TECHNICAL TRAINING

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 232, 25 June 1920, Page 3

TECHNICAL TRAINING

PROVINCE OF THE SCHOOLS . AIMS OF THE TEACHERS A deputation representing. the Technical School Teachers' Association, and consisting of Messrs. J. H. Howell, Director of Technical Education, Wellington, and r. W. Martin, vice-president of the association, and Mr. M. M'Williams and Miss Lovell-Smith, members of the executive, interviewed the Minister of Education, the Hon. C. J. Parr, yester. day morning to place before him a number of matters , affecting their interests.

Mr. Martin said that a general feeling was abroad that there was a gravo danger of New Zealand falling behind other couhtries hitherto not so. far advanoed in education. Tho timo was ripe for a forward move. The work of the technical schools, bearing as it did directly upon most of the primary industries,, represented a typo of education mrist needing encouragement, Tho first essential was the extension of tho compulsory school age. Tho technical school teachers had long maintained that the ago should he extended and agreed that the 6cherae to raise it to 16 years was well worthy of their sup. port, It should he'daylight education, with a scheme of continuation, classes up to the age of perhaps 18 years added. The association thought it desirable that all schools in the same district should be placed nnder the same directing anthcrity. This mifjht mean doing away •with the present high school boards and the substitution for them of some other kind of body. It was not suggested that ■ th-a present high, school boards should govern the technical schools. The special training of teachers for technical school work was another matter needing attention. The only kind of teaching for which training was provided at the present time was primary ; school teaching. In some branches of technical work speeinl training wns ' required, and it was maintained that tho . present was the timo to provide it. Another matter, of importance was the drawing up of a definite syllabus ot work for technical schools. The association urged that the Government Departments should give more recognition to certificates gained in technical schools, to tho extent of allowing some time off tho neriod of apprenticeship to tho holders of them, nnd in other wavs showing recognition of their value.' Ho concluded by urging that some relief should be given in the matter of cadet training to those taking full night courses at the technical schools, who found it a-hardship to be-compelled to devote a night each week to drill. The question of salaries wns dealt yith by Mr. M'Williams, who said that in some respects the technical school teachers ■ were worse off than those employed in either tho • secondary or the primary schools. He submitted a schedule adopted in December, 1919, by the association. .This proposed to divide technical schools into three grades, comprising the'schools with an attendance of under 200, of from 200 to 400, and of over 400. For-the first it suggested <2500 for the director and a scale for from ,£250 to .£300; for the second, director. ,£750, assistants- from .£250 to .£350, and for the third, director ,£IOOO, and assistants from .£350 to The association suggested further that there should be paid to married men an additional .£SO with ,£lO for each child. Tho limitation of hours, and of the number of .evening classes taken ' per week, should also be arranged. There should also be a grading scheme, while the association advocated the payment of salaries directly by the Department instead of by, means of the present system of capitation. Mr. Howell, speaking on behalf of the directors, said that they were in general agreement with the matters brought for-' ward by the The questions of,grading and salaries had.not yet been discussed. by them, however. Mr. Parr, replying, said he was afraid he , must confess that technical education had come to be looked upon as- a sort of sideline in this country. This.; be. cured, and it must be put in its right place. He. agreed with the deputation that educational reform in this country was overdue. He had already given his opinion very strongly on the matter of the school age. It might be his duty soon to submit to Cabinet and Parliament a scheme to put New Zealand in line with England end other parts of the world at present ahead of her in the matter of the school age. _ He was already discussing the practical aspects of the scheme with tho officers of nis Department. Ho was satisfied that the difficulties were not insuperable. There was possibly , a difficulty as regarded technical schools; but he was satisfied that there was a probability that the age would bo increased to 15 years as a temporary measure and afterwards raised to 16. The matter was receiving his attention, for it was not creditable that we should ba 60 far behind almost every other country in this particular. A 6chemo mu6t be devised, within the country' 6 means, that would bring it on a level with the rest of the world.

With regard to tho training, of teachera and tho other questions raised, he could only promise that they would receive his attention. ,He vim anxious to see that the technical schools were Pw 2 a f *' T P It might be that the capitation sysem was riot satisfactory. , The Director of Education, Mr. J. 'Caiighley, was preparing a Bcneme for the secondary sohools based on personal efficiency. It might bo that the same sort of thing could btapplied to thb technical schools. All this could not bo done in a'day. The most urgent matters must be taken first. Mr. Parr said that he recognised that there was a_ great deal of truth in what Jad been said on the matter of salaries. Ho would place therir ilepresentations before Parliament when teaehdrs' salaries were being considered. He (lid not think their scheme was too ambitious. He was fully in sympathy with tho suggestion that married men should receive special consideration in the matter of salaried and that their domestio responsibilities should be recognised. The amount which could be granted-in this way might be small, but tho principle must be recognised.