MANUAL TRAINING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16485, 26 February 1914, Page 4

MANUAL TRAINING.

REPORT OP THE DIRECTOR

SOME ENTHUSIASTIC STUDENTS, In its report to the Education Board yesterday the Normal School and Technical Committee epitomised the annual report of the Director of Manual Training for the year ended December 31, 1913. ••• M«-?te

The Director reported that on hia visits to the several centres during the year he had formed very favourable impressions of the work that was being done, almost without exception the classes having presented that appearance of cheerful industry, which is a sure sign that pupils are interested ard are making progress. As regards certain classes there were features worthy of special mention. The class that had laboured under the greatest difficulties was the one that had the best attendance record of all. The Belfast pupils did not get back to their station until five o'clock, and yet out of eighteen boys on > the roll thirteen had not missed a single attendance and two had missed once only, while the conduct of both boys and girls had been all that could be desired. The Burwood scholars had also a long dis- i tance to come, and though their classes had started at nine o'clock j the girls had made 96 and the boys 94, per cent of the possiblo attendances. Woolston had sent largo classes, of whom twenty-three boys had never missed and twelve had been absent once only. The girls had also a very good attendance record. The classes from St Albans had well maintained their high reputation, thirty-three boys had not missed, seventeen had missed only once, while the record of the girls was not far behind. Addington deserved to be classed with St Albans, the reports for Standard VI. being specially meritorious. In the case of. Waltham, each section of each standard had reached a high 'Ovel. From Opawa in Standard VI. sixteen out of twenty-two boys had not missed and three had missed only onco. North Linwood was equally'worthy of praise; nineteen boys had not missed and eight only once, while of the girls in. Standard VI. fifteen had not missed. The above classes, in which the work generally had been very good, had been singled out because of special merit, but the fact was emphasised that in most of the others, the standard of work was not far below that of the classes commented on..

The report added that tho committee had decided to congratulate the Director on the success of the year's work and to have the report published for general information. A report was also received from the Director of the Ashburton Technical School on the work of the classes during the year 1913. It showed that during the year 198 boys had taken woodwork and 238 girls cookery and domestic economy. Pupils had attended from Rakaia, Chertsey, Dromore, Fairtan Hinds, Tinwald, Springburn, Alford Forest, Anama, Mount Somers, Greenstreet and Elgin. The attendance had been remarkably regular. There was urgent necessity for a cookery and woodwork centre at~Methven. The hope was expressed that the Board would be able to have a building erected and classes started during the coming year.

The committee said that it had decided to inquire of the Methven School Committee if there was any suitable building available for instruction.