TECHNICAL EDUCATION 163 



does not know the meaning of an orthogonal projection, and is 

 wholly ignorant of the scientific part of descriptive geometry ; 

 but he is familiar with the methods of representing the most 

 complete structures in such a way that the most accomplished 

 mathematician shall have no fault to find with his work, while 

 it will be intelligible to the workman of average experience. 

 These draughtsmen cannot be had in parish schools, and to offer 

 those in towns a few shillings a head for such of their students 

 as may pass an examination is a farce. These small payments 

 are of great use to the professional teacher, whose business it is 

 to teach, and who can send up men for examination in many 

 classes, but payment by I'esults will hardly ever induce draughts- 

 men to form classes. Then, for mechanical draughting, a large 

 space is required for each pupil, a good light, at least two hours' 

 continuous work at each lesson, a collection of somewhat ex- 

 pensive drawings and much more expensive models, and all 

 these things cannot be paid for out of the 340/. allotted to this 

 branch of science in Great Britain, nor out of any increased sum 

 earned on the same plan. Lastly, the instruments used are ex- 

 pensive, and such as young mechanics can rarely afford to buy. 

 On all these grounds, which distinguish this branch from most 

 of the other branches of mechanical science, it must be separated 

 from these, and encouraged on a wholly different plan. 



/ therefore propose that every Government school of art or 

 /'. of u-hich there are about 100, should be required to open 

 classes of mechanical dr'uci/ni, <:///'/ that these classes should be 

 taught lnj professional draughtsmen who should receive a 

 salary such as would make it well worth while for the leading 

 men in each town to compete for the appointment in addition, 

 the teacher should receive a portion of the fees paid by all 

 classes of students, for I am no believer in gratuitous in- 

 struction. 



Some classes are even now open for this branch of drawing, 

 and the students in these do not seem to be counted in Captain 

 Donnelly's Report, nor do I find any special mention of them 

 in the general report of the department. I will refrain from 

 criticising the work done in these classes, taught by men who 

 are really good masters of artistic drawing, and who might, 

 perhaps, teach elementary geometrical projection, having ob- 



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