AN ENCOURAGING REPORT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10298, 29 July 1911, Page 5

AN ENCOURAGING REPORT.

FO.. THE MASTERTON TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

The following report Trom Mr E. 0. Isaac, Govera,nw?mt Inspector of Technical Schools, was read at' last au'igjhit'iß meeting of Managers of the Mjaisterton ieohtiioal School:— BUILDING.— The building as a whole is im excellent order and condition . Certain, imiprovements have been madle in the grounds, and in the smce immediately in front of the braiding, and thece have contributed to the general improvement of the surroundings of the school.

A modificationoorf r the artificial lighting of the Art room is very necessary. The scattered lights are quit© unsuitable' for drawing, in Light and. shade. A re-arrangement of .tine Winds, .the rollers of which, should he fixed -at the bottom of thte window, would make-' it possible to. oontaol the light for classes held during the day. Should classes in electricity and chemistry be established as proposed (and for the conduct of which a good room is available), the arrangements for practical work wall require some adjustment. The necessary alteration. «<an be effected at small cost. Additional furniture is also required' for the Art room, such as drawing 'stools "or ."donkeys," and small movable tables with., sloping tops>

•.Hie total number of students-,in. at-, tendaiace is not large, but tliis>. will probably be remedied as the season/ advances.

\ TEACHING.— Art: There is a marked improvement in' the. number of studeoitis receiving instruction in Art subjects as comipareid with previous years,: and. in the work of the classes generally. The difficulties; of conducting classes in Art subjects in towns where only a limited number of students is available are appreciated, but white every induce-, mesnt should be offered to young persons to attend the classes these inducements should not take the form of suggesting ''short cuts'** to efficiency nor should picture making be allowed apart from the possession' on the part of students of the necessary .preliminary training in drawing leading to it. Flat copies., except for purposes of reference, should on no account be used for class work. From the foregoing remarks it is ■ wot to be inferred that the methods of instruction are not up to the stan<d'ard that should be set, by a .competent teacher. The work a,s a wlvoie is good, and sliould 1 receive iavg«r patronage.

;?<>OMMERGIAL SUB^CTS.— The demand for instruction in' Rubjeots related to commerce appears to be good. The number of students in attendance, i 9 in excess of all otUcr clas&es.

' Dressmaking is on. the whole &atisfßaotorily taught,...without the aid of either charts- or other mechanical device® for draughting patterns.

The class in ;th© Jamior.; Gival. Service. ' ,Exajninatio>n is incharge of- a capable instructor, / W(X)Ii=<SLASSINGv Etc, The appear to have secured the services: of an/'.* instru-otor 1 ' in wool- • cjassda^.etc.*<who is. ,tq. deial with wqql frpm' many sides, and if the classes are conducted on the line® proposed, the subjects will be treated in a way that should strongly appeal to the farming community ,svnd produce good results.; iruUMBINCr.— The roll'number of the clashes in both the theory and practice of plumbing is small, and the continual absence of pupils Caused by the claims of country work militates l against the success of tlie work of the' classes as a whole.