TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 140, 16 February 1915, Page 4

TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

PUBLIC MEETING AT TAIHAPE. Only a very limited number of people attended the public meeting that was. held in the Technical School building last evening with the object of renewing and creating interest in the technical education movement amongst residents of Taihape town and district. The meeting was addressed by Mr. Fred Pirani, of the Wanganui Education Board, and Mr. Matthews, both of whom attended at the request of some local residents, to give information in connection with the formation and conduct of technical classes and to explain' the provisions of the Education Act bearing upon the subject.

Mr.' Pi rani said he was sorry for the sake of those present that the attendance was not larger, as a speaker could usually do better before a large than a small audience. Mr. Motthews and he had come to see if they could not shake up the dry bones of the old technical school. Taihape had a good school, but apart from the use made of it for high school purposes it was of little value. Technical classes could only be formed if the number of pupils stipulated presented themselves. The Government did not believe in speculation and would only pay capitation when the limited number provided for joined each class. If classes could be formed the Board would provide teachers for cookery, dressmaking and woodwork classes, but for continuation classes they would have to rely on teachers from their public school. . At Ohakune the movement to establish a technical school w T as being taken up and the pupils were forthcoming, birs there was not two picture shows running every night to enter into competition. Seventeen boys from the Taihape school were going to the Marton school to attend the agricultural class. The agricultural side of the tuition was most important-but until they got the required support it was impossible to get an agricultural class established here. He could not understand why there was no support in Taihape. In Wanganul there were 1(50 boys attending; in Taranaki the fees paid last year amounted to £.190 and he believed that tliis year the revenue would reach £IOOO. Unfortunately, the experience with most farmers is that they know more than the. instructors, but wheil schools were established adults in nun* bers were joining the classes. One In* structor had been asked by farmers to prescribe for the year's operations with respect to cropping, manuring and such like, with the result that the returns had been twice as much as before and the cost had been little more than half as much. That farmers should know the scientific side of their work was most important.

There were tAvo school farms in the Education District one at Marton and one at Feilding. The boys attending the classes do all the work on these farms; they handle and drive the horses, prepare the ground, and their crops will return 40 bushels to the acre. Farm camps were held for a fortnight each year; one was held on Mr. Short \s farm, where stock to the value of £24.000 had been put at their disposal for the use of the boys who took charge of the stock and were taught how to.judge; to know what were the best points in cattle; how to produce good wool and good meat. Each evening the boys wrote out what they had learned in the day, and lantern lectures were given by the instructors. Printed forms were furnished on which the boys had to write down the points in judging an animal, and these were gone over by a judge and prizes were allotted according to merit. Mr. Short entertained about 500 boys. There was no illness in the camp, and the boys would tell you that they enjoyed themselves as much as if they had been at a picnic. With sheep the lads did all the work; he had seen about a five stone boy handling a. sheep weighing about seven stone epiite easily. They were taught .orchard work, ihe pruning and management of fruit trees. Fifteen boys at his request pruned and cleaned up an old run-out orchard, and it was now looking in splendid condition. Wherever the boys went the people were pleased with the work done. Mr. Pi rani mentioned the case of a Tailiape Maori boy who had attended an agricultural class and afterwards went to the Tlawkesbury Agricultural College in Australia, and the master of the college had written saying that he was one of the best prepared students in the college. The Wanganui Board's instructor in woodwork had; studied at Hawkesbury College. He taught the boys in our agricultural classes woodwork required on the farm, such as fencing, also the making of concrete posts and strainers, and he was looking forward to the time when the adults in Taihape would take on the classes. In

tuition and the attendance was growing larger and larger. In one class lie. tlie speaker, saw Mr. Brown stand with the farmers sitting all round him and the tuition "was in the form of questions and answers. They plied him with all sorts of questions, but the instructor avii» able to answer everything to their satisfaction. If people would only spare a little time to attend these classes they would find them to be very good and useful.

Girls were taught dressmaking cookery and hygiene, as well as instruction in scientific subjects the same as given to males. If the pupils could be got together the Board would establish any of the classes. ' In conclusion, Mr. Pirani said he would answer any question and.would do anything lie could to assist in getting technical classes on a satisfactory footing. Mr. Mcßae, of the Taihape High School, would have charge .of the classes, and would ascertain what support the movement would be .given by the Taihape people. Mr. Matthews explained the operations of the Education Act with respect to capitation. He also gave information with respect to the time Instructors could attend. Dealing with subjects, he said that girls could takeEnglish, arithmetic and cookery, which forms a domestic course, while boys could take English, arithmetic, woodwork or book-keeping. Tt was necessary flint all should help to organise to achieve success. Girls taking a con re in dressmaking,had gone into the dressmaking business, and boys on the farm had been able to do all their own woodwork. One boy told him that in one year he had saved £SO by doing his own work. He invited questions.

Mr. Pirani said-there was one thing he had forgotten to say:—ln Apiti there were 170 pupils and the school was a great success. In Hawera, which was a bigger place than Taihape, there were 380 pupils, and so right through. He could not understand why Taihape people did not avail themselves of the opportunity to attend these classes. In the Wanganui Education District they had an advantage not given elsewhere, that was the Board took the education to the people. No matter how small the school, if they could got a dozen pupils together they could have the teachers sent to them. (Applause). A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the speakers on the motion of Mr. Thurston, seconded by Mr. Joblin.

Mr. Pirani thanked the meeting one said he trusted they would be able to get something going.