TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 November 1916, Page 2

TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

DIRECTOR'S REPORT. USEFULNESS OF BOYS. '''Generally speaking the work is progressing satisfactorily, and good progress is being made," wrote Mr. A. Gray, Director of Technical Education, in his report to the. Education Board yesterday. Proceeding, Mr. Gray said: "At this period of shortage of labor, the efficiency of technical education was v.-ell illustrated by the fact that many men's positions had been filled by boys who had had some technical training. It was not only in the particular line of work in which a lad had been trained that he could obtain positions; the fact of his having been taught to use his hands in conjunction with his brain seemed to fit him to take up almost any branch of work. ENGINEERING BUILDING. The contractor was making good progress with the new engineering building. When finished this building would' be a credit to the College and to the. town, and would bo worthy of the good work that was being done by the engineering class. With regard to the technical college board's space generally, Mr. Gray understood that they might be able to secure a new and smaller art room, and that the present art room would be divided into two class rooms. The present engineering room would be converted into a dressmaking room. This would enable the college to carry on for the present. During the year, with the classes distributed in different buildings, it had been, most difficult to conduct the work at all satisfactorily.

AGRICULTURE. The work of the agriculture class had been carried on zealously, Mr. Gray proceeded. Although this was n small class, lie pointed out that it was not always wise to judge the importance of work done by the size of the class. A large agriculture class of boys who might ultimately become carpenters or engineers meant a waste of time of the boys and of the money of the state. The prospects were bright for next year. Wo should be able to accommodate more boys in the engineering room, and the commercial and domestic classes will bo able to work much more under congenial conditions. COMPULSORY CLASSES, SIV. Gray said that Mr. Dempsey was conducting the classes in English and arithmetic, as the writer's duties did not permit of his taking these classes at present. In many cases these pupils were most enthusiastic about their work, and it wa; a pleasure to teach them. In many caseß the opposite was the case, and he had had to deal sharply with two or three pupils. In a few cases the lack of parental control was rather pitiful. A list of the worst attendance offenders had been handed to. the truant office?, with instructions to prosecute unless arf improvement was made,

SCHOOL SPORTS. The school sports would be held on December 7, when he hoped to see as many members of the Board and as many friends and parents as possible. ELTHAII. The director reported that at Eltham the classes had been shut down for the year. Good work appeared to have been done, and if it were possible to obtain instructors Mr. Lightboume agreed with him that it would be advisable to attempt some' day work for the girls who came under the compulsory clause. The difficulty of obtaining instructors for day work was the main obstacle, but he thought he should be able to overcome it, at least partially. HAWERA, During the month he visited nawcra in connection with the guarantee. On this occasion he was practically a figurehead, as first Mr. Dixon and afterwards Messrs. Page and C. K. Hollard took the matter in hand, and there was no difficulty at all in securing more than the amount required, without going out of the main streets. He therefore recommended that the Board advertise for a commercial instructor who must be able to teach book-keeping, shorthand, and typing, commercial correspondence and office routine generally. If possible, the successful applicant must have had practical experience.