1927-1928 - Department of Education and Skills

70
A course in Advanced Housewifery and Dressmaking was also
proposed and a large number of applications was received, but
unfortunately it was found impossible to make suitable arrangements.
Electrical. Equip1nent of a MODorCar.-This course was held at
Ringsend Technical School, and was attended by' teachers of
Mechanical and Electrical Engineering and Applied Science. The
course was of a distinctly practical nature, consisting mainly of
actual work on the car. The lighting, starting and ignition
systems of several standard makes 'were examined. A special
series of tests and demonstrations were carried out on a Rot.ax
equipment, bench-mounted for the purpose. The faults Iiable to
occur in practice were deliberately made on the set and the syrup,
toms noted for the purpose of future diagnosis of faults in actual
cars. The lectures dealt with the principle, construction and
action of dynamos, self-starters, cut-outs, ignition coils and magnetos,
switching gear, protective devices and accessories such as
horns, screen-wipers, &c. The methods employed for I' gulation
of dynamo output were fully dealt with, and the tests for location
of faults in dynamos, starters, magnetos, coils and condensers
were carried out by the students. These tests were later seen in
actual practice during a visit of the class to the Automobile Service
Depot, Pearse Street, Dublin.
Furniture Design.-This course was given at the Metropolitan
School of Art. It was attended mainly by the group of Manual
Instructors trained by the Department in 1925-26. The work of
the course was on new lines, the object being to direct the instructors
towards the development of Furniture and W oodcraft with
a distinc~ive national character. Imitation Chippendale, catalogue
designs and stock mouldings were eliminated in favour of
severe forms, with colour as an outstanding feature. The central
feature of the scheme of design-the sugan chair-aroused
general interest among the instructors. A new type of chair of
varied design was introduced, a new technique in chair construction,
the use of colour in the seat and back, and the interesting
craft of Suganiocht. Owing to the peculiar technique of the
woodcraft construction, to the Suganiocht, to the dyeing of
the rope and the working out of pattern designs, much time had
to be devoted to practical work. Lectures had of necessity to be
brief, but the discussion on the lectures proved Of very great
value.
General, A1,t.-Thirteen teacher-students were taken as a group
and given collective instruction in Object Drawing, Design of
Ornament, Craftwork in Leather and Stencilling, Geometry and
Perspective and Methods of Teaching. The work was adapted
to the conditions and r'equir ements of local technical schools and
a considerable amount of material for subsequent use was
collected and prepared during the course. Five teacher-students,
71
;\'h~ :vere qualified for more advanced work, were given special
ll1dIVldual exercises according to .their requirements. These
car:i~d out satisfactory work in Drawing from Life, Figure cornpOSItIon,
Metal work and Enamelling, Design, and the study of
Ornament in the National Museum.
Moder» Concrete Work.-This course was conducted at Bolton
Street Technical Schools, Dublin. The course was attended by
teachers of Building Trades subjects and by Manual Instructors
with some Building Trades qualifications. Lectures and demonstrations,
with a course of practical work, were .given on if
syllabus which included consideration of the essentials of zood
concrete work and selection of materials, specification standards
and testing' methods, mixing and mixers, construction of forms
fOT work of various types, concrete blocks, moulded work, surface
finish, waterproofing and colouring. A demonstration in
external plastering was given by a master plasterer and practical
work was carried out by the students under his direction. Visits
were paid to inspect concrete work of various types in progress
a~ (1) the housing scheme at Milltown, County Dublin, (2) the
Liffey tunnel, (3) the Dundalk-Drogheda Main Road scheme, arrd
(4) the Shannon Electricity Scheme, Ardnacrusha and O'Brien's
Bridge.
Composite Course in Shorthand, Typewriting and l1-ish.-'l'his
course was given at the Rathmines Municipal Technical Institute,
and was attended by teachers of Commercial subjects who had
not had an opportunity of obtaining qualifications in Shorthand
and Typewriting. Preference was given to applicants who
already possessed some knowledge of Irish, and special attent.ion
wa~ paId t.o t~e study of phonetics leading up to the phonographic
wrrting of Irish. A demonstration of Shorthand-writinz on the
Blackboard was given by an expert, the speed varying b'om 160
to 2~0 words per minute, and there was also a special demonstration
of Touch Typewriting at speeds varying from 140 to 170
words per minute.
Physics.-This course was attended by 13 secondary school
teac~ers, .of whom seven passed the examinations prescribed for
qUalIficatIOns to teach the subject to Leaving Certificate classes.
Chernistry.-The normal .... course is intended to require two
flu~mers' work.. Ni~eteen teachers passed the examinations prescrIbed
for qualifications to teach Chemistry in Secondary Schools.
of RuraL. Science.-:-This cou~se dealt with the general principles
.IhyslCs, chemistry and biology and their special reference to
agrIculture.
'
General Elementa.ry Science.-These courses are conducted .
p~:suance of the policy of enabling the smaller secondary schoo{:
"'f IC~ ~rc una~le to employ specialist teachers, to have membe~
o ten' teachmg staffs qualified in Science. The elementary