TECHNICAL AND SECONDARY EDUCATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1140, 30 August 1913, Page 2

TECHNICAL AND SECONDARY EDUCATION.

BAST NIGHT’S PUBBIC MEETING.

A public meeting, convened by the Chairman of the local School Committee, at the request of Mr Matthews, technical director, to discuss the advisability of forming technical classes in Foxton, was held in the schoolhouse last night. The attendance of the public was not large. An apology for unavoidable absence was received from the Mayor. Mr Hornblow, chairman of the local committee, occupied the chair and explained the object of the meeting. He referred to previous efforts to form technical classes in Foxton, which had finally lapsed for lack of pupils. He welcpmed such distinguished|educationalists, who had attended at great personal sacrifice in order to arouse local enthusiasm in the cause of education. The small attendance did not necessarily indicate indifference on the part of the public—who took the keenest interest in the welfare of the local school.

Mr Braik, Chief Inspector, spoke of the advantages of technical education, not only to the youth of both sexes, but to adults as well. He referred to the excellent work which was being done in Wanganui and Taranaki. Instruction was being carried on by correspondence followed. by practical demonstrations to students at the Wanganui institution —one of the best technical colleges in the Dominion. He suggested that a class dealing with the hemp industry should be formed locally among those engaged in such work —to deal with the technical side. He regretted that there was not a larger attendance of young people present, because it was the aim of the Board to promote their future welfare. Such classes had been the means of assuring the future positions of numbers of young men, and local classes would be to the solid advantage of numbers of young people in this district, and would also improve the moral tone of the community.

Mr Banner, the Board’s scientific agricultural expert, referred at length to what was being done in other parts of the district in connection with his branch of technical education. He stated that the veterinary classes had been a great success. Commercial classes should be well supported locally while there was a great field for agricultural classes here. He also referred to the advantages of such classes as woodwork, plumbing, sanitary science, and domestic classes.

Mr Pirani made a stirring appeal to those present to take advantage of the opportunities of technical education. Foxton occupied an unique position in that it only possesed a primary school. He compared other towns in the Board’s district with lesser populations than Foxton where greater educational facilities were afforded. Foxton, as an industrial centre, should have a secondary and technical school. It was not right that children should be compelled to travel to Palmerston for education that should be provided locally if the people would only arouse themselves. They could make the experiment at the expense of the Board. The Government would not render assistance unless results justified it. The Board accomplished the pioneering work and firmly established the classes, then the Government rendered assistance. He did not agree with this method. He paid a high tribute to the work of the instructors and instanced the practical results of their labours in different parts of the district. The manufacture ot casin at Wanganui was in a measure due to experiments which had been carried out in the Wanganui technical school. The work being done by numbers of pupils were worthy monuments to technical education. The advantages ot such a school in Foxton could not be measured. He referred at length to the necessity for a secondary school here where teachers of the best calibre would be employed. Foxton should be just as important from an educational point ot view as it was industrially. The children should have the opportunity

of attending secondary and technical classes the better .to fit them for the vocations they were to follow. There was an enormous field in this district for the teaching hf scientific agriculture, as much of ; the land was next to worthless but could be made profitable by scientific treatment. Such training was profitable to the pupils, parents and the State. He' hoped ’the movement would be taken up enthusiastically. Mr Matthews also spoke. A number of questions were asked and answered. j Mr R. J. Tbomspn, moved and Mr Geo. seconded, a motion to the effect that the local school committee be asked to take the necessary steps to form technical classes in Foxton. The motion Was carried unanimously. On the motion of Mr Alf Fraser, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the speakers, which was suitably acknowledged by Mr Piraui. ... A VQte of thanks to the chair concluded the meeting.

Subsequently the visitors were entertained at supper.