Technical Education in Waimate.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 172, 6 July 1901, Page 3

Technical Education in Waimate.

Despite the most unpropitions weather, there was a large attendance of ladies and gentlemen at a meeting on the above question on Thursday evening in the school. Mr .1. Manchester (Mayor of W aim ate) was voted to the chair, and humorously, as is his wont, announced the meeting open. He. read an apology from Dr Barclay. The Rev. George Barclay hoped something practical would come of this meeting, which was called to take advantage of the- Technical Instruction Act of last session. This was to promote an education of a certain kind—subjects intensely practical. Five kinds were specified, school, continuation (not to opened earlier than 4 p.m.), special classes and association classes, jointly by the Fducation Board or school committee in connection with any other body or college classes. The subjects to be taught comprised almost everything that could be thought of. On the organisation of any these .classes the Government was prepared to pay varying capitation--grants ■ up to fifteen shillings per head for certain subjects. This would be partly expended in paying instructors and purchasing apparatus. The Government was also prepared to make grants for buildings or lease them. Municipal bodies were also empowered to subscribe, and on these or on private subscriptions to grant £ for £ subsidy. Also on duo representation they would grant money for furniture and apparatus. Also the classes must be well taught and would be rigorously inspected. He thought the meeting should, if it pleased, concur in the movement to establish these classes, and also appoint a committee to arrange the subjects to be taught and transact all necessary business. The subject had ■ been taken up vigorously in other places, and be hoped Waimate would not be behindhand, Mr Pitcaithly, headmaster of the school, said be bad previously been adverse to tbe classes but during the past two years he had become greatly in their favour. They saw the countries where this form of education was carried on—Germany and America—were rapidly taktng tbe lead as manufacturing countries. This was because when a lad left school he knew almost as much as tbe average boy here knew when he bad served his time. They started the fundamental principles all