INSIGHT INTO WORK

Taranaki Daily News, 26 September 1940, Page 4

INSIGHT INTO WORK

HIGH SCHOOL INSPECTED STRATFORD ACTIVITIES An insight into technical and vocational education at Stratford Technical High School was gained by employers, parents and others interested, when the school was opened for inspcction yesterday morning. The visitors were shown through the various departments of the school by the principal, Mr. A. H. R. Amess. . The party was first entertained at morning tea and was then shown the arts and crafts room, the cookery room, where girls are trained in home and domestic science. There was much of interest in the woodwork room and the well-equipped engineering workshop. The visitors were both surprised and pleased at the nature and quality of the plant in both departments, where the boys were seen at work. Generally, it was explained^ the pupils bought material for articles they desired to make and were allowed to take them home. For certain instructional exercises the materials were supplied. Lathes, drilling machines and similar power-driven appliances aroused considerable interest in the workshop, while a planer in the woodwork department attracted similar attention. The greater part of the plant was procured just before the war and some of it is now practically unobtainable.

Special Display of Work. A special display of work was arranged in the school's commercial department. The visitors, who were appreciative of the efforts taken to display the work, were interested to watch the progress of training in shorthand, typewriting, bookkeeping and allied subjects. - In the laboratory, girls were engaged in advanced scholarship work. In the music room students were being trained in musical appreciation, most

of the pupils being those who intend to go into training ■ college and enter the teaching profession. The party als'o visited the farm, most attention being concentrated on the piggery, one of the most up-to-date in Taranaki in lay-out and design of houses and paddocks. The school started its stud with a selected boar and two sows from the best strains obtainable arid lias built up an enviable rcputation for its pigs, which are sought by huyers in various paris of the North and South Islands. The best sow has been nine timcs to shows and has brought back an award every time, mostly firsts. .Saies from the piggery for the year just finished totalled £100. Mr. Amess pointed out that the houses were higher than was the usual practice but that had been done so that it was more comfortable to move about inside them. The cleanliness of the houses and the absence of mud holes in the paddocks gave the lie to the common assumption that dirt and pigs are inseparable. All the houses were built and the fencing of the pig paddocks was done by the boys with the aid of the instruction they have received in and the facilities provided by the woodwork and engineering workshops.