TECHNICAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9145, 14 May 1908, Page 2

TECHNICAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE.

INTERESTING MEETING AT MARTON.

At the invitation of \V..u«3tuh Education Board a couhnvmce ot representatives of local and other •bodies interested in technical education was held at Marton yesterdjThere were present; Mr F. Purnell (member of Education Board) chairman, Messrs Braik (Superintendent of Technical Education), •Varney (director of technical instruction), Grant (instructor in agriculture) Nathan (Mayor of Taihape), Tarrant and Aldridge ,(Taihape School Committee) Be v. Evans, Mr Downes (Bulls District High School). Mr McCaw (director of Technical Education, Southland), Middlemas (Huuterville School Committee), Rev. McCully (Turakma), R. Newman (Farmers’ Union), C. B Collins (Marton Chamber of Commerce), Mr J. McEldowuey (Mavor of Marton), Mr ."• J. McDonald (Marton Technical School). Rev.- D. Gordon, H. Richardson (Raugitikei County Council), Mossman, Bartlett (Upper Tutaenui), Wilkes (local director). Apologies were received for the non-attendance of Messrs J., G. Wilson and R. K. Simpson, chairmen of Manawatu and Raugitikei County Councils, who had to be present at other meetings. Mr Purnell in opening the meeting thanked the representatives for attending in such force and stated that the meeting had been called to consider the question of technical education in the middle district and to discover the best means of making the classes a success financially and otherwise. The Board had done its best to push technical education, in fact it had been almost too energetic as it had expended £6OO Jasfc year in excess of grants, mostly for salaries of supervisors and special instructors. Mr Purnell pointed out that personal influence was required in order to induce students to attend the classes in the numbers which were desirable and be urged on chore present the necessity of exerting this influence in their own districts. Mr Braik gave some information as to the classes '.held in technical schools. The technical classes in cookery and woodwork in the primary and district high schools were held there and in addition evening technical classes. This year the number of pupils attending these latter classes were not as numerous as could be wished, hut excellent work was being done under the skilled teaching of expert instructors. Mr Braik asked for opinions to be expressed by those present who saw the work from outside as to the best line [of action to be taken for the support of tha schools and the drawing together of pupils. Mr McCaw (Southland) who was asked by the chairman to give his views, said that he was struck by the liberality displayed by the Wanganui Board in the support of technical education. In Southland all the classes were expected to be self-supporting. They had as yet no buildings erected though application would shortly be made for a building at Gore and Bluff would soon follow suit. Mr McCaw expressed gratification at the amount suhscribed by people of Wanganui Education district for the erection of technical schools. He hoped that when he returned home and reported ■what he seen in Marton and elsewhere in the North Island the local bodies and private persons be inspired to follow so good an ample.

agricultural teaching. Mr Braik outlined a scheme for winter schools for adults in agriculture. He suggested a school for a fortnight at which students could take advantage of and study such .’questions as the theory of agriculture, manure analysis, dairy science, insect pests, etc. The services of Messrs Grant and Brown would be available and it was hoped that it might be possible to have addresses from agricultural and veterinary experts. Visits to farms in the neighbourhood of the school might also be added. If each family sent one member to such a school the work of the farm could go on as usual and the returning pupil would prove a missionary to the rest of 'his family. Such a scheme if it proved successful might be extended indefinitely. APATHETIC FARMERS. Mr Newman, as representing the Farmers’ Union, said that he thought the feeling among farmers round Marton was that they regarded technical education with a total lack of interest and even suspicion as they saw no advantage coming from such education. He was convinced that farmers must somehow be interested in the matter if New Zealand was to keep her place in the struggle with other nations. His suggestion was that some one should go round to meetings to be held in the schools in the evening and explain the objects of .technical education. He referred to the advantages of bookkeeping as an example. Most farmers kept two books only, a cheque hook and a pass book and had no idea as to whether sheep or cropping was paying best. If the itinerant instructor could give some practical hints as to the value of bookkeeping and the conduct of various farming operations he might succeed in attracting pupils to fie shook He thought each technical school should have a small farm attached and referred to a successful farm of the kind in Danmark. He strongly recommeued the appointment of some such itinerant lecturer.. Mr Grant said that classes had been held for two years in agriculture and the Marton class iiad been the most successful that he held. It had been arranged to work through a practical course of agricultural chemistry at Marton this season, though hitherto the number of pupils had not been satisfactory. In Victoria they haJ»a nuftber ot instructors and for a class of i3O or 40 two or three instructors could be obtained for a period of about a fortnight and classes were held, followed by a compulsory examination. Mr J. J. McDonald referred to the possibility of founding a scholarship to Lincoln College for pupils from a technical school in the district and he thought that the leaven provided by such scholars would have a good effect.

'Mr Richardson expressed the opinion that the subsidies to be obtained from local bodies would depend on the energy with which technical education- was pushed in the district. Mr Downes complained of the lack of interest in technical instruction

on the part of farmers in the Bulls district. . The Chairman said that the failure to attract farmers to classes was possibly due to lack of personal efforts to draw pupils. He did not think that bookkeeping had the same importance for the farmer as for tthe business man as the former depended so much on the markets.

Mr Braik thought the itinerant lecturer system was hardly likely to prove successful and recommended the method of winter schools. Mr Newman explained that his proposal was merely that a man should go round to explain the value of agricultural education and induce people to come to technical classes or to a winter school. Mr J. MoEldowney expressed the opinion that virgin soils and good prices had so far helped farmers to get along, but less prosperous times would compel them to take more interest in the theory of farming. Mr Aldridge agreed that farmers did not understand the advantages of technical education and that some steps shuold be taken to impress on them its value, and he thought that if meetings were held in the schools in the outside districts it would lead to a better number of pupils being provided. Mr Braik pointed out that Mr Grant had held such meetings all over the district. A resolution was unanimously carried that this meeting is of opinion that'the best means of enlisting the support of the farmers for technical instruction is to convene meetings throughout the distrirc and explain the purpose or instruction in agriculutre.

The question of dairying instruction was raised and Mr Braik stated that 20 classes were held in the day schools and one very successful evening class at Pobangina. PRACTICAL EDUCATION. The High Schools at present, said Mr Braik, were almost entirely given up to preparation for various examinations and it was a problem whether it would not be possible to turn the thoughts of pupils rather to practical pursuits to which their energies would more wisely he devoted.

Mr Downes thought that the syllabus might be altered to produce this result.

Mr Richardson pointed out that surveyors and most professional men had to pass 1 examinations, and therefore it was necessary that they should not he neglected.

In conclusion, Mr Purnell after thanking those present for their presence and the interest they had displayed in the discussion, urged the necessity for every district to provide for the support of its classes and for local committees to display energy in canvassing for pupils. The meeting broke up after a vote of thanks to the chairman.