358 THE TRADES SCHOOL IN THE TRANSVAAL. 



eerns as well as those necessary in household management, and 

 to keep poultry records and recipe books. Courses in nature 

 study (41) and domestic hygiene should be an integral part of 

 the instruction. The two orphanage industrial schools — Lang- 

 laagte and Potchefstroom — provide for girls. Here again, I do 

 not criticise, but, in my opinion there is room for development in 

 the direction of the farm-yard and the garden. It will be under- 

 stood that 1 do not urge the further provision of orphanages in 

 tiie foregoing remarks, but the provision of industrial schools 

 for both sexes, in which instruction in farming industries pre- 

 dominates. 



The trades school directs that desire for power ever present 

 ill the human race towards the control of materials and things, 

 by a training in construction and a developing of the wish to 

 create. And then the vocational instruction which is the means 

 to that end, has a moral atmosphere of its own ; thus containing 

 the two essential attributes for any system of education which is 

 to be satisfactory — an ethical as well as an utilitarian objective. 



The teacher, realising his enormous responsibilities to the 

 youth of South Africa, and of the importance of making the 

 {>eople understand that what the boy becomes so will this country 

 be, is crying to you, as employers controlling labour, that there 

 is a better way than has hitherto been followed. And I, an engi- 

 neer by previous training and profession, stand merely as a 

 finger-post on the road, as having experience of these things — 

 1 had almost said bitter experience — to point out the way. I, 

 therefore, feel that no apology is necessary iit bringing this sub- 

 ject forward, although I do apologise for the way in which I 

 have presented it. In conclusion, I may direct attention to the 

 following four resolutions of the Conference on Technical Edu- 

 cation, and I beg to sul)mit nw system of trades schools to con- 

 structive criticism : — 



Rcsohitioii II. A. 3. 



That for the fullest advantage to accrue from the establishment of 

 schools, it is essential that every young boy previous to workinir at 

 modern form of skilled trade shall have received suitable preparation for 

 tliat adult occupation in a vocational school. 



Rcsoliilioii II. C. 14. 



That this Conference is of opinion that industrial and trades schools, 

 at which apprentices are taught throughout their apprenticeship would 

 not be a success, but that at least the first two years of an indentured 

 apprenticeship should be spent at a trade school, the remainder under 

 economic manufacturing conditions in the works. During the latter 

 period of their apprenticesliip the apprentices should be obliged to .Utend 

 lechnical classes according to the trades for which they have entered. 



Resolution II. C. 19. 



That this Conference is strongly of opinion that no system of technical 

 education will be a complete success unless Government Departments and 

 other employers of labour thoroughly recognise the qualifications of cech- 

 rically trained apprentices either by means of increased wages accorduig 

 to the improved work done, or by promotion in the service. 



