TECHNICAL EDUCATION AT GORDON’S COLLEGE, ABERDEEN.
A little over two years ago (March 22, 1884), under the title of [‘A Practical Science and Art School],’ we gave an account of the transformation that had taken place at Gordon’s College, Aberdeen, the old ‘hospital’ having been converted into a day and evening school, both possessing sections specially devoted to technical instruction. The first independent examination of the College (day-school) has just been made, the examiners being Professor Birrell of St Andrews, and Professor Kennedy of University College, London, who report highly on the appearance made and the work done by the pupils, and on the general condition of the College. They mention that the College has so prospered under its new constitution, that whereas the pupils in attendance previous to 1881 at no time exceeded two hundred, the number on the register for this session (1885-86) exceeds eight hundred. Of these, one hundred and twenty are foundationers, who are entitled to free education, books, and an allowance of £15, 12s. per annum for maintenance and clothing, &c.; and this is all that remains of the ‘hospital’ system. We excerpt the portion of the Report bearing on ‘Handicraft,’ as being of general interest:
‘A certain number of the most promising boys in the third division are allowed to receive workshop instruction for from one and a half to two hours a week; while in the fourth and fifth divisions of the Commercial School it forms a regular subject of instruction, to which about four hours a week are allotted. Some boys have only one year of this work, some (occasionally) over two years. A year and a half seems to be about the average. The work done by individual pupils depends upon their ability and probable future employment, each having free choice so far as it is practicable. All boys occupy themselves with simple woodwork for about a year after entering. Later on, they obtain practice in fitter’s work (filing, chipping, scraping, &c.), and in work at simple machine tools (simple and screw-cutting lathes and planing-machines), also in forging and greensand moulding. Those who require it are also taught something of tinplate and plumber’s work. From twenty to twenty-five lads work in the workshop at one time—there is not room for more. At present, about eighty lads in all are receiving practical instruction in four detachments. Earlier in the session (a large number of the more advanced boys having left for situations in the early spring), the total number was about one hundred and twenty-five, receiving instruction in five divisions.
‘For the purposes of inspection, we requested that boys at all the different stages might be put in the workshop simultaneously, in order that both elementary and advanced work might be examined. The younger boys were making wooden joints, half-lap, scarf, dovetail, &c.; and from this, various grades of work were represented up to the different parts of a slide-rest lathe which was in process of construction. There seemed no tendency to take the work as play; it was carried on as seriously and in the same spirit as every other part of the educational course. The results were correspondingly satisfactory. It is not intended or supposed that work of this kind will supersede the necessity of apprenticeship in practical work; but it is believed that it will send the boys to their apprenticeship much better prepared than they would otherwise be to take advantage of the opportunities they then have of learning, and much more likely to be soon useful to their employers. Carried on in the spirit in which the workshop at Gordon’s College is carried on, these results are certainly achieved, and can only be spoken of in terms of thorough commendation. The work turned out by the boys was not, of course, equal to that of journeymen; but judged from its own point of view, as the work of boys having had at most very little training, it was as satisfactory in execution as in intention.’
It may not be out of place to mention that Mr F. Grant Ogilvie, the Science teacher at Gordon’s College, has recently been appointed Principal of the Heriot-Watt College, Edinburgh; while Mr T. A. Clark, Superintendent of the workshop at Gordon’s College, has been appointed to the corresponding post at Heriot’s Hospital School.