STRATFORD TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 March 1919, Page 3

STRATFORD TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE. The committe set up by the Taranaki Education Board, to go into the matter connected with the establishment of a Technical High School at Stratford, reported at Wednesday's meeting that the site chosen is situated ou the northwestern part of the section, being the highest part of the section. They recommended that provision be made for 300 pupils, their opinion being based on the present and last year's attendance at the DL4i>i High School, which was 168 in 1918 ai.d 214 in 1919. When the classes in commercial work were opened, and this must take place at the end oi March at latest, the attendance would be further increased by at least 20—Stratford children at present taking commercial work in the Convent School and at the Technical College in | New Plymouth. It was reasonable to assume that with i the subjects taken at a Technical High School which were not taken at a Distinct High School, the school would open with close on 300 pupil 3. Staffing.—The report continued:—At present there are six general assistants, but the average attendance for the year is sure to warrant seven at the end of the year. We are basing our recommendations however on the assumption that the school will have an attendance of not less than 200—yearly average for 1919—headmaster and six assistants and one special teacher whose time will be fully employed in the school taking agriculture, dairy science, and similar subjects—in all, eight regular teachers. In addition, special teachers will be required as follows:—Commercial work, domestic science, woodwork and ironwork. 'As the school will be tinder the control of the Education Board, an interchange of teachers in these subjects may be arranged. At the present time in this school all pupils in the first and second years take most of the rural subjects, no matter what other work they do, or to what division they belong—the girls taking domestic science and horticulture, the boys carpentry and agriculture—and this course it seems to us, is sure to be maintained., As the school will be essentially a. science school, and as science classes should not be more than 24 to 26, two rooms should be fitted up for science work. One room should be used by the Ist and 2nd year students, and the other, requiring more delicate apparatus, by the students taking advanced work. Building.—The committee went very carefully into the type of building required to suit the requirements of the district, and recommended that adequate accommodation be applied for. Architect.—We are not prepared to recommend the employment of the Government architect unless the plana and specifications are approved of by the iloard. Erection of building.—We are of the opinion that the erection of the school should be undertaken by the Board's staff. As the whole of the joinery, etc., can he made in the Board's factory this should prove economical to the Department. Time of opening.—As it is intended to disestablish the District Hifh Schoul at the end of the present vear, it will be obvious to members that no time -•hould be lost in getting the work underway. The report was adopted.