EDUCATION IN NEW PLYMOUTH.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 November 1915, Page 8

EDUCATION IN NEW PLYMOUTH.

WANTS OP TECHNICAL COLLEGE. HIGH SCHOOL MATTERS. DEPUTATIONS TO MINISTER FOR EDUCATION. Several requirements of the different educational agencies in New Plymouth were placed before the Minister for Education (the Hon. J. A. Ilanan), by deputations last night. The Minister received three deputations, and it was after 11.30 o'clock before the last one withdrew. The first deputation was from the Taranaki Education Board and consisted of Messrs. H. Trimble (chairman), R. Masters, the Rev. A. B. Chappell and P. Whitcombe (secretary). Mr. TrimMe thanked the Minister for having introduced a Bill to increase the number of education districts from seven to nine, and he stated that his Board had taken steps to place its views on the matter before the Council of Education. Consequently the deputation would not weary the Minister with this question. The Board contended that they had administered the district under their control carefully and thoroughly, and during the last two or three years the technical side of education had gone ahead wonderfully. There was a large attendance at the Technical College at present, and the farmers classes were being well patronised. In this connection tlie Board had been the first in tile Dominion to go in for instruction in ploughing. An enlargement of the Technical College was now necessary. The attendances had increased very considerably lately, and the increases had been contributed to in a great measure by the introduction of the compulsory attendance clause of the' Act. There were now about 150 pupils attending the College and there was not enough room to accommodate them. The necessity for more room would be emphasised if there was an increase in the attendance next year, and such an increase was to be expected. A new building was required for the engineering department, and a quantity of electrical apparatus was now on its way out and there was nowhere to house it. The Education Department had informed the Board that they could not make a grant at present, and Mr. Trimble hoped the Minister would see if he could make a grant, so that the engineering department, at least, could be properly housed. Mr. Trimble further stated that the Board would like the forming Boards of Managers for technical colleges to be brought into force. The Minister: Which do you think would be better, to have Technical Colleges under Education Boards or under separate management?

Mr. Trimble favored the appointment of a Board of Managers.

Mr. Trimble then referred to the West End School. He said it was desired to enlarge the school, but the Board could not get the Department to recugnise that this was needful. The Board suggested that a separate building should be provided for infants. An acre of ground adjoining the school could be purchased at a certain sum, but the Department insisted that the Board should pay half the amount. It was now requested that the Minister should make a grant for the whole amount. Th« Minister intimated that he would visit both the Technical College and the West End School to-day, when lie would "go into the questions further. The Rev. A. B. Chappell then brought up the wants of the Vogeltown School. The accommodation of the present building, lie said, was severely taxed and he put the ea«e for a new school on lines which have beep, fully stated recently. THE NEW EDUCATION. The Minister: Of the two requirements in the district—extension of the primary schools and enlargement of the Technical College—which is the most pressing? Mr. Trimble: The Technical College. The Minister said his real object in visiting the district was' to see what scheme of work was in operation here, on what lines the Education Board was working, and what were the features of education in this district. In the past there had been a great deal of haphazard work in education, and thev were not looking ahead in a way that was desirable. He had visited certain districts and found there were no playgrounds for the children. This was the result of blunders, and the consequence was that the children had to play in the streets. This want of looking ahead had cost the country a large sum of money. Throughout Xew Zealand it was desirable that education boards should have some scheme, in their minds for education work and they should work towards carrying out that scheme. What was wanted was to organise games at schools; he was a great believer in the value of games to the children. The Minister added that before he expressed any opinion on any of the matters brought before him lie would prefer to see the schools. Before the deputation withdrew (he Rev. A. B. Chappell outlined to the Minister what was being done in teaching agriculture in the Taranaki education district. THE HIGH SCHOOLS. Requests for financial assistance were made by a deputation from the High School Board, consisting of Messrs E. Dockrill (chairman), H. Trimble, M. Fraser, W. N. Ewing, D. Hutchen, A. McHardy, and E. P. Webster. At some length Mr. Dockrill traced the growth of the High School and set out the important positions which the schools now occupied. To carry out its building programme the Board required .£4OOO from the Government. It was understood this had been placed upon the Estimates some time ago, but it transpired subsequently that the grant

was for another object. More recently the Hon, J. Allen, then Minister fof Education, made a definite promise of £2OOO, and, further, proposed to give the Board power to borrow another £2OOO, the Department to pay interest and to refund the £2OOO when the financial position permitted this ty.be done. Mr. Eraser said the Board had been promised £4OOO, but had been "humbugged" by the Department. He traced the progress of the school and said that at the present time the girls were accommodated in a private house, which was unsuitable, and when illness occurred the public blamed the Board for the position. The Board could do nothing so long as the Department failed to {jive financial assistance. Mr. Eraser and other members of the deputation explained the position fully on the lines of discussions at recent meetings of the Board. The Minister said he could not find £2OOO at the present time for a secondary school. He was prepared, however, to arrange for the Board to borrow the amount and he promised to look into the matter on his return to Wellington. At the present time, he said, expenditure had to be watched very carefully. It had been said that the Government was spending too much mpney on education and the requirements of primary education had to be met first. As far as secondary institutions were concerned they would only get assistance in urgent cases. The Government had to make provision for those who would only be able to get primary education. The Minister added that he would be pleased to go into the matter further when he visited the schools to-day. MEDICAL INSPECTION AT SCHOOLS. Several matters were brought before the Minister by a deputation from the Taranaki School Committees Association, consisting of Messrs S. J. Smith (chairman), Reed, A. Smart, H. Trimble, and the Rev. A. B. Chappell. The most important matter ventilated was the question of medical inspection of schools, and it was contended that Hie aim of the Act was not being reached. It was emphasised that a change in the method of inspection was necessary. The Minister said lie was not satisfied with the present position of medical inspection of schools, and he thought there was room for improvement. He was reviewing the two branches—medical inpection and physical culture—with the idea of seeing if they could be combined. The Minister then went into the position with the deputation in camera.