TECHNICAL EDUCATION

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2544, 3 July 1909, Page 3

TECHNICAL EDUCATION

INCREASED CAPITATION APPROVED. OFFICERS ELECTED. {Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 2. At the Technical Education Conference Mr George George moved : “That the conference notes with approval the increased courses in District High Schools, but in view of the fact that agriculture is the most important industry in this Dominion, the Minister be urged to authorise the establishment of agricultural technical schools in suitable country centres.” The matter was, he said, a most important one to the Dominion. He instanced what had been done in other countries, and tho success which followed the establishment- of such schools. Yet there was no such school in New Zealand. If they were established, the pupils receiving education there would get a bias to follow rural occupations, instead of making towards the cites for employment. The schools would also be of immense use to the farmers-jin tho localities in which they wore established. Mr. Opie supported the motion. The ignorance amongst farmers arid their sons was lamentable. New Zealand was a farming community, and no motion was worthy of more support than the one before the meeting. Replying to Mr Brown, Mr Georgo George said the proposed schools would be on the same plane as day technical schools and district high schools. Mr A. A. Huntz agreed that further facilities should bo provided for imparting instruction in agriculture. The Chairman said probably one school would be wanted in each province at first. Mr Grant thought the district high school would meet what was wanted. The Chairman pointed out why this was not so. The motion was carried by six votes to two. It was decided to recommend Boards to place before the Department the particulars of capitation in England. Scotland, and Ireland, and to urge strongly that in view of the higher cost of administration in the Dominion, and the recent improvement in the status of teachers in other branches, it is imperative that the present low rate of capitation should be considerably increased and brought more into line with that granted in other countries. Further, it should be pointed out that the capitation paid in the case of Ireland, Scotland, and England is not the whole source of revenue, which is drawn largely from local rates. It was also decided : “That it be a recommendation to the Department to grant technical rates of capitation on all subjects taken, with a view to the matriculation examination. It was decided to recommend the Department to make some provision for the maintenance and upkeep of technical buildings on a definite basis. The conference was concluded yesterday. Discussion took place In committee regarding the training of instructors for wood work, metal work, cookery, and art. It was resolved that the Education Board be empowered to- engage as pupil teachers or probationers assistants at manual training classes for cookery, laundry work, ’ wood -work, or metal work, and that after the completion of a course the. Board should bo empowered to admit such as students of training colleges in division A, provided they have obtained a pass or partial pass in the following compulsory subjects of D, except vocal music: Twv> subjects from group three and two from group four. It was decided to recommend the Education Department to allow a small percentage of the capitation earned by associated classes to be deducted to defray the cost of administration. The Department is to be recommended to extend the optional subjects for the junior Civil Service examinations, the direction of domestic service- and manual training subjects, to allow of day technical students sitting for that examination. The idea of the recommendation is that it would enable technical students to sit for the. junior Civil Service examination without having to undergo -a special preparation for it in addition to their technical training. The report of the. committee concerning the training of apprentices was adapted as follows: That in the opinion ’of this conference it is expedient that' provision should bo made to render it compulsory for all boys and girls under the -age of 17 years to receive instruction for not less than 15 hours per week at continuation classes; that' no employer shall employ hoys or girls under the age of 17 years for more than 30 hours -per week; further, that it be a strong recommendation from this conference that until such provision is made managers of technical schools should arrange with employers to allow their employees under 17 years of age equiva’ent time off in -working hours to attend technical and continuation classes. It is also the opinion of the conference that the time spent by boys in attending full-time courses at day technical schools should count as part of their apprenticeship, the first three years at the school to count as one year, and after that time each year to count equally with apprenticeship time up to a maximum of throe 'years. . . The constitution of the Association \vas drawn up. The object of the Association is to /provide means for tho interchange of ideas amongst members; to influence, by combined action, When desirab’e, Parliament, the Education Department, and local and other bodies concerned in promoting education and manual training; to promote the efficient organisation and management of technical and manual training institutions; to facilitate concordant action amongst governing bodies and aid in the development of technical education and manual training throughout the Dominion. Wellington w-as fixed -as the place of -general meeting unless otherwise decided by tho executive. The following officers were elected : Chairman, Mr. George George; secretary and' treasurer, Mr. Opie: executive, Messrs Latrobe, Howell, and Grant. The- Minister of Education is to be asked to accept the position of president of the Association, and Mr. G. ITogben, Inspector-Gcn'eral of Schools to act as 'vice-president.