Technical Education.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7831, 25 May 1905, Page 2

Technical Education.

The Chief-Inspector (Mr w R Spencer) reported at Tuesday's meeting ol the Taranuki Education Board -hut no reply had been received from .Uiq Department with reference to the ■plans forwarded for the proposed .Technical School i„ New Plymouth As the building would no doubt be | used for pupils from the Hiigh School and as the question of 'carrying oil the classes when once founded was I one of the utmost importance, he suggested that the Hoard of Governors of the High School be communicated ,with, with a view to joint action in urging upon the 'Department the necessity for the building, and also I with a view of coming to an under- | standing in respect of the classes to be taken and the instructors of the I classes. The inspector added that he had on several occasions talked the matter over with the chairman of jthe Governors and since his (ilr Spencer's) return from Auckland, Mr MacDiarmid had given him his unofficial assurance that the Hoard would be only too glad to co-operate with the Education Board in the matter. The report was received, and after some discussion the chairman and MiMaunder were appointed to confer with the High School Board, with a view to securing Joint action in urging the erection of a Technical School, and to consider the matter of technical education in the district generally. INSPECTOR'S VISIT TO AUCK. LAND.

With reference to his Auckland visit the chief-inspector reported : " 1 have visited Auckland and have ecu the handwork in the principal city and suburban schools, the manual work in the three centres established in the city, and the technical work which has made great advunces since my last visit, over two years ago.

"The handwork I consider neither so advanced nor so systcmatisod as hero. The woodwork and cookery—branches of manual work—are, however, in the city much more advanced and more generally taken than with lis.

" Outside Auckland little has been done up to the present, but centres are being established ut Whangarei and the Thames. For both woodwork and cookery tho provision for demonstration is greater than we can expect to obtain and is exceptionally good. The equipment of the woodwork rooms is in some respects hotter than obtains at Stratford. " 1 have taken plans of the buildings and full notes on the equipment and fittings, otc, and will take advantage of the information obtained in future recommendations to the Board.

" In technical work, the population —estimated at 100,000, served by train and tram—enables the formation of classes larger than we can possibly expect and also enables instruction to be given in subjects wfc could not undertake. The buildings aro temporary ones and the accommodation is taxed to the utmost. The equipment is very complete and the students I saw seemed to work earnestly and with a proper appreciation of the advantages they possessed. All the manual work and much of the technical work is taught by in« stmctors specially engaged at Home. Eight instructors have been so appointed and two more are about to be appointed—one for Whangarei and one lor tho Thames.

"I have, inquired into the terms of the instructors, the fees charged, the courses of instruction, and so on. By entering into detail a lengthy report could be written, but this I think the Board does not require, but I hope the knowledge I have gained will more than repay the Board for their action in sending me to Auckland.

•' 1 must express my appreciation of the kindness shown to me by Mr Rice, secretary of the Auckland Education Board, Mr Petrio, chief-In-spector of schools, Mr George, the director of technical education, and by all the instructors. '.'■■