TECHNICAL CLASSES,

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2030, 15 March 1907, Page 2

TECHNICAL CLASSES,

THEIR REAL SPHERE. In the course of his annual report to the Hawke’s Bay Education Board, Mr H. Hill, Chief Inspector, states that the introduction of subjects like wood-work, cookery, and dressmaking, while beneficial in many ways, had certainly tended to lessen efficiency in the essential subjects of reading, writing, etc.

In the smaller schools less instruction was given - in additional subjects, and the results were better than in most of the larger schools. The instructors in the additional subjects reported favorably on the work done, but the lessons given benefited only a few of the hoys and girls in the classes. Seen by a .Times repo'rter a local educational authority said Mr Hill’s words were well worthy of notice, for the reason that lie (Mr Hill) had always been recognised as an enthusiast in technical education. Technical education, our informant went on, was a good thing, but it had to be given on correct lines; and he was afraid that at present such, was not the case. Instruction was given -to_±l io wronu cl ass of pupils. Technical education was for pupils in tho secondary stage, but as a matter of fact the classes, in Gisborne at any rate, were largely composed of primary scholars. To make the education of real value the classes should be composed largely of apprentices—boys apprenticed to the carpentry should attend the wood-working classes and the classes for, dressmaking should be attended by girls apprenticed to that occupation. To such people tho instruction would be of value, and it could not he gainsaid that the majority of' children in the classes at present got no benefit at all. “What good can.it do a girl,” our informant concluded, “to rise from a lesson in Latin to go the next moment to learn how to cook potatoes? I think that the higher branches of education should not be interrupted for what might be called menial occupations.”