TECHNICAL EDUCATION IN GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 77, 28 March 1900, Page 2

TECHNICAL EDUCATION IN GERMANY.

The Technical School of Berlin recently

received the Imperial rescript empowering it to grant the degree of doctor of engineering, and the first use made of the prestige was to confer the honor on Prince Henry of Prussia. At the ceremony Dr. Riedler, the rector magnificus, quoted an important speech made by the Emperor at a reception of rectors who waited upon Mm to thank him

i _" I have been pleased," His Majesty said, " to have an opportunity to dis- ' tinguish the technical high schools. You know great resistance had to be overcome, but it has finally been rel moved. I intended bringing the techJ nical schools to the fore, for they have ■ to solve great problems, not only techi nical but social. The latter have as i yet not been dealt with as I would have liked. They are in a position to exert great influence upon social conditions, owing to their numerous connections with labor and workmen and industry in general. They are therefore called to fulfil great tasks in the future. The present institutions have entirely failed from a social point of view, and I therefore rely upon the technical schools. As regards Social Democracy, I regard it as a temporary movement. It will spend itself. You must, however, make clear to your disciples their social'duties towards workmen, and you must not lose sight of great general tasks. In this work I rely upon you. Work and reward will not be wanting. Our technical education hasalready achieved great success. We require much technical intelligence in our country. The authority of German technics is already very great. The best families are beginning to let their sons devote themselves to the study of the technical sciences, and I hope that this movement will grow. Abroad, also, the respect felt for you is very great, and foreigners speak with the utmost enthusiasm of the technical education they have received at your schools. In England I everywhere found the greatest esteem expressed for German technics. Only lately I have again experienced how greatly appreciated are German technical education and (technical achievements in England. Devote yourself, therefore, with all your powers to the' great economical and social tasks." ]