TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1920, Page 6

TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

THE WORK IN TARANAKI. The Director of the New Plymouth Technical College reported to the Taranaki Education Board on the Manual, Technical and Agricultural Instruction foy the past month:— The attendance at the New Plymouth Technical' College during the month at tlie day school totalled 95, and at the evening classes 208. At Eltliam dressmaking classes had been re-commenced, and also classes in shorthand and typewriting. .. AGRICULTURE. Mr. Johnson reported as follows: Thirty visits have been paid to primary schools. In almost every case there is much keener interest shown by both teachers and pupils. Much headway has been made in the matter of school ground improvement. I have interviewed representatives of the committees at Te Kiri, York Road, Mangatoki, Punpangahu ,and RiVerlea. In all cases good enthusiasm, was shown and definite plans arrived at. Working bees were held at Ohangai, Tawhiti, and Ngaere, the attendance being good in each case. On the sth I visited liltham school and supervised the taking and planting of 2000 cuttings of Eleagnus and 500 of Golden Akeake, which are to be for use in the new school reserve.

Instruction has been given at Stratford in: (1) Pruning and attention of fruit trees; (2) Propagation by cutting of hedge plants. I have with Mr. Burley, continued w.ith the advanced Agricultural Chemistry. The attendance ou an average is not great but the interest nnd enthusiasm shown is greater than I had anticipated. Mr. Burley reports as follows: —The work in Agriculture and Dairy Science has been mostly confined to indoor work with senior classes; the,, only outside work being pruning. The recent spell of severe frosts made observations of the varieties of eucalyptus rather interesting. It lias been found that all trees showing good growth have not suffered at all, but of the trees' more recently put in some have suffered pretty severer ly. On the seedling trees put out in pots last season the frosts have been pretty severe but careful observation will be made this month a more detailed description submitted in the next report. Mr. K. Syme . reports as follows: During the month I visited fifty-one school's. The work is at present confined largely to indoor experimental studies of plante and soils as set out for St<l. 6 examination at the end of the year. Work outside lias practically ceased except for the planting of hedges and ornamental shrubs, and in this connection school committees are giving teachers great assistance.

TJACHERS' CLASSES. Mr. Johnson reported:— At Stratford in both Agriculture and Dairy Science the attendance has shown an improvement both in numbers and The time devoted to the method of teaching a science subject will, I feel sure, be of great benefit to the younger teachers. At present In the smaller schools it is not the knowledge of the subject we find lacking but the knowledge of how to handle it. The science correspondence papers have arrived fairly punctually, and it is evident that an honest effort to master the sciences is being put forth. At the meeting of the Tai'anaki Education Board /csierday tin chairman (Mr. P. J. White) extended a welcome to the new Senior Inspect. Mr. J. A. Valentine, late of South Canterbury. The chairman vewarked that they haa been particularly fortunate in their inspectors in the past, and ho was confident they would have the hearty cooperation 'of Mr. Valintine for the general good of education in- this district. In reply, Mr. Valintine said Tarahaki ha<yong been noted for the efficiency of its methods, and looking round lie had impressed with tjie definite forward improvements made. He assured the Board of liis co-operation in all tlwt was for the good of the young people committed to their charge.