TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 139, 7 March 1919, Page 5

TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOLS

Sir, — "While - in at least two towns hi Hawke/s Bay the residents are 6aid to be warmly advocating the establishment of technical high schools to take the plate of already existing district high eohoolfi, in another town in..the North Maud, whore it hag'been proposed to establish' a technical high school, the people have addressed to the Minister of Education a petition for the retention of their district high school. It appears that these petitioners have gone to the trouble of making inquiries into the working Of' the technical high schools in America (and in New Zealand), and have learned trom American educationists that "technical high schools do.not realise vocational aims," and that the eystem is being rapidly abandoned in favour of separate high schools and technical schools. Similar testimony is gleaned from New Zealand authorities, and it is felt by many that it would not-bo wise to give up a system which has served this Dominion (and other? in the British Empire) so well until there nre better prospects of retracing it with a proven eyetem. _ • Secondary assistants in 7 district high schools are taking exception to being placed under technically-equipped men (who are usually chosen <is directors of technical high schools). They maintain that cultural -education can be successfully directed only by, one specially, trained in the work, and that a man cannot be properly qualified in both technical and cultural curricula. One of the senior secondary assistants in a large district high school sarcastically suggests that the technical high school policy ma.v be be carried into the larger towns,.niid he lias visions of nn educational '"uplift in the amalgamation of Wellington--Coll W and Wellington. Technical, School under one head!—l am, etc., .' " M.