INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16266, 17 July 1918, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION

A DOMINION NEED. At the meeting bf the Canterbury Industrial Association last night, at which Mr A. y W. Jamieson presided, Mr P. H. Goodsir, a member of the Association, delivered an address on educational questions. The speaker said he did not intend to launch a criticism ot the existing system of education, but oniy to advance a lew of his ideas more particularly witn regard to technical education and its ajiied subjects. it was obvious that if the industries 01 tlie Dominion were to be kept abreast of tne tunes tlie country would have to evolve .a scientihc and up-to-date system, of education, particularly technical education. 'ihe subject was one in which the employers of labour were under an obligation to take _an interest in, or at any rate on in which it would be to their advantage, as well as to the advantage of the Dominion, to forward. it was advisable to do all possible to overcome any existing parental neglect, a neglect which tended to allow children to drift into blind alley occupations. lie thought that if tne parents were brought to consider that tiiey were shareholders, bo to speak, in the schools, and could confer with the schoolmasters as to the occupations for which their - chiidren were most suited, "there would soon be a revolution in the existing system of technical education. Mr Goodsir said ho did not approve of representatives of educational, bodies remaining too long in office, as they tended to become stale and to get into a groove. He also thought tnat in too many cases the remuneration offered to teachers was not such as to offer much inducement to the cleverest men I and women to enter this important profession. In his opinion, so far as technical education was concerned; lie thought that the periodical holding of industrial exhibitions in the various centres, to which pupils of the Technical Colleges should be visitors, would give a great impetus to their acquisition of technical knowledge. The expenses of students to these exhibitions should be paid by the State, and arrangements should be mado for lectures on technical subjects by experts in tne various branches of industi-v. There were many possibilities in the moving picture from an educational point of view, and a properly-equipped technical school should be able to screen views of the world's industries of all Kinds. Complete series of pictures of this kind would have a high practical value, especially if competent persons could •lecture on the various processes carried out. Some provision should also t»e made, he thought, to train the' youth of the country in their civic responsibilities. Those who were young uo-v would have to shoulder the civic and administrative duties of the Dominion in tho near future, but there was no training for these important duties. It would also be a sound business proposition if a really good technical publication was issued, so that all information regarding new industries or existing occupations could be published in a form in which it would be available to those who were most likely to benefit from it. There were men in Hie Dominion and there were also frequent visitors to this country, who could givo the most valuable information to technical students in tho. different industries with which they were connected. The speaker concluded with stressing the importance of providing adequately for a properly-equipped teaching stair for technical colleges.

A general discussion followed, Mr-L. Birks cordially approving of the idea of giving picture films of various industries. Mr C. T. Aschman said he had often abked himself if they were producing in the schools the things tnat were wanted; if they did not put too muin value on paper exploits and overlook the boy who could "do" things. At any rate he believed they did produce character in the schools, and that was of great importance. Personally he did not agree with the idea that '.he schools should be used to turn out workmen for particular industries. The speaker stressed thp vital importance or education in the interests of evt>n the "ordinary" workman. Miss Tabart heartily supported the idea of tiying to get parents more interested in the actual work of the schools. Mr J., Keir said the people who wanted all boys and girls to have the higher education wore on entirely tlie wrong track in his opinion. If their plans were carried out, they would have to import Chinese or some other people to do the manual labour. After all it was the manual labourers who were the real backbone of the country. Who was going to do all the hard work if they educated everybody to be doctors. lawyers, schoolmasters, etc.? After further discussion the meeting closed with a hearty vote of thanks to the chief speaker.