TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2684, 14 December 1909, Page 5

TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION.

DECISIONS OF THE HAWKE S BA.V & education board.

(Special to “Times.’!) NAPIER, Dec. 13. Toe- committee appointed by the Hawke’s Bay Education Board to consider the important question of techn - cal education reported to the Board tn-dav. There were present the chairman (Sir Wm. Russell), Darton, Morgan, Whitting ham, and the Rev. W Grant. TTTe whole matter of nical instruction was carefully gone into. The Board decided some time a o- 0 to provide a course of agriculture, and that it should be made a compulsory subject. The teachers, at various conferences, have pointed out the diih-cult-v of taking agriculture as well as woodwork owing to tlie large amount of work required to bo covered by the school syllabus. ... , Tlie Chairman pointed out that it was not advisable to attempt to cranr too much into the syllabus, and that it was a question of woodwork having to be dropped in favor of agriculture. _ The Inspectors advised that, m their opinion, more good would result from the teaching ot agriculture than woodwork. TN On the motion of Mr. Darton, seconded- by Mr. Grant, it was decided to make‘the teaching of agriculture mandatory, but that where convenient schools may be allowed to take woodwork also, if arrangements can be mado with an instructor; also that the girls of the fifth and sixth standard be allowed to take cookery and dressmaking instead of agriculture. The motion was carried unanimously. It was decided to notfiy the Gisborne High School Board of Governors thatthey could have the use of the Board’s instructor in agriculture for the high school or special classes. _ On the motion’ of Mr. Darton, if was decided to thank the Gisborne High School Board of Governors for the careand attention they have given to technical classes, but as tifie Board have decided to take agriculture, and have appointed an instructor for these classes. the Education Board will take over the control of technical instruction, so far as it refers to the primary school 1 classes, as from the first of January next.