47

E.—s

The syllabus of 1.914 attaches special importance to the co-ordination of drawing and handwork, and it is hoped, now that teachers have had a year's experience of the revised sydlabus, that classes will be brought more into line with the requirements. In this connection the syllabus says, " The instructic n in drawing should be directed to the cultivation of the pupil's power of graphic expression. Since complete graphic expression calls for careful observation, critical judgment, and some degree of manual dexterity, it should be the aim of the teacher to lead the pupil through practice and experience to observe accurately, and to record as faithfully and as truly as possible the results of their observations. To this end the instruction should from the first be correlated as far as piaoticaole with other subjects of the school course, and with modelling in clay or plasticine and other forms of educational handwork." Drawing includes instrumental drawing, freehand, drawing from copies, drawing of objects, brush drawing, and designed colour work, and on the whole varies from fair to satisfactory. Much of the handwork is disappointing, not in. the quality of the individual workpresented, but in the general aimlessness and lack of co-ordination with other subjects of instruction. The impoitance of properly correlated schemes of handwork throughout the school is emphasized by Mr. Howe, senior woodwork instructoi, in his annual report. Mr. Howe says, " The work (woodwork) would be much more successful if correlated schemes of handwork were adopted throughout the whole of the primary schools. As an instance (f this I noted that the boys from one school where such schemes have been in vogue for years weie able to do 25 per cent, more work in the year than could be obtained from scholars who came from schools where handwork schemes were not on a definite iTasis." Woodwork correlated with instrumental drawing was taken during the year by forty-two primary and nine secondary classes. The work done is seldom lower than very satisfactory, and much of it cannot be classed as lower than very good, a result which is due in a large measuie to the enthusiastic spiiit in which the instructors carry out their duties. Extract from the Report of the Director of the Wellington Technical College. I regret to report that there is still no improvement in our position as regards accommodation, and that in consequence the College is falling far behind the position it should occupy. The numbers attending the various classes of the College show a small decrease over those for the previous year, but are better than those for 1912. An regards regularity of attendance, the record for the day technical school is very satisfactory, while in the associated classes the majority of the students made good attendances, except during the third and fourth quarters of the year, when the attendance was badly affected by the absence of students on military duty or working overtime in place of those away on military duty. Out of 1,402 students enrolled during the year, 987 took grouped courses of some value, a percentage of 70-4, as compared with 674 per cent, for the year 1913, showing a slight improvement. Of about 695 fee-paying students 230 took grouped courses, and of about 690 free-place students only about 7 failed to take a grouped course. In addition to students taught at the College, some 350 students were targht elsewhere, ai follows: Wellington Boys' College (woodwork and drawing), Girls' College (drawing and design), Training College (drawing, blackboard illustration, &c), also probationers and public-school teachers (drawing, illustration, &c). Associated Classes. —Art : My report of last year applies closely to the work of this year. Science, mathematics, engineering, building trades : These classes have been considerably affected by the war. In the plumbing-practice classes a useful addition to the equipment is a mezzanine floor in the workshop, on which the senior students are able to erect and fix sanitary lavatory, and scullery ■•* apparatus, as in the ordinary practice of their trade, with all pipes and connections for drainage, water, and ventilation, &c. Several plumbing firms in the town presented the necessary fittings. Arrangements have also been made for training students in the use of cast-iron drain-pipes, and also for other branches of the trade outside the ordinary leadwork. In the engineering shop several new tools and many accessories and appliances have been bought or made during the year. The shop p.actice has now reached a high level of efficiency. Commercial classes : These classes maintain the position reached last year. Domestic economy : The classes in domestic economy continue to increase, in spite of the very unfavourable conditions. The annual exhibition and sale of products was entirely successful. Day Technical School. —The numbers were considerably larger than for 1913, and good work was done in all classes. British National Competitions for Art Students. —Sixteen students forwarded forty-eight works and obtained one book prize for shaded drawing of figure from the nude, and nine were commended for exhibits of modelled head from life, shaded drawing of trees from nature, design for damask serviette, shaded drawings of heads from life, water-colour painting of bird, anatomical studies of legs, and design for border of damask tablecloth. Buildings and Equipment. —The buildings have been kept in good order throughout the year. The equipment has been added to where necessary, though much more is required in every branch of the work. It is not possible, however, to use much more in our present quarters. The thanks of the school are due to the Wellington City Corporation, who contributed £300 to the funds of the school during the year, and to the following contributors of prizes for competition among day and evening students in the annual class examinations : Wellington Gas Company, McLeod, Weir, and'Hopkirk, A. T. Clarke, W. S. Wheeler, O. S. Watkins, H. D. Vickery, Miss K. Williams, Wright and Carmen, Collins Bros, and Co., E. F. Jones, J. Marchbanks, G. W. Wilton and Co. (Limited), Ocean Accident and Guarantee Corporation. Sixteen Callander Memorial Scholarships of £5 each, wore awarded, distributed as follows: Plastering and mouldings 1 ; domestic economy, 3 ; plumbing, 5 ; mechanical engineering, 5 ; electrical engineering, 1 ; building-construction, 1. W. S. La Trobe, Director.