HIGH SCHOOL WORK.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1131, 19 May 1911, Page 6

HIGH SCHOOL WORK.

ASSISTANT-TEACHERS CONFER, .PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS, The annual meeting of the New Zealand Secondary Schools Assistants' Association was hold at Wellington College yesterday, there being present, the- following members:—Miss Ironside (l'almerston North High School), and Messrs. J. Driimmond (Auckland Grammar School), W. Kerr (Napier High School), J. C. Tope (Nelson College), H. H. Rockel (Timaru High School), A. C. Clifford, A. Heine, W. J. Martyu, E. Caradus, 1 , . lirodie, 1 , . M. Renner, and M. 11. Dixon (Wellington College). Jlr. A. C. Gifford presided, and Jlr. A. Heine was secretary. The annual report and balance sheet of the Executive- Coinmitteo of the Association, which were read and adopted, stated that eighty-three secondary school teachers have now joined the association, all tho largo schools being well represented on it. The balancesheet for the year shows a credit balance of .£lB Os. Id. i

Appeal Cases and Pensions. In accordance with a resolution passed at the last annual meeting tho Minister for Education was asked, to amend the Education Act so as to extend tho benefits of the Court of Appeal to secondary teachers. Under the Education Amendment Act of 1910 all secondary teachers have now the privilege of appealing against dismissal, such appeal to be made through a duly-registered and incorporated association. Tho necessary, steps had been taken to have the association registered accordingly. A few days after the registration was completed, related tho committee, tho association was asked to endorse the appeal of a member of the association who had received notice of dismissal. After careful investigation the Executivo Committee of tho association gave the necessary endorsement and tho appeal was lodged. The reasons for dismissal-were totally inadequate, and had the cas& como' before the Court the appeal would assuredly have been upheld. The board in question, however, did not contest the case, but rescinded tho notice of .dismissal. In- compliance with resolutions passed at tho' last meeting, the Minister for Education was asked to make amendments to the Superannuation Act embodying the principlo that, as in the case of civil servants, the pension of a teacher should bo computed on tho highest salary received during any three consecutive years, instead of tho salary received, during the last threo years of service. Tho Minister for Education replied that the points brought under his notico had been noted, and would receive attention when further legislation would bo considered. ' In conclusion, members were urged to do all in their power to induce all secondary school teachers to join tho association. As individuals they could do little, but' as rfn association they could do much to ameliorate their condition.

Interesting Papers. Mr. W. A. Kerr, M.A., of the Boys' High School, Napier, read an interesting paper on. "Neglected Principles in Education." Ho said that when they considered tho question of educational efficiency, wo may expect to find in an education which is largely literary, the result of fondness for tho best bocks; in ah education professedly scientific, tho result of a love of nature; in- an education inclusive.of art. the result of aesthetic appreciation. Their education was largely literary, and to some extent at least it was scientific and aesthetic. Did they observe in the products of their schools any distinguishing, fondness for books, love of nature,: or aesthetic appreciation? He did not think that theso results wore at all general, and he believed that tho rer.son was in the neglect of cardinal principles which should form' the very foundation of scholastic work. The speaker went on to deal with the main principles which wero so perfectly understood, so axiomatic, that people were. too easily tempted to accept them' as matters of course, and deny them tho attention which, in tho process of education, was so absolutely essential. If it was important, ho concluded, that in the, materials and methods of school education, fundamental principles should not be neglected, it was fathomlessly s more important that its greatest aim should not bo lost to view. Amid all tho hurry and bustle aud eagerness for success in sports and examinations, their efforts to quicken tho pace in response to the demands of the social organisation, there .might be overtraining, forced development, and sacrifice o£ individual well-being and happiness. Was anyone prepared to maintain that the , larger end of happiness and well-being was consistently regarded amid these clumsy endeavours to .turn out all after a set pattern? In an interesting paper on the subject of "The Teaching of. Foreign Languages," Mr. J. Drummond, M.A. (Auckland Grammar School), expounded tho main principles of modern methods in language teaching, and showed to what extent theso might be. applied to their secondary schools under existing conditions. The speaker gave an interesting and instructive account of the methods adopted by Continental teachers of modern languages, who framed their courses with the idea that the product of their teaching should bo able, in a foreign country like France or Germany to express himself fluently—if not always elegantly—and to understand what ho heard. Thus equipped, he would bo able to understand, with a deeper and-more sympathetic insight, tho customs and manners of the people with whom he was a sojourner. i

Resolution Adopted. The following matters were discussed and dealt with by resolution:— There was also a lengthy discussion on a. motion' that a staff of at least one assistant to every 25 pupils on the roll was necessary for efficient secondary education, and that the Department bo urged to issue a regulation to this effect. The motion was finally passed, with an alteration to the last clause to tho effect that the attention of tho boards of governors be drawn to tho matter. It was also agreed that tho secretary should furnish the boards with the necessary statistics. Several aspects of tho superannuation question were dealt with. It was decided to recommend tho executive to bring before the minister of Education tho anomaly in tho Superannuation Act which prevents a teacher in service before the passing of the Act from coming under its provisions unless he bo appointed to a new position. It was also decided to ask the Minister of Education to amend the Act so as to allow the benefits received by a teacher to bo calculated on tho highest average .salary for any three consecutive years, instead of on the last three years of service as at present. With a view; to securing the representation of secondary 'school touchers on the Superannuation Board, tho executive wis instructed to arrango to hold h conference with the executive of the N.1.E.1. Tho executive was instructed to arrange with the executive of tho N.1.E.1. for [i deputation to approach the Minister with the mot:ons passed respecting superannuation. It was agreed to ask the boards of governors lo inform the secretary of any vacancies on their staffs, so that ho may pass the information on to the member's of tho association. The conference also decided to approach the Defence Department with a request that all cadet work in tho secondary schools be dono during (he ordinary school hours; or, that those masters who may bo required to take this work outside of school hours be given extra remuneration. On tho question of the Tenchcrs' Court of Appeal, it, was resolved:—"That the Executive Committee bo instructed to take steps with the object of securing the benefit- of the Teachers' Court of Anpeal for those assistants who may have signed agreements making their engagements terminable at three mouths' notico on cither side." Election of Officers. Tho following officers were elected for tire ensuing year:—President, Mr. I?. M, Laing, M.A. (Cliristchurch Boys' High School); vice-president, Miss E. G. Wallace (Auckland Grammar School); secretary and treasurer, Mr. A. Heine, 13.A. (Wellington. College); auditor, Mr. J. C. Tope, M.A. (Nelson College); Executive Committee, Messrs. J. Drummond, Jr.A. (Auckland Grammar School), F. Campbell, M.A. (Duuedin High School), A. C. Gifford, M.A., and F. M. Kcnner, M.A. (Wellington College),