The Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 1885. TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 50, 31 January 1885, Page 2

The Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 1885. TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

The following circuhuVhas been Vs r Sued to educational 1 todies :■ — " EduA cation Department, Wellington, 19th January, 1885, Sir, — I have the honor by direction of the Minister of Education to invite your attention, to the great importance of including m the programme of the secondary schools as much instruction as possible m subjects that have a direct

bearing upon 1 In* technical art* "! modern life. Endowments uivl other public aul have Ween bestowed on grammar and high schools to ena .li> them to supply to all classes, and not 10 the professional classes only, a course of study preparatory to the more direct and immediate training lor special careers. The secondary schools should, therefore, be pivpured to supplement the primary M'hools and to carry on pupils trained m them to higher studies. . The State also ex-, pects the managers ot the secondary j schools to bear m uiind that the professions are likely to become overcrowded unless something is done to create a bias towards industries, and that our manufacturing industries will not be followed by our brighter and more intelligent youths if they are merely drilled m the on.lin.iry Bultjects ot a grammar school education. In other countries increasing attention is now being paid to geometrical and mechanical drawing and the handling of tools, as useful subjects an well as physics and chemistry. Good work might also be done by holding, for a few months m each yeai 1 , eveniug classes, m which apprentices and others might have an opportunity of getting sound instruction m drawing and ollu-r subjects connected with their businesses or mides. In some towns voluntary effort bus, to a certain extent, supplied what is wanted m the way of evening classes, but the .schools, could m some instances aiiord scientific instruction more thoroughly. It yhoiild be remembered that *onie schools hold their endowments under trusts requiring them to keep up evening classes. If the secondary schools have become m any respect unpopular m any parts of the colony, it may be because the 1 eople have not seen direct practical results flow from them. Were attention paid 10 technical education as well as to ordinary studies iv secondary schools, the objections now urged against the endowing of high and grammar 83hqols would probably no t l>e heard. The :" Minister hopes you will be able, as far as the revenues of your school permits, to give the subject your early attention and support. — I have the h.mor lobe, sir, your obedient servant, John HISLOP.