TECHNICAL EDUCATION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 297, 11 September 1919, Page 3

TECHNICAL EDUCATION

CONFERENCE OF BOARDS AND. DIRECTORS TRAINING FOR THE LAND A joint conference of members of technical college boards and directors of technical colleges was held yesterday. Mr. C. H, A. T. Opie, chairman of tho Christehiirch Technical College Board, presiding. Those, also present were Messrs. T. Ballinger, 0. A. Lawrence, G. Frost, 11. Bolton, and J. 11. Howell (Wellington), A. Harris, M.P., H. S. W. King, and G. George.(Auckland), H. E. Busbridge, B. E. Sctli-S'mifh, and Dr. D. E. Hanson (Clu-istehiirch), Messi's. G. M. Thomson, T. Scott, and A. Marshall (Dunetlin), ,r. A. 3S T ash, M.P., and' F. Opie (Palnierston. North), G. London and J. Lynskey (Petone), A. T. Smith (Ashburton), J. C. Smith, M.P. (Tarnnnki), J. E. Newton (Napier), G. J. Park (Wanganui), T .V. G. Aldridgo and AV. M. Eiddell (Invercargill), W. Fossey (Timaru), F. J. Cockburn (Nelson), and A. G. Tomkies (Westport).' Mr. W. S. La Trobe, Superintcii(lei\t of Technical Education, representing the. Education Department, was also present. Development of Technical Education. Tho chairman, in his opening remarks, spoke of the connection between educational problems and the reconstruction of tho nation following the close of the war. The conflict of arms bad concluded, but they had to face another conflict, that of educational development. A sound system of education -was tho best thing to tit tho poouio for the stern battlo of life, and would go a long way to lurther tho realisation of the aspirations and hopes of democracy. In this direction the prosperity of the people depended on tho prosperity of the wonting man. In the reconstruction technical education -was not sufficient by itself— it must go with ■cultural education. He could seo that tho timci had arrived when technical education must be recognis&l by the State. Ho asserted that the system of election of administrative bodies was unsatisfactory, and he urged a moro representative, system. As. to finance?,' there were practically none available for technical education purposes'. The postion, in so far as obtaining buildings and silos was concerned, was ono which they could not tolerate any longer. Agricultural education was very important, but was neglected. Thero were ample facilities for training in commerce and engineering,' but. practically no provision for the training of the youth in agricultural' education, on which the 'country depended. Everywhere there -was a necessity for school farms, and money was needed for the .training of boys.; Nothing required closer attention than agricultural education. He trusted that the conference would bo of .great assistance in the direction of improving education generally. The Mayor (J&. ,1. P. Luke), on hehalf ot tlio city, extended a hearty welcome tn the visiting delegates l . Ho referred to the value of technical education in tho development of the country. 4s far as-New Zealand was concerned, neither the present Government nor its predecessors had a, proper, conception or a full.appreciation of tho importance, of technical education, and the urgency of its, demands for greater assistance. He felt that during the present Parliament tho need for the betterment of technical education would, be recognised, and he hoped that conferenco would emphasise its demands. He' trusted that the conference would he successful in obtaining from the Government the finances necessary for the building of suitablo schools and for the development of technical education. ' ,

Government Proposes Additional Expenditure. Further dismission itoolc place on the motions passed yesterday respecting an amendment to the Education Act. 1011. proposing the provision of additional finance for tho payment of increased salaries and also the application for o grant of ,£3,00q,f100 for placing education in the Dominion on a modern, footrinS-' '.*.'". "''„:' | In reply to a question us to what I amount of money would be available for the work suggested in the remits dealt with by conference, Mr. A. ' Harris (raembor for Waitemata) said that in answer to a query put by him to the Prime Minister, in tho. House on '.fuesday, as to the amount of money available for educational purposes, the reply was given that it was intended to introduce proposals for the assistance "of education, primary, seconilary,' tec]inicnl, ami university, to be covered by an additional exiienditure of .£1,050,000. The proposal that..the ..£3,000,000 to bo asked for be limited to technical education met with considerable opposition, speakers holding the opinion that it would be a mistake to «s!c for such a huge sum for a limited purpose. Conference then went on to discuss tun requirements most needed, for technical education, which wero enumerated in yesterday's report of the A very strong plea-was nvrce for hostels for country student?, and instances -of their success wero quoted. Technical Schools should he accompanied by hca-* tels at least for country students. The resolutions passed by tho 'confer, ence yesterday were endorsed. Instructional Farms. A remit was introduced which. slated that a {ufl'her requirement for technical educatioij was the provision ox areas for experimental farms in connection with agricultural courses. Mr. P. Opie deprecated the leaching of the subject as it is at present handled, for theoretical agriculture, combined with work in smell experimental plots, ended nowhere. He could not see any reason why such experimental farms should not be solf-siipporting, and.he advocated that the Government should lend money without interest for this purpose. The sura so loaned could be repaid out of tho profits from the farm. Mr. Thomas Scott suggested that farms of 109 acres or more, should be obtained for tho practical • training of , • Small experimental farms wore favoured by Mr. J. H. Howell, who considered them of much- value for domonstrntiovt purposes, but to.look upon that training as tho end| would bo a great mistake. Mr. G. Loudon considered that children should'he encouraged to study'agiicnltural work at their. homes, and a ulep in this direction would bo the provision of 6ced at ..tho lowest rates. Arrangements could be made for the disposal of the produce raised through these efforts.

Dr. D. E. Hnnson considered that instruction in matter's relating to live stock as well as cropping should be given. [ Mr. J. Lyuskoy favoured the larger farms. -. The chairman said that if was veTy dcsiriihCe to train boys in farm lifo. His (ksiro was to seo intent farming The of Technical Education (Mr. W. S. La Trobe) said that tho problem was not an easy one, as the position was somewhat complicated. The Education Dopartment had certain training farms under its control whero cadets wore admitted, and in regard to purely vocational farms he considered that tho Agricultural Department should bo tho deciding authority. Ho hoped that arrangements would be mado between tho two Departments for a closer co-operation on.tho question of agricultural education. The Department looked upon district high schools and technical schools as institutions for tho giving of pre-vocational (.raining-, and not as" vocational ijchoas. Tim Dopartment did not view with any favour tho running of farms by tho boys themselves. It appeared quilo possible that some system might bo evolved whoreby boys who had received pre-voca'Honal training would lie able- to Teceivo advanced theoretical training during half time, and receive practical training during the remainder of tho time. Tho Department was not prepared to consider the provision of large areas ,in connection with technical tchools for purely vocational training. Tim remit was amended by Hie deletion of the word "experimental," and carried. Teachers for Technical Courses. \ A remit on the tiviiuing of teachers for technical courses was introduced by Dr. It. il. Hanson, who stressed tho serious , handicap under which tho technical ! schools wcto working by the lack of trained Tho system of training 1 and home solonce tenoning should bo

made moro extensive, as at present they were not' getting enough of it. Tho Christchurch Technical College had mado n name in the direction of improving matters by establishing a training hostel. On this point tho directors were at a disadvantage, and owirg to tho tact that tho Christchurch Technical College w«s bearing the expenses for the training of the wiiolo of the teachers for New toi-. land. In fact, this college was actually finding bursaries out oi its own funds for ' the training of yuiurj teachers. Ho Btiongly urged that tho Government should inako provision for the training of teachers for technical courses. The Department had not given any consideration to teachers m training in technical education... It had even refused them admission to training colleges lor in- j slruction in pedagogical subjects which would be of great value in fitting them for teaching. > Mr. A. G. Tomkies said that the train- | ing of teachers was one of the most \ momentous ■ questions', which the educa- j tional world had to face. These teachers j must have u good training and consider- i able experience of the world and tho ) world's requirements, especially in tho \ particular branch they tench, othenviso ! the results would not be commensurate j with the work done. \ Mr. 11. li. Busbridge acknowledged i that something should lie done by the [ Department for tho training of the technical teachers. He mggestcd that the remit should include some proposal as , to the systems of training. Mr. Angus Marshall pointed out 'that there was uo provision in the Education Act for the training of probationers for technical schools. If the conference obtained from the Department full recognition of tho need tor the training of teachors for technical courses it would j achicvo a great den's. Tho domestic j seiqiico students at Dunediu were not ' getting sufficient training to lit them I fur teaching. j Mr. Thomas Scott affirmed that an j instructor in engineering should be a j practical man, but he should go through a high school course to fit him for teacli- i ing. ' I Mr. 6. J. Park said that many of the j instructors lacked teaching knowledge, v and tho need for 'trained teachers would : be very great hi the future. At present there was no system for the training of '. teachers to enable pupils to o'btuiu complete instruction in the courses they wero utudying. Mt. La Trobe said that it was essential for technical school instructors to remain in touch with tho working conditions of their particular districts. He '. thought that student teachers should bo ' approached to assist senior teachers in j the work which they intended to take j up Inter. The work of tlicso student teachers would bo purely observational, and they could take a course at tho training college. Following -this tho student teacher should foolow his trade for about four years. It was doubtful whether the training of a person already in a trade would result in ohtainiug the most efficient teacheis.

Tho remit was carried.nTIio conference adjourned till 0.30 this morning, j I'ho chairman intimated that tho Minister of Education would receive a from the conference at 11.15 o'clock this morning.