SCHOLARSHIPS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1091, 1 April 1911, Page 6

SCHOLARSHIPS.

(I TIE CALLANDER MEMORIAL, HIVAL. SUGGESTIONS. A somewhat lengthy report on tho ] a Callander Memorial Scholarships was b submitted to last night's meeting of the cl Technical Education Board bv tho direc- » torof the school (Mr. La Trobc). J; The incomo available locally, said Mr. La Trobe would bo £75. In reporting 1 oil possible schemes for scholarships, the director went on to state, that it was advisable to take into account tho facilities at present existing for students en- J tering tho school. These were:—Board >' and Junior National Scholarships, " Junior Free Places for students enter- a ing from the primary schools, Senior i Board Scholarships, and senior free places, for students entering the technical classes from secondary, high, or technical day schools. Scholarships offered in the technical classes them- c selves also had to bo taken intoac- ( count. At the annual examinations there were seventeen freo places, open to all students in tho respective classes, but not granted to holders of senior or junior freo places under the Government regulations. Theso were:—ln- 1 dustrial: (1) Building construction, first ' year; (2) building construction, second 1 year; (3) mechanical engineering, first year; (4) mechanical engineering, second year; (5) plumbing, first year; (6) plumbing, second year; (7). plumbing, third year; (8) carpentry, first year; (9) ( carpentry, second year. Technical , Education Board: (1) Day art element- | ary course; (2) day art advanced course; ; (3) evening art elementary course; (4) evening art advanced course; (5) sign-writing, painting and decorating, first year; (6) sign-writing, painting and decorating, second year; (7)' electrical engineering, first year; (8) electrical engineering, second year. Considering the 1 facilities already offering for students coming from primary schools or from secondary, technical, day, or district high schools, Mr. La Trobe was of opinion that no further scholarships were necessary for. such. He considers that the board should ■ seek for a class of students which should bo provided with' increased facilities for attending, and that was-not yet satis- , factorily provided for. Failing such, it ( might be advisable to offer scholarships ] (tenable at a university college or school of art) to students in industrial subjects, and., open to competition only among students at,tho Technical School, whulkdw ■ jo.jv In Pnb'Cur 83...1 D In reviewing the classes of students at present attending at the school, the • director stated that ho was struck with tho fact that one class „of student in particular seldom attended with a Government freo. place or scholarship. This class was the trade apprentice, and it was a class that should be peculiarly catered for in the Technical School. In the first years of, his apprenticeship, a boy often found, difficulty in paying fees and buying the hooks, instruments, etc., which ho needed, for his class work. An entrance scholarship, tenable for one year under approved conditions, would tide him oyer this period, and, if ho applied himself, he would probably be able.to win a Technical School or Industrial Association scholarship ,in his second year, and in succeeding years, and, in any case, would be better able to meet tho expenses of classes. The sum of £75 per' annum would not provide a sufficient number of highvalue scholarships to mako tho selection of the holders an easy or fair matter in a school of so many diverse kinds of work. Mr. La Trobc also took it that the technical school was not primarily intended for the exceptional student, but rather for the general average of ■ industrious worker. Ho would therefore recommend'that, between eight and fifteen entrance scholarships, tenablo for one year, each of value between £5 and £10 per annum, should be offered for competition among bona fide trade apprentices, one or moro to each trado catered for at tho school, and that these scholarships be called tho Callander Memorial Scholarships. Conditions would, of course, have to be drawn np as to examinations, candidates to be admitted, and tenure. The director suggested. the following as a skeleton schedule, applicable, with modification, to any special trado: — "Trado apprentices' scholarships:—Competition to bo open to all apprentices in their first year. Candidates to bo examined (1) as to general knowledge and intelligence; (2) as to special knowledge of matters connected with the trade. Tho examinations would be held in November, December, or January in each year by tho Technical Education Board, "or subject to the Technical Board's supervision, by the Board of Control for the trade. "The successful candidates should be required to enrol in tho courso given by tho regulations as suitablo for their particular trade.' Scholarship holders would be required to make at least 80 per cent, of attendances at the classes entered, and to continue to work at their trade with ; an approved employer during the : vear of tenure. Also, to submit ' - themselves for examination at the : end of tho year, and to bring a rc--1 port from their employers as to ' their industry and progress during > the year. Tho half-year's payment . of scholarship money would be conditional on examination and report ' being satisfactory." -■ • [ After having considered the foregoing \ report, the committee reported that it was of opinion that, in preference to- rc- \ commending a number of small scholar- "-. ships, it would bo better to recommend I that tho moneys left for tho two institution's (Wellington and Dunediu £75 , each), ho pooled, and ono scholarship 5 of £150 per annum or thereabouts bo ! founded, to be held alternately by students nominated by tho Wellington Technical School and tho Dunedin Technical School, for the purpose of afford- . ing brilliant students an opportunity of further study in tho higher branches of their vocation. The committee suggested that the t director bo instructed to lay this sugges- . tion before tho Public Trustee, and- to . report to the next meeting of the board. The director reported that_ Dr. Fitchott had been absent from Wellington, 0 but would bo glad to confer with . a • member of the board on Monday. ,'. Mr. J. P. Luke supported the scheme 0 of the committee, and moved that the . report of the committee be adopted. ' • Mr, M'Larcn said he would prefer to see the recommendations made in the • director's report adopted. He moved • an amendment that the recommendation t made by tho director bo substituted tor the committee's report.

After some further discussion, Mr. Luke withdrew his motion, and it was decided tli.it the matter should stand over until the next meeting.