Technical Education At The Boys' School.

TECHNICAL EDUCATION AT THE BOYS' SCHOOL .

A "PEW weeks since wo published a letter from a zealous supporter of the Masonic Charitable Institutions—who . however , preferred to hide his identity under

the nomdeplume " AN EMPLOYER OF LABOUR "—on the subject of the training of the lads at the Masonic School , at Wood Green . This was followed , the next week , by a statement from one of the offieials of the School , in the

person of Bro . A . 1 . Godson Deputy Prov . Grand Master of Worcestershire , a member of the House Committee of the Institution , which wo imagine must have been most ; satisfactory , not . only to our correspondent , but to many

others who are concerned as to the future of the lads at present under the care of the Masonic Brotherhood . Bro . Godson tells us that the question of technical education is one which has already occupied the attention of the

members of the House Committee of the Boys' School . Speaking personally , Brother Godson is of opinion that something must be done , and that quicldy , towards extending the training of the lads at Wood Green . At

present , he says , undivided attention must be given to establishing the Preparatory School on a firm basis , and as soon as that is done he proposes to have a meeting called to discuss the advisabilit y of starting , at the School ,

some branches ot handicraft , such as printing and carpentry . This is gratifying news to us , and although in the face of Bro . Godson ' s statement—that the question has already received attention from the Committee—we

cannot claim for our correspondent the honour of havinginaugurated a much needed addition to our course of training , we yet feel his letter appeared at a most opportune moment , and that it has already borne good fruit .

Bro . Godson ' s proposal to have a meeting to " dismiss the advisability of starting at the School some branches of handicraft " appears now to be almost unnecessary , for as Chairman of the meeting- at Wood Green held on

Tuesday last , in connection with the fixing of the corner stone of the new hall , he said it was the wish of the executive to send the boys out into the world , not merely as clerics but

as good handicraftsmen . Such being the case it is hard I v necessary , we imagine , to hold a meeting to discuss the advisability of making the addition . The supporters of the School have sufficient confidence in their Committee to

accept any proposition they may submit on such a subject without question , and the only point on which a meeting may now be necessary is that of deciding to what ex ! on " the technical education shall be carried , and where the

money is to come from which will be needed in connection with it . Brother Godson stated on Tuesday that at leasj £ 1200 a year would be required for this technical education—his proposal being to make a start with two branches

of trade only , printing and carpentering—and while wo are not in a position to question the " accuracy of his estimate , because we are unaware of the bases- on which it is calculated , we aio of opinion he has

placed his requirements fur above what should bo necessary . Assuming that the sum ho states would be needed each year in connection with the two branches of

trade he mentions would be equally divided , we have £ > J 00 per year with which to instruct the lads in cither printing or carpentering . Although even that sum would be well spent if it was the means of giving a start in life to some

Technical Education At The Boys' School.

of those educated in the School , we are of opinion the work might be carried on at a much lower cost . We will not attempt to prove our views so far aft carpentering is concerned , because we have no practical knowledge of that

subject—there are many members of the Craft who could , however , enlighten us on this branch—but as regards printing we feel we are in a position to say something , inasmuch as we have a -practical knowledge of its several

branches . Wo should exnect to give a fair insight into the business of printing to a large number of the pupils , even if not to all of them , at a considerably less cost than £ 600 a year , even if it were not possible to do so without any

charge on the Institution beyond the first outlay on plant . Assuming that some forty la ^ s leave the School each year , and that it is decided to give half of them a twelvemonth ' s training- in the printing- office of the Institution—the other

half being similarly cared for in the carpenter ' s shop , we should hn , ve a class of twenty lads , who , we suppose would spond half their time in the workshop and the other half in ordinary school training-. These lads could not , of course

do much at first , and it would be unreasonable to expect them to turn out work as well as if produced by expert workmen , but under proper supervision they could do something , and this something should be sufficient to nearly

pay expenses in connection with the training . We do not know we should recommend the Institution to enter into business competition with the outside world in the earlier days of its efforts , but even

if it did it would have many similar examples to refer to . What we should propose would be to start with the straightforward work ol : the Institution itself , and leave that to recommend the enterprise or otherwise , as

brethren might decide for themselves . There is a great amount of printing- which might legitimately be done at the Boys' School , and if once it could be proved that any work

entrusted to " our Boys " was fairly well done , there are many among the supporters of the Institution who would use their efforts to advance the welfare of the lads cared

for by it , either by sending them work , or by securing situations for them on leaving the School . Doubtless . some thing almost as satisfactory might bo urged by practical

carpenters , but , for reasons already explained , we prefer to leave that subject to brethren who are acquainted with the details of that branch of industry .

We trust enough has been said on the question of technical education to convince the supporters of our School that the work is not only desirable , but that it is practicable , and , that too , without any very serious expenditure .

AH , therefore , wo now want is , for a decision to be arrived it as to what 5 : hall be attempted and an early start made , fhe Chairman , of Tuesday , said ho hoped that before

many months were over the lads would at least be receiving instruction in the two branches of trade referred to , and considerino' his nosition on the House Committee there is

no doubt but that his hope is also the hope of others on that Committee , We may then look for almost immediate action , ponding which we fee ! sure the Commit too will bo pleased to learn the views of brethren g-onoraliv , either in

the form of suggestions , or advice on such technical points as can only result from a pr .-ictical knowledgv . Our columns are at the disposal of any of our readers who

may desire to make their views public , and we trust that some at least will avail themselves of the opportunity thus afforded .