THE TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 64, 5 March 1908, Page 2

THE TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

There was a very large gathering last night ai the .New I'lyinoulh Technical School, when the school was formally opened for the sossion and last year s certificates presented. -Mr. LI. i'isch, chairman of the Technical School Committee, ltceived the visitors, who included His Worship the Mayor (Mr. E. Dockrill), Messrs. 11. Ukey and W. 1. Jennings, il.l'.'s, and several of the delegates intending the Baker*' Conference. From 7.30 p.m. to S p.m. the visitors inspected the building and waiched the dressmaking, cookery, and chcniisU'v classes in progress. At 8 o'clock all gathered in the art room. .Mr. 'l'isch traced the growth of the school, mentioning the opening of tin: building by the Hon. .Minister of EduI cation. There wa.-i no doubt that techi nical oilucatiou in .New i'lyiuouth had e-.me to stay, just as it had become established iii all the leading commercial countries of the world. It was technical education, he said, that wa= enabling Germany to push her commercial flag through the world. He appealed to those present to assist all in their power by bringing technical education prominently before the young. Tor several years' past Mr. Smart lead been conducting plumbing classes in their workshops, but that had not been quite satisfactory. Now there was an up-to-date plumbing-room in connection with this school. An application hud been made for a grant for a dairy-room, ! n which the scientific treatment of milk and testing of it, and botany would be taken. There were also dressmaking and cookery classes, which had done excellent work. The cookery pupils had done well at the recent shows, and the . dressnmkin-' success was shown by Hie dresses made and now being worn by

the pupils. He referred also to the classes in arithmetic, bookkeeping, building construction, and so forth, laying stress on the classes for giving "workshop'' arithmetic and general knowledge to those whose education had not been properly attended to. The agricultural classes were teaching the children more than many of the farmers knew now. He intended oll'oring a prize for the. test kept school-grounds. In short, the school was aiming at the development of those faculties hitherto neglected by Ihe ordinary education course. Excellent work had been done here, and at very slight expense. He concluded by a.sking each and every one present to induce scholars lo attend the school. Mr. \Y. A. llallantyne, Director Of Technical Education, reviewed the work of the year. The attendance last year was 181, and 132 in the previous year: and the fees £lB3, as against £125. These figures showed the number ofittdividual students, and many of these took more tluui one subject. In some classes there were only three or four pupils, and some people said that meant failure. Hut the committee was to be congratulated upon continuing these classes where there was a small demand. They would improve and in time become self-supporting. jMeanwhile he asked the public to assist all they could. In nearly every technical centre there were initial difficulties and initial opposition, but this as surely died out. The aim of technical education was not to teach a trade, but to turn out a better class of tradesman than could be obtained without a course of technical instruction, lie added that the instructors here wero about the best in the Dominion, and the prospects for this year were exceedingly bright.

The Mayor, having presented the certificates won last year, made some very eulogistic remarks concerning the management and success of the school. He went on to urge the importance of taking every advantage of the line educational facilities provided by the State.

The tilne was coming when technical school certificates would 1m: absolutely necassaiy to those wishing to obtain

any position in any trade. Mr. 11. Okey. M.i'.. spoke briefly, and paid a tribute to the time and energy devoted by Mr. Tis.-b to this school. He quoted the statement of the Premier to the elfecl; that this branch of education was already making its mark. Mr. W. T. .lennings, M.P., said he had taken a leading pint in the introduction of technical education over twenty years ago. 'This school building, he said, was far more suitable in every way than any other technical schooi building in (he colony, lint this was useless unless the parents of New Plymouth made up their mind to make the school a success lie suggested starting a class hero for instruction in the .Maori language, as at JJlineilill. lie concluded by making eulogistic reference to Mr. Ti.-ch. Mr. Allen, secretary of the New Zealand Master Bakers' Association, who is closely identilied with technical education in Wellington, also spoke. He was secretary of the Wellington industrial Association, which called technical education its "baby," for it had saved the

"baby" in Wellington by making it ; , cash gift of .-CISUII uiil of the profits (>f tl»' Wellington Exhibition. He complimented Xew Plymouth upon the possession of n building so suitably designed and constructed for the purpose. I" Wellington the classrooms were shamefully overcrowded, and steps were being taken with a view of securing a better building. He also explained Hie working of the school.

llr. W. G. Malonc congratulated the bearers of the certificates upon their determination to succeed and their suceess. and spoke at some length concerning the need for technical education.

Votes of thanks to the Mayor and In the other speakers were carried be acclamation, and Mr. Tisch then declared the school open. I'piui the motion of Mr. .T. 11 Roy. a special vote, of appreciation was tendered to Mr. Tisch.

Tlie visitors were (I,™ entertained at supper by the ladies.