TECHNICAL EDUCATION

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2543, 2 July 1909, Page 3

TECHNICAL EDUCATION

CONFERENCE IN WELLINGTON.

Pku Pkkss Association.l WELLINGTON, July 1. The first conference of directors and supervisors of technical education and manual training in Now Zealand 1 was bel in Wellington yesterday, at the offico of the Education Board. The following gentlemen were present: Messrs. George George (Auckland), F. D. Opie (Palmerston North), R. Grant (Timaru),'' W: A. McCaw (Southland), A. Varney (Wanganui), W. S. Latrobe (Wellington), W. Fossey (representing Napier), J. - H. Howell (Christchurch), and E. King (Petone). Air. G. Hogben (In-spector-General of Schoos), and Mr. AI. H. Brown (Inspector of Technical Schools) were in attendance. The conference' sat' in Committee during the morning. Air. Hogben extended a hearty welcome to the members of the conference, as he considered the objects were such that the Education Department would be very pleased to assist in bringing them about, as they would be of much benefit. It was decided to form an association of directors and superintendents of technical education, and manual training. A sub-commit-tee, consisting of Alessrs Howell, AlcOaw, Varney and George George, was appointed to draw up rules for the working of the association. A motion was passed, instructing the association to draw up an agreement form, to bo used in enrolling of technical students throughout the Dominion. On the motion of Air. Howell, seconded by Air. Latrobe, it was decided to recommend the Education Department to adopt a moraine and afternoon roll book, in place of the present class registers, in the case of day technical schools. Mr. Hogben said" the motion was a reasonable one, and the department would try and simplify the present arrangements. It was decided, on the motion of Air. George George, seconded by Air. Grant, "That in lieu of the present sysytem of payment of capitation on account of brush drawing and other, such handwork subjects, the Department be asked to make, a block grant to the Education Boards at the rate of 9d ,per head on the averago attendance of ipupils in public schools. Mr. Hogben expressed sympathy with the idea of trying to simplify the present sj’stem of claims for capitation. On the motion of Mr. Howell, seconded, by Mr. Grant, it was decided that in the requirements of certificates of proficiency due weight or consideration should be given to subjects of manual training and domestic science. It was decided to recommend to the Department that no alteration in the regulations under the Manual and Technical Instruction Acts gazetted after January Ist of any year should come into force until after the end of the following year. Other recommendations to the Department were decided upon _ as follows: —That the present capitation rate is insufficient in the case of advanced technical classes: the rate should bo revised and made dependent upon the stage of the instructions given and upon the nature of the subject; 'and that the grants for buildings for technical school purposes, should be made on a definite basis, that of population being probably most satisfactory. Later. Tho conference of technical school directors to-day resolved : "That the capitation for school classes in cookery and woodwork conducted by special instructors should be raised to 20s for not less than 60 houfs’ instruction ,per annum, with pro rata capitation for 20 hours’ and 40 hours’ respectively.” "That the Minister be. urged to establish agricultural technical classes in suitable country centres.” The /committee set up yesterday brought down -a report recommending that it is expedient, in the near future, to render it compulsory for boys and girls, under 17, to receive instruction for not less than 15 hours a week; that no emp’oyer shall employ boys or girls for more than 30 hours a week; and that it he a strong recommendation of the conference that, until such provision is made, managers of technical schools should arrange with employers to allow employees under 17 time off to attend technical continuation classes.. , The opinion was also expressed that the time spent by boys in attending full-time courses at day technica. schools should count as part of their apprenticeship.