Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,

Cork Independent, 18 October 2012

“Technical Memories (Part 31) –Men of Action”

“At the library of the School of Art, last evening, a very interesting presentation took place when the Committee, the staffs of the Cork Technical Schools, and the pupils united in paying tribute to Mr. A.F. Sharman Crawford on his retirement from active participation in the affairs of the committee, of which he had been chairman for a period of 16 years” (Cork Examiner, 19 February, 1926).

As spring unrolled itself in 1926, change was also upon the Crawford Technical Institute as its founder, Arthur Frederick Sharman Crawford, stepped down from the institute’s management committee after 16 years. He was presented with an illuminated address on Roman vellum bound in a hand worked leather cover in a copper casket, jewelled with enamels and decorated with Celtic ornament. The address, which was in Irish and English, and consisted of four pages of illumination, was the work of Mr. John Power, second master of the Cork School of Art. The casquet, which was executed by James Archer, was from a design by Miss Gladys Scott. The Cork arms appeared in painted enamels. The leather cover, by Miss Scott, contained the Crawford arms and motto. Lord Mayor of Cork, James French did the presentation honours and a large number of guests were present, which included the Principal of the Crawford Technical Institute, J.F. King. Mr Crawford in reply, said he was very glad to have a record in years to come; noting that it would be most interesting for future generations. He added that during his 16 years’ association with technical education, speaking was not his forte but he hoped, he had been a man of action more than speech.

Crawford left a strong management committee in charge.  In the Cork Examiner on 17 November 1926, a summary was published of the Department Inspector’s report on the working of the scheme of technical instruction in operation in Cork City during the 1925-26 session. The educational programme was similar to that of preceding years and steady progress was made in the majority of the courses of study. The teaching of physics and chemistry had been maintained for many years at a high level of efficiency; instruction in many branches of mechanical, motor car, and electrical engineering had shown gradual improvement and had reached a “very satisfactory standard”. In view of the growing importance of motor car and electrical engineering, it was hoped that there would still a still further increase in the enrolment in the next session. In workshop practice it was suggested that instruction be given in the general use of machines, such as cutting speeds for different materials, etc. In carpentry and joinery, it was proposed that hand sketches should receive more careful attention so as to give a fair representation of the proportion of parts. In cabinet-making it was advised that apprentices should undergo a good course of manual instruction in wood before attempting cabinet work. In building construction the arrangement of holding all classes simultaneously in one room was unsatisfactory, and was pointed out as needed remedying. The course in domestic economy also showed improvement both in teaching and in the standard of efficiency of the students. A difficulty in the needlework classes for the unemployed was the inability of many of the students to purchase materials, and such students were engaged mainly in mending garments. The shirt-making classes failed to attract students in the trade and needed a review.  

In the same month, on the 10 November 1926, key members involved in technical education in Cork appeared before the Technical Commission of the Irish Free State. Its background dated to 1924 when Technical Instruction was assigned by the Ministers and Secretaries Act to the Minister for Education and shortly afterwards a Commission on Vocational Education was set up. The report of this Commission was the basis of the Vocational Education Act of 1930. The technical commission held 75 nationwide meetings and 129 witnesses were interviewed.

The report by the Cork group presented evidence under the headings of finance, buildings, day technical schools, co-ordination, adult education, art instruction and music. The group comprised W. Ellis, Vice Chairman of Cork County Borough Technical Committee, J.F. King, Principal of the Crawford Institute and D.J. Coakley, Principal of the Municipal School of Commerce. On finance, they noted that the then basis of distribution of the endowment grant was unsatisfactory. Although the population of Cork had increased since the Technical Instruction Act of 1899 came into force, the grant  income was less in 1926 than it was originally due to the fact that the percentage of increase in other boroughs was higher. A fairer basis for distribution was proposed based on the ratio of the population availing of the advantages of technical instruction. They also proposed that the striking of the local rate for Technical Instruction be no longer “permissive” but mandatory and that the limit of 2d. in the pound be abolished as was the case in Northern Ireland. In addition the attendance grants for numbers attending was unsatisfactory and needed changing. All in all in terms of finance, the grant system of funding needed to be reviewed.

To be continued…

Caption:

663a. Advertisement for The Munster Arcade, Cork, March 1926 (source: Cork City Library)