CLERK OR ARTISAN?

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16853, 5 June 1920, Page 10

CLERK OR ARTISAN?

TECHNICAL COLLEGE TRAINING,

j An finsxrcr was made hy Mr C. H. ' Opie, clinirmaii of the Board of Go\ox- ■ ncrs of the Christchurch Technical Colj lego, at- last night's mooting', to the ! query as to whether the College was j not departing from the purposes for which it was instituted, since it. proi videil instruction in general subjects, I such as English, arithmetic, mathematics. French, etc., and in commercial subjects, as well as in subjects that had hearing on industrial education. "It is perhaps ;vs well to make it clearly understood that- such ;s not the case,'' s:iid Mr Opie. "An investigation of the early records of the O.liege shows that one of the first decisions of the- Board of Management to establish classes in French and German, precis writing, and _ correspondence, shorthand and typewriting, commercial arithmotie commercial law, physics, ohomistry," English, and elementary and advanced mathematics. Classes in home science vero also established. Further, commercial and general classes the mainstay of the College in Us early history,'since they attracted by lar the greator bulk of the students, and provided in fees most, of the funds by which all classes were carried on. ... It. has been the expressed object of the I College at all times to provide, for the I training of our workers in all trades ' and occupations in both, cultural and ■ vocational subjects. A return shows j that of tho 596 pupils in attendance in li>l9, "93 \*ere buys, taking courses as i follows: Commercial S7, industrial 151, agricultural 50. No mention is made I here of students taking Public Service entrance or matriculation courses. They have been included among tho courses. : shewn above, sinco every course,_ even if the students are prepared in it for I examinations, has a distinct vocational bias. Some students take a commercial cc-ursc, and others an engineering course, and prepare at tho same time for the Public Service entrance examin- ! atior.. Others who intend to take up the higher branches of agriculture, engineering/ or commerce, are prepared of necessity for matriculation, as mcni tii.ned in the annual report. In other | words, the examinations are regarded ; as incidents, and not as tho main ob- ! jects of the courses. ' ; 'A suggestion has also been made at a public meeting that the vocational courses in the evening school are overloaded by the _ addition of subsidiary subjects, including English. Regarded from the technical point of view, it is difficult to imagine what could be more ' important to a printer, for example, than a sound knowledge of English, whilst this subject must bo regarded as j ona of the most important in any kind of commercial education. It is, indeed, hardly leys important in any of j the trades. It may also be that some I persons regard mathematics, trade drawing, and physics as unnecessary in , the training of engineers, carpenters, and other wood-workers. In reply to this we can only say that the Technical College aims at training the intelligence, as well as tho hands, and that our object is to produce engineers and carpenters, rather than mechanics and ; others whoso sole ability lies in their manual dexterity. It should not be forgotten that tho College training is not Intended to replace the trade training that an.apprentice receives at his daily ; work, but is supplementary to it. Th 9 | workshop and the College should work I lumd in hand in this, the latter pro- | viding as far as possible the instruction which it 13 impossible for tho student to receive in the former. "It must also be remembered that the Technical College is, and always will be, the only place available for postprimary education for many of our young citizens, so that it should aim at nroviding some education in cultural subjects to as many of these students as possible. The object of the Colleie must therefore bo regarded as broadly as possible! so that it may be the training ground of good citizens, as well as good tradesmen. "I agree'with those who hold that 'if the youth of to-day is to become the efficient workman of the future — if he is to take his place in the industrial system' as a man, and as a skilled craftsman—he nrusfc comprehend bis work not only from the ■ stn ndard of the workshop, but in its relation to science, to art, and to society in general; and the Technical Schools, if they.are fulfilling their true function, exist to chow him those relationships. Industrial training shall be primarily not for tho sake of industries, but for the sake of citizenship. To this end it must lie eoriductcd on a -purely educational "basis, on behalf of interested manufacturers. Tho young workman who understands his trade in its scientificrelations.. its historical.. °economic, and bearings, will take a'higher view of Ins trade, of his powers, and duties as a citizen, . and -as a member of society.' " It was decided to send a copy of tho chairman's report, and of the return mentioned, to tho bumner Borough Council. °