NEW ZEALAND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 19, 23 January 1896, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

The thirteenth annual meeting of bho Councii of bhe New Zealand Educational lnsbibubo was held in the Borough Chambers, Wanganui, on January 7th, Bth and parb of the 9th. Fully thirty representatives from bhovarious educational disbricts were present. The Mayor, F. R. Jacksons, Esq., gave the members of the Council a hearty welcome, and afber a suibablo response on the parb of bhe President, Mr H. Dempsey, the business of the meeting began,

The Commibbee appointed bo reporb on a colonialscaleof staffing schoolsanda colonial scale of salaries reporbed in favour of tho Bcalo of staffing schools drawn up by Mr Davidson, of Otago, and urged the Council to recommend its adoption to bho Minister of Education. The Commibbee also recommended the Council to adopt the resolution, " Thab a colonial scale of salaries is urgently required." The report was adopted, A resolution was passed recommending that all grammatical tests in Sbandards 111. and IV. should be confined to easy sentences. After considerable discussion it was resolved, " Thab in bhe opinion of this Council an Inspector making up bhe reporb on a school should ignore the work of those who have nob made 250 attendances." Wibh reference to freedom of classification, ib was resolved " Thab, in fche opinion of the Council, the system of individual children in Sbandards 1. 1 11. nnd EEL, and recording the pass or

failure of each in ench Sbandards, should k, abolished." Ab the evening sibbino v was resolved, " That bhe Council jL'J heartily thank the Hon. yV, v Reeves for preparing and issuing Reader dealing specially with New Zealand topics." The Executive of the Irietltntl was requested bo take whab acbipn ib, shonu think desirable to make direct payments of teachers general. Ib was also resolved "Thab bhe Minister of Education be an! approached, wibh bhe view of having a da, parbmental examination for the A, B and ft certificates annually, so bhab teachers can obtain these certificates wibhoub keeping, terms ab the University." *

The Presidenb read a very bhooghbiui address on " Sympabhy," a3 necessary in bhe work of bhe beacher, and also as a factor in his relations to his staff, ag ft means to bhe wise cooperation of parent* and commibtee, as a necessity in tha correct asaeaamenb by bhe inspector of tha work of teacher and scholar. A vote oi thanks was accorded Mr Demaey for his, paper. Tho business on bbc agendapapei followed, and after a careful,.and at times! an animated, discussion, the appended; resolutions were adopbed it-

School Committee Representation.-. This Council is of opinion bhab the Idiica..! bion Acb should be amended in bhe direct tion of granting school commibbeea a more equitable system of representation oft Boards of Education than they ab present possess."

Religious Teaching.—Thia Council is of* opinion thab the presenb attempt to intro* duce formal teaching in schools as a part o£ the usual school courae would prove debri-, mental to the interests of education focthe following reason :—l. It would ineviu ably lead to a denominational systemi of education. 2. Ib would result in the> adoption of a religious tesb for teachers, The Council is also of opinion bhab under the presenb Acb the opportunibies-r-if uaeift —for affording religious teaching before or after school hours aro such as to provide, religious instruction to all whose parenta desire it." In reference to this subject i(t> musb be understood that there waa no, hosbiliby on tho parb of the Council to: religious teaching, quite otherwise, bob idwas deemed undesirable thab such teaching; should be undertaken by bhe State.

Instruction and Examination of Purufc Teachers. —lb was agreed thab the Minister of Education bo requested to formulate a colonial scheme for tho examination oE pupil teachers and to make its adoption; compulsory.

Scale of Staffing.—The reporb of tha Commibbee appointed to consider the colonial scale of staffing drawn up by Mp Davidson of Otago, waa considered, and thi, proposed scale was approved of. Th* reasons urged by the Committee are brief!/, these: —(a) The scale ia based on definite; principles providing for the proper diatribution of male and female teachers through-, oub our schools, and for the allocation qf & suitable number of pupils per teacher,. tho requirements of tbe smaller schools being carefully considered in this respect j. (b) bhe adoption of bhis scale would render possible a colonial scale of salaries which,, while nob increasing bhe presenb salary bill,, would maberially benefit bhe poorly-paid teachers in bhe smaller educational districts, and the female aasisbanbs in many oS the large school of bhe colony.

Teachers and University Degrees.— Ib was unanimously agreed that the Neif Zealand Universiby be aßked to restore tha privilege of graduating in arte, without keeping terms, to teachers of five yeara* standing who hold a class D certificate.

Election of Officers.—Officers wera elected as follows:—President, Mr R. D. Stewart (Auckland); Treasurer, Mr T. S, Fosber, M.A. (Norbh Canberburv); Secra« tary, Mr W. T. Grundy (Wellington)* Executive, Mr D. White, M.A. (Otago), Mr C. Watson (Wellington), Mr H. Damps? (New Plymouth).

The Hon. W. P. Rkevks>.^»A telegrao* from the Hon. W. P. Reeves was read as follows :—"I beg most sincerely to thank your Coupcil for the resolution passed yefe berday, which is only one more insbanco of the cordial help and generous sympathy which I havo always received from ib, and; bho teaching profession. The co-operation of the teachers will always remain to me a? brighb spob in my official life in Now jZaa« land. lam sorry bhab I have not been abkj bo deal during my term eibher wibh thecstu bralisation of inspectors or bhe claesifioabico of teachers, both of which changes aro desirable, bub it is satisfactory bo feel bhafr the facts and figures of lasb year's eduea* tion reporb prove thab our national system was never more healbhy or making hette* progress. Again thanking you, I remain^ with kind regards, W.P. Reeves."

Next Meeting.—lb was agreed bhab the next mooting of bho Council take plflCfl jjtp Auckland, January 4th, 1897.