the local bodies and the public will see it carried to successful fruition. Mr. \V. Morgan, secretary of . the | local Technical Committee, is a strong advocate of tho scheme. in conversation with a reporter on Saturday he said the Board recognised tho necessity of furthering technical education in its district. Ihe present classes here and elsewhere aietoo limited in their scope;. they serve « useful purpose, but it is the direction of agricultural, horticultural, and (1 nir-inii training that some 'definite fcTeme g is requi-d. The Education Board desire to appoint a diiectoi possessing special qualifications agricultural chemist, With a t k r!v vel lodge of dairying, who. round the wliol© district lectmintforming classes, and generally placing this branch of work on a sound tooting It is expected that Ins saiaiy wifi ho about £4OO per annum, »> addition to which travelling '‘How ances of say, £2OO, will have to be nrovided. The Board is willing to k Fiv 4>*ann to the work, unci hopes tlmt ?he Borougl ana County Comics industrial associations, and nil ions will make .up the balance “AVe don’t anticipate great difficulty in securing a good man tor the pos tion ” Mr. Morgan replied in an swer to the newspaper’- man’s, queries. “His headquarters will be at Xva nier and be will devote so much tmu to each centre. There .is no danger of this district not receiving a fan share of his services; this waul s iepresentatives will see to that. It is proposed that the lectures shall he free to the public, and good results must' follow, for there is a wide scope for scientific instruction on the proper lines. Classes will be formed wherever there is a prospect of their meeting with due support. Of course pu oils will be charged a fee as is done in connection with the town classes Many practical hints and much use ful information will be disseminated and those who wish to conduct farming pursuits on the proper basis wil he much benefited by .a course oi training, The instruction will be on elementary lines.to begin with; we must walk before we can run. . “Subjects? Of course it is hard to say before we find out what is reouired; that will come with experience. Doubtless in tho first place there will be an effort to extend the scope of the continuation and technical class at present in operation; in other words to give the country people equal -opportunities. As to the agricultural subjects, probably the courses will deal with such matters as varieties and methods of grassing, selection of cropo most adequate to soils, methods of manuring, the selection of dairy herds, feeding and management of stock, methods of dealing with the cream, and butter and cheese making. On broad lines those and similar lessons should specially suit country students who wish to avail themselves of special classes. Much depends on local conditions; whatever classes are required will be formed. Dairying is bound to advance in the district, and the instruction imparted should be widely availed of. We must ascertain how the instruction is carried on elsewhere. Horti : culture is taught in the Taranaki primary schools, and the Stratford Technical School has made' a name for its dairying classes. AVe hope to improve on their results by reaching the farmers to a larger extent, more particularly the young men. The time is coming when scientific, methods must- be followed to ensure the best results, whether it be tilling the soil, dairying, or sheepfarming. Under present conditions ,moreover, we cannot extend pur ordinary continuation and technical classes; a director will'be able to promote their formation in many places outside the towns. “But will not- this be beyond the capabilities of one man, with such a large district- to attend to?” “Fortunately.” said Mr. Morgan, “the liberal subsidies allowed by the Government materially assist the Board. If the pupils come forward the Board will see that they are not neglected. Additional teachers? Yes. if necessary. You will readily understand that the details have yet to be settled. The main thing is to provide the funds and get the right sort of man; organisation will soon follow.” And the financial aspect. Is the scheme feasible? “Quite feasible,” said Air. Morgan. “I demonstrated this when the Farmers’ "Union i>reposed the .appointment of an instructor some time ago. 1 reckoned. then classes could be formed at Patutahi, Te Arai, Matawliero, Ala kauri. Ormond, AVaeranga-a-hika, Te liaraka, AY adnata, and Tolago. . For two terms often lessons each, with sav 130 pupils, the fees, at 10s for a course of 20 lessons, would amount ‘to £65, and the capitation payable would be £97 10s. For the original scheme, I pointed out that with donations of £SO from the County Council, £SO from the A. and P. Society, and £25 from other sources, together with the Government subsidv-.of £ for £, tlie total insome would be £412 10s. The salary and travelling expenses of an instructor were estimated at £350, leaving a margin of £62 10s for contingencies. I addressed a few meetings in advocacy of that proposal, as being quite practicable, and tlie people .appeared to favor it. However, a suitable instructor not being obtainable at the time, there was riot much encouragement to submit list's of probable classes! and tlie project was allowed lapse.” “Do you consider-the present pro posal has greater chances of success?’ “Undoubtedly, because its scope will be wider. The Education Board will riot stop at a few pounds when such an important movement is being initiated. AVe have all the facilities for carrying it out to greater advantage as an adjunct of our educational system. The Board is not- asking, for anything extortionate in the way of financial support. It is suggested that the Cook County Council should com tribute £2O, AVaiapu £lO, Gisborne Borough £2O, and the Poverty Bay A. and P. Society £ls. I anticipate that the £3OO will be forthcoming.’' As to the basis of capitation, Air Alorgan explained that there are d ferent grades. “School” classes

special subjects are allowed a subsidy of 15s per pupil for 40 hours’ instruction and 7s 6d for ,20 hours’ tuition. Special - " technical” classes, such as those proposed, will earn capitation at the rat of 3d per houjJor every pupil. Once inaugurated t-mr subsidy and fees make the classes practically selfsuporting. AVhat/ classes are now in operation? the reporter asked. “The manual school classes at present in our district comprise cookery, dressmaking, and woodwork. Special technical and continuation classes are formed for the following subjects:— Woodwork; wood-carving, dressmaking, cookery, shorthand, book-keep-ing typewriting, and English. The Te Ra.u student's have a woodwork class, and the Maori gilds a cookery class.' j'i >; The provision of apparatus will bp a big item? suggested the newspaper man.

“It is a big item.” Mr. Morgan agreed, “ but it will be managed ail right. The High School Board as controlling authority in this district, has made provision for a class in agricultural chemistry, and will doubtless consider any other requirements. Yes. the schools will always be available for the classes; there, is no difficulty on that score.’ ’

“The financiel aspect of the. scheme does not present any great obstacle,” Mr. Morgan said ip conclusion. “If we can got the pupils—and I believe there will be more interest displayed on this occasion—l have no fear of the result. Other Boards have made a' success of special technical education, and we intend to do likewise. Considering the benefits this district will derive, in common with the other districts, I believe the support will be forthcoming. It is for the, people themselves to say to what dimensions the scheme shall bo carried ; the Board can be depended upon to do the best possible with the resources at its disposal.”