TECHNICAL COLLEGE ACTIVITIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 November 1917, Page 6

TECHNICAL COLLEGE ACTIVITIES.

VISITED BY EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATION". At a recent meeting of ilia New Plymouth branch of the Employers' Association, the president (Mr. W. V. Brooking), in reporting on the decisions come to at the general conference of employers held in Wellington, stated that a general opinion had been expressed that technical education in New Zealand was no(> being carried out on practical lines. He had then .remarked that he had a perfectly open mind on the question, and. as far as lie knew, the system followed at the Now Plymouth Technical College was on very sound and useful lines. As the outcome of the discussion, it was agreed among the delegates to the conference that the representatives of the* various centres should make a point of visiting the technical schools in their districts in order that the matter could be fully reported on at the next conference. With this end in view, an official visit of representatives of the local Employers' Association was arranged.; Mr. Brooking was accompanied by Mr. ft. Boon (representing Boon Bros.), Mr. W. H. Aburn (representing Henry Brown and Co. and Messrs R. Masters (chairman) and IT. Trimble a member of the Education Board, both of whom happened to be in New Plymouth attending a committee meeting of the Education Board and Mr. P. 8. Whitcombe Secretary of the Board. Apologies were received from Messrs .1. W. Hayden and 11. Goodacre. The party was conducted over the building by the director, Mr. A. Gray. The art room was first visited, where a class of twenty students was engaged in model drawing under the supervision of Miss Eise. It was explained that the class was specially conducted for the training of young teachers. In addition to the teaching of ordjnary literary subjects, the necessary science and hard work subjects for the gaining of teachers' certificates were taught. A specialty was made of instruction in psychology, which modern educationists recognise as the basis of all teaching theory. Mrs. R. D. Kirkpatrick, 8.A., instructs the class in the theory. The director mentioned that several students had acted as relieving teachers for the Tnranaki Board and had done such good work that school committees had communicated with the board with the intention of retaining their services.

'Die next class visited was a typewriting class under the supervision of Hiss Watkins, where, third year commercial students were at work "touch typing." This system is adopted throughout the college, and the students are encouraged to work entirely by touch and not by sight. By this meaus's much greater speed is maintained. Examples of the work wore favorably commented on by the parly. The dressmaking room was next visited, and there a class under Miss St.arkey was engaged in cutting out, etc. The girls are taught practical dressmaking, such ns will fit them to take up the irade, if they wish, on leaving the college.

From the dress-making room a visit was paid to Ihe commercial room, where a large class of second year students was being instructed in book-keeping by Mr. V. Duff. Tt was pointed out that the end kept in view was to qualify the stu-. dents for office work, and practical, rather than theoretical, work was featured. In an adjoining room a clans of first year commercial pupils were being instructed in Titmaivs shorthand by Mr. (!. 11. White, CJreat care is taken that the elements of the system are thoroughly grasped, and the matter of speed is left, till a later time.

The party then proceeded to the cngincering workshop, a fine concrete building erected hy the Department some little time ago, under the supervision of the hoard's overseer, Mr. C. H. Moore. All the interior fittings, shafting, belting, etc., were put in by students of the col•lege, under the guidance of Messrs Kirkpatrick, Skelton, and Wright. The lastnamed is filling the position of Mr. Kirkpatrick, w!io is at. present in camp. At present the boys are wiring the workshop in preparation for the installation of electric light. The building is very well equipped with lathes, boring and shaping machines, etc., and many of the simple tools were made by the lads themselves. A squad was engaged in the making of heavy bench vises when the visit was made. The party was particularly interested in the work that was being done, and it was admitted that the class of work was quite equal to that which would be done by fifth or sixth year apprentices in regular trade, and that the instruction was of an intensely practical nature, and the visitors expressed their pleasure at having seen the boys at this work. In the top storey of the building a juniod class of 30 was at work on mechanical drawing, which is an essential adjunct to the touching of engineering. From this department an adjournment was made to the cookery room, where the party was entertained to a hot dinner cooked by a first year girl. It was explained that a yearly cookery competition was held, and the points were awarded by the instructress, Miss Taylor, and Mrs. Gray, for preparation, setting of table, clearing away, and cost of the meal, etc. A handsome gold medal has been given for competition this year by Mr. J. W. Hayden. The visitors were delighted with the meal, which comprised meat, three vegetables, and two sweets, at a total cost of 3s lid, and when it was explained that the student, Miss Muriel Reid, was only 14 years of age, they were most enthusiastic in their praise.

In the course of a general conversation, the question of establishing a carpentry and joinery class on the same sound lines as the engineering class was discussed at length. The director pointed out that there was a very real need for such a class in any important technical school One of the obstacles was lack of funds, but lie hoped that before the end of the year a sufficient amount would be forthcoming to enable the board to appoint an expert instructor, and so remove the disability under which master carpenters suffer at present in regard .to obtaining suitable apprentices. Moreover, even if the boy did not enter the trade, the training he would receive would be of incalculable value to him in any walk of life, particularly so to a boy who would later take up farm work, for a knowledge of carpentry or engineering would be useful every day of the year. Inquiry was made as to what was the director's idea in regard to the technical work of (lie future, and Mr. (!ray replied that he believed the ideal was to have strong day classes where the boys received a good training for three or four years, when employers requiring apprentices could make a selection from the boys at the college, and thus do away with the trouble now often experienced in employing boys who had no aptitude for the work. He also remarked that no hardships on the part of the employers were called for in allowing concessions in the time of their apprentices, for the time they spent at the schools would be •••obably more valuable to the employers | uejitualiy than if the boys had worked • right o« is the reirultu- .tradg routing

There was r.o do'.ibl whatever that a lad with three or four years practical training was far ahead of a boy straight from school or off the street. It \vas his firm conviction that at technical school:-; employers and employees met on neutral ground. Both had boys at (he schools and each aimed at a thorough education for his boy.

The employers present agreed that it would be n great benefit if a thorough course in earpentrv aiuf joinery could be established, and bjfore '.»ii v ' n S t' lo kuilding expressed their pleasure at what they had seen and their hearty appreciation of the efforts of the director and his staff, and promised to bring the good work of the. Technical College before the members of their association. An opinion was expressed that the public would take more interest in the work being done and would visit the school if they were aware of the high class of work being done. Mr. ft ray replied that he would be only too pleased to conduct anvone interested over the institution.