TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 548, 1 July 1909, Page 6

TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

CONFERENCE OF DIRECTORS. . BECOMMENDATIONS ADOPTED.. Experts in technical education —representative of nino districts in Now Zealand—met in conference in the board room at the oiiioes of the Wellington Education Board yesterday morning, to discuss matters relating principally to questions of organisation, ■with certain references to the progress and condition of technical, education generally. The conference was largely the.outcome of a suggestion from Mr; George George, of the Auckland; Technical School. There .were, prosent:—Messrs. George George (Auckland), , J. H,. Howell (Christchurch)', W. S.'La Trobo (Wellington), W. Foßsey (Napier), Eustace King (Petoao), W. A. M'Gaw; (Invercargill), A. Varney (Wanganui):;li. Grant (Timaru), and F. D. Opie (Palmerston North), ' v Mr. George George was elected Chairman of the Conference, and Mr. F.-D. Opie secretary. : ' • ■' . ' : ' '. . A-sub-committee, consisting of' Messrs. Howell, M'Caw, Varney, and George was ap- : pointed to draft rules, and frame a constitution, ,'fqr ail association of directors . and superintendents' of technical education and manual training i It was resolved that the Education Department be invited,to send a representative to attend the conference, and that, the main business stand over pending his arrival, the invitation having been- made and accepted by telephone. ' ; Mr. Geo. Hogben (Inspector-General of Schools), and Mr. M. H. Brown (Inspector for Technical Education), at a.later stage of the morning session, attended. 1 In the course of a short address, Mr. Hogben extended a.very cordial welcome to tho members of the conference. He expressed himself as being, in. sympathy with the spirit which had inspired the holding of. such a conference. It, was'an excellent idea, and he .assured, them,:pf. thoDopartmcnt 1 s desire to assist, so far as it reasonably could, in the furtherance-of their:aims. Later, ho expressed himself as. being in accord with the suggestion of the conference that the capitation grants'-.with, respect to brushwork and other handwork subjects bo paid en bloc, lat the rate of 9d. , per capita. ' .Mr.. Brown is representing the Education Departmentduring tho sittings of tho ■ conference.' . ,-i _• ■. .- - . The .conference sat in committee during the • forenoon. - . The following motions wore approved for recommendation to the Education Department:— ••By Mr.: Howell (Christchurch): "That no alteration in the regulations'under the Manual arid Technical Instruction Acts gazetted after the 'first' of January of any year should oome into . force until after the end of' the following-year." - "That in the requirements for certificates of proficiency due weight and ooasi<tei"ation be given to subjects in, manual and technical instruction and domestic science." V . \ "That, in place of the . present class registers for day technical students, morning and afternoon' rolls bo adopted." By Mr. Georgej (Auclriand):', "That in'lieu of,, the : present system 'of' payment of capitation on acoount' of -brush ..drawing and. other such handwork subjects that the Department be asked to make a block grant' ■to Education Boards at; the ratei ,of 9d. per ' head on .the I average attendance 'of ' pupils in public schools.". " : ;V, 'That Regulation 36 bc s amended so.as to [allow capitation .to be earned for any special short 'Miirsei irrespective of the number of weeks.' providedthat 1 the number of hours of instruction is'iat least 20." . ' "That,,ths grants for buildings for technical school purposes should be made on a definite basis, that of population being probably the most isatisfactory." '- ''Tbat .the present capitation rate is insufficient- in the case of, advanced technical classes?, and that the rate should * bo revised upon .tho stjige-. o'f in--1 ■ -l'/ .. ••' | -Tho tsdpforenca, .shortly adjourned till .9.30 o'clock this morning. It 33oxpected that tho business will bo concluded by noon. / . 1 -