A NEW DIRECTOR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 130, 26 February 1919, Page 6

A NEW DIRECTOR

FOR WELLINGTON TECHNICAL COLLEGE

MR. JOHN H. HOWELL APPOINTED

At the meeting of the Wellington Technical Education Board held yesterday morning it was unanimously decided that Mr. John H. Howell,- 8.A.. B.Sc, at present Director of the Christchurcli Technical College, should be appointed Director of the Wellington Technical College, vice 'Mr. W. S. La Trobe, now Government Director of Technical Schoob for the Dominion.

Mr. Howell is an Englishman, 49 years of age, married, and without family. Up till eleven years of age" ho attended a jirimary school in Gloucestershire; attended the Calerham School, near London, until 17 years of age (for two years head boy in the school). He subsequently attended the University College of Wales for two years, where he gained the second open scholarship. After obtaining his degree there ho acted as assistant to the professor of mathematics. Afterwards he spent four years at the University College. London, with short periods for special work in science at the University of Strasburg and the Federal Polytechnic of Switzerland. Mr. Hoive'll holds the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science, with first-class honours, and is graded Al on the New Zealand Register.- His leaching ami administrative experience has been mainly at the King's College, London (nearly five years), the Auckland Grammar School (four , years), and the : Cliristchiirch Technical College (thirteen 1 years). When appointed to the Christchurch position there were evening classes only, carried on. in a small hall, and one workshop, with 204 students and a staff of fifteen part-time teachers awl the Director. In 1918 there was a fulltime staff of 35, with 17 part-time teachers, and a roll of 1818 students. During Mi. Howell's tenure of office in Christchurch tho board was able to purchase out of its own funds more than 14 acres of land for playing fields, agricultural plots, and 'as a site for the Girls' Traiuinr Hostel, in addition to providing considerable sums to supplement Government grants for buildings. During 1911 lie was given leave of absence an order to study educational systems > abroad, with particular reference to technical and manual training. About three months was spent in that work in .the United States and Canada, about four months in Great Britain and Ireland, and a short period in Melbourne and Sydney. In •America he made a special study of tho newer technical and vocational schools in San Francisco, Los , Angeles, . Denver, Menominee, Milwaukee. Chicago. Toronto, Rochester, New York, Philadelphia, Newhaven, and Boston.

Among Mr. Howell's testimonials is a striking one from Mr. W. Braginton, Demi of the Civil Service Department and hendmnster of the SI rand School, King's College, London, which reads as follows:"I have great incisure in recommendimr Mr. ,T. H. Hovel , .; 8.A., B.Sc. Hβ was an assistant, master for four years and a half in this school, and during the latter part of the period conducted with conspicuous success tbs senior rlasa — a class of over 40 out of a school of MO. His hieh character and great ability gave him au extraordinary hold on his class. He maintained perfect discipline without an effort, interested his pupils in their work, and was regarded by them nil with the highest esteem mid. indeed, affection. Hie clnsg was preparing for second division clerkships in tho Civil Service, and was very successful under him, taking tho first place in competitions with 1100 candidates on two occasions, and taking many other very high places. Sir. Ilowell is a, man of great natural ability, great nower of work, and high principle. We have' , a staff of sixteen masters, but wo have never had his equal. Fortunate indeed-will bo the school that secures his services."