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Timaeu High School (Boys). Direct manual instruction is given in the woodwork and sloyd (cardboard modelling) classes. There is a well-furnished carpenter's workshop; the tools used are the ordinary carpenter's tools, smaller ones being used in the junior class. The work embraces the chief joints and other set exercises. The articles made are intended (1) to illustrate the practical applications of the principles involved in the exercises; (2) to be used in experimental work in the science classes, or as models in the drawing classes. All work is done from pupils' own drawing. The cardboard modelling last year had special reference (a) to an introduction to Euclid and mensuration ; (b) to the lessons on mathematical geography. About two-thirds of the boys do either woodwork or cardboard modelling. In other classes similar methods are used where possible, pupils making concrete illustrations in cardboard, &c. All science-work is experimental, and each boy makes his own apparatus, as far as possible. In upper geography classes each boy has to determine the altitude of the sun, its declination, the latitude and longitude of Timaru, to draw plans of the school-grounds and neighbourhood, and to prove the cause of the seasons and the movements of the earth from his own (rough) observations. The object aimed at is the training of the faculties involved in the co-ordination of hand and eye and brain, and the teaching of the abstract science by means of the concrete. Note by the Seceetaey foe Education. According to the reports for 1897, the Auckland Grammar School, the Nelson Colleges, and Christ's College Grammar School provide more or less for work of this description, but the subject is not specifically mentioned in their reports for last year.
BEPOETS OF TECHNICAL SCHOOLS AND CLASSES. THE ELAM SCHOOL OF ART. Sic, — Elam School of Art, Auckland, 10th January, 1899. I have the honour to enclose a report of the work done at this school during the past year. The general character of the work has not changed much since my last report, and the arrangement of the classes remains the same—viz., eight separate classes being held each week. The number of individual students attending the school d.uring the year was seventy-four, while the average attendance at each of the eight classes has been about twenty-one. As usual, a considerable number of teachers and pupil-teachers under the Board of Education have attended the school on Saturdays, the school being always kept open both morning and afternoon on Saturdays for their benefit. I regret that there has been very little inclination among these teachers to enter for the examinations of the Science and Art Department, which are now held in Auckland every year. This I attribute to the fact that no inducement has been offered by the local Board of Education to its teachers to compete for the certificates of the Science and Art Department. Now that the secretary of the Auckland Board of Education has been appointed agent for the examinations, I am in hopes that more attention will be paid to the advantages to be had from holding the English Government certificates, and that teachers and pupil-teachers will be encouraged to enter for the examinations. Every year the good done by the late Dr. Elam's bequest is becoming more evident, and a large number of former students of the school are now earning their living in various ways intimately connected with the art education they have received at the Elam Free School of Art; while not a few have themselves become successful teachers in various art and science subjects. The year 1899 will start under conditions more favourable to this school than heretofore, and the trustees are in hopes of being able to admit a larger number of students than they have been able to in past years. A valuable collection of casts and models has also recently been added to those already in possession of the school, and these will be a most welcome addition to the properties of the school. On the whole, I have every reason to be satisfied with the quality of the work which has been done at the school during the past year. ■ I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington. E. W. Payton, Director.
TECHNICAL AND ENGINEERING CLASSES, AUCKLAND AND SUBURBS. Sic,— 17th January, 1899. I have the honour of submitting the following report of the work of these classes for 1898, which is the fourteenth year of their operation : — The class arrangements and number of terms have been the same as in the previous year. The subjects of instruction have also been the same—viz., practical plane and solid geometry, mechanical drawing and machine construction, building construction, applied mechanics, steam and steam-engine, and mechanical engineering. At Wellesley Street School, where the chief class is held, there were four terms, the number of pupils attending being respectively thirty-four, thirty-four, thirty-five, and thirty-six. Branch classes have also been held at the Onehunga, Ponsonby, and Kemuera public schools. These classes met one evening per week, and had four terms during the year.
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