INGLEWOOD TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 4 October 1907, Page 4

INGLEWOOD TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

To the Editor. Sir, -As one of the delegates to meeting ic- above school, I also must take eiti'ntiv/n to the remarks made by Mr iVim :!.■ .it the Education Board "meetu;; ml published in yours of 25th Sep-e:,-.r--r. it i 3 rather early for Mr T: .i-.;.l • lo state "There was not such 1 1' ai._.iastic support in the outlying rvr'.-.uo':;, as the Board had been led to be-liei-e," and 111 warrant he will find that he is wrong altogether before the question is settled. It seems to me an attempt to belittle the effort of'the Inglewood School Committee in providing i necessary accommodation for the Ingle-1 wood children and also those attending schools in the out-district of which Inglewood is the centre, and that it is an I important centre and should receive considerable assistance from the Education Department on that account will be hard to disprove, if the heads of the Department are sincere in the wish that the school children should receive tech nical education! Xo provision had, apparently, been made for country schools i when the scheme was first started, though enough was said about the importance to the country as a whole that the coming youth should be trained in technical schools provided by the State. It is all very well for those close to the larger towns, and also those who have the benefit of the railway, to pass over the children attending" schools 6 or 15 miles away from either large places or a railway station. Is it right that they should be so ignored when the parents have their whack to pay! And why is it that Mr. Trimble should presume "that it would be a disadvantage for country children to travel to Inglewood." There is no doubt that a great number in the out-districts are lukewarm on the subject, but when it is pointed out that the benefit to their children will be of infinite good, I feel sure the amount of support will surprise those who think that technical schools are for large cities only. To my idea, it is the latter places that should do without tbem. I have often read descriptions of farm buildings and other things necessary on a farm being made in a rough and ready style—pig-styes, gates, and such like necessities, and have seen woodcuts and measurements published as a guidance, but how many can take advantage of such; and who can deny but that training the youth to use the necessary tools is not going to be of benefit lo the farming community, leaving out the dairy branch of technical instruction? I do not, just now, know whether painting is included in the subjects, but it should Ik, and would be of enormous good to the coming farmer to know how to mix paints, etc., so as to economically preserve his building and also add to the appearance of his farm. Seemingly, if one can judge friJßi the remarks of Mr Monkhouse,tbe larger towns are to have the benefit of technical schools while the country settler can be passed over! According to the report of the Minister of Education, ''Provision is also being made as far as circumstances (local and otherwise) warrant for accommodation and equipment for classes in a number of smaller centres in which facilities for technical instruction have been previously lacking.' Surely, on the face of that, and the fact that Inglewood and its out-distriet are willing to help it is unfair for the two-members mentioned to throw even tTe smallest obstacle in the way of attainment. Considering Mr Trimble represents a considerable number of smaller schools, I expected strong support from him, not opposition, and I feel sure other delegates from the out-districts are of the same opinion.—l am, etc., JOE B. SIMPSOX.