LEAGUE OF EMPIRE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13901, 28 November 1910, Page 5

LEAGUE OF EMPIRE.

PROPOSAL TO TEACHERS'

INSTITUTE

\n interesting lot tor from the London secretary of the Leaguo of Empire was road at tho meeting of tho Executive of the North Canterbury branch of tho Teachers' Institute on Saturday morning. The text of the letter was as follows : — •Dear .Sir.—Will you l>e so pood as to bring before your Executive a proposal which has been warmly accepted by some important teachers' conventions, and is having favourable consideration from many others:- . The League of Emuire lias been working to brin? about a'union of teachers' associations throughout the Empire. Lr.rgo questions touching the pro i ess ion, loo*ed at from an Imperial standpoint, have already been "brought forward. There is first The question of a common certificate throughout the Empire, or, at any rate, tho recognition of some special certificate as hold in all parts ot the Empire. Secondly, there is the question of tVo emigration of teachers or students for the purposes of study: and. thirdly, that of tho interchange of teachers between different countries ot the Empire, either for a time or permanently. The:e and .similar questions might well be discussed both by le.cal conventions an i also by the Imperial Convention of representatives of all teaeherv associations of the Empire, which Convention the League is propared to hold in London at as early a date as possible. The main object for which the nssoriations .should be brought into touch would be: (J) To gain information .of each others' proceedings and opinions: i' 2) to discuss all subjects of common interest such as tiie development of certain branches of education in the different countries: (;}) the rendering of courtesy and help to teachers travelling in other parts of the Empire than their own; (-1) the holding of Imperial conferences of teachers' associations of the League in London, probably in August, 1911, and afterwards of similar conferences in other countries of the Empire. The League of Empire is prepared to print in its magazine tho dotes of all teachers" conventions throughout the Empire, so that this being known in advance, teachers passing through the Empiro on leave might arrange to attend. As far as possible the League will print reports of the conferences, in tho different countries, so that knowledge of each other's proceedings may- be obtained, and an intimacy between tho associations may bo established. Several important C-aiuulian teachers' associations have affiliated to the League for the purposes above notified, as has also the South African Teachers' Association. The matter is being brought before those in Australia, and has also secured the interest of educationists in other parts of our Empire. I am therefore to invite your co-operation in a conference of teachers' associations to be held by the League in the beginning of August. 1911, and to ask if you will send delegates to this conference. It i.s thought that this time of the year will bo more convenient to them. * We should be glad of the support of your Executive in this important undertaking, and hope that your Association will see its way to affißito to the League, and thus help to brine; about a bond be-twe-ii the groat, body of men and women engaged in education— the bond which so great a man as .Mr Cecil Rhodes regarded as the strongest of all pledges for united social and intellectual advances. —F am, yours faithfully E. M. OKU MARSHALL."

The letter was he'd over for consideration at tho next meeting of the branch. "^