TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1566, 9 October 1912, Page 6

TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION.

1 A RECORD OF PROGRESS. A report presented to the House' of Representatives yesterday states that M year the number of public schools in whictt recognised classes for manual 'instruction- ■ wc-ro held was 143 G. The number of pupils in attendance at recognised classes for cookery was 0110, at woodwork classed tii-12, at agricultural classes 15,000, and in other branches of manual instruction 118,02 G. The payments by way of capitation nud subsidies on voluntary conl dilutions wcro JI20,8!)2; special grants to buildings and equipment totalled .C-17-15. Tha report states it is gratifying to note ua increasing tendency on the part of teachors to regard handwork as a method, rather than as an. isolated subject of instruction, ami to provide for training in handwork under tno headings of other school subjects, 'l'hc report states that it • is a matter for regret that very fev: pub-lis-school teachers have given instruction, to their classes in either woodwork or cookery, in spite of the fact that during recent years special classes in then? subjects havo been established by Education Boards, with :i view presumably to giving their teachers the requisite training. Locaty interest in the school gardens and experiments! plots continues to bo well maintained. Instruction in rural pursuits is given in connection ,with_ the secondary departments of district, high schools - in Taranaki, 'Wangointi, Wellington, Havrko'i Bay, and South Canterbury. Similar courses arc being arranged with district high schools in Auckland, North Canterbury, and, Otago. Opposition to theso classes, to which reference was'mode last year, seems to have largely disappeared. The arrangement for leaching by visiting instructors is raid to be unsatisfactory from many points of view, but is unavoid. able owing to Ihe scarcity of li;acheivi qualified to undertake tile work. It if, said, to be A matter for surprise and regret that with the facilities existing for Iraniing, the. proportion of trained teachers able and qualified lo give instruction on modern lines to secondary, classes in tha various branches of natural and physical science continues do remain quite madequale. Satisfactory progress is said to have been made by controlling authorities and man* agers Uiroughout the Dominion in thq matter of providing, -improving, and exi tending facilities for technical instruction, During the year .CSOOO in voluntary contribulions was received. Thovo are now fifty well-equipped buildings available foV technical elass.es. Engineering clasps are well attended, and the demand for conn mcrciol instruction continues to be maintained. ■