EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

Evening Star, Issue 7308, 5 September 1887, Page 4

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

The ordinary meeting of the Dunedin branch of the Otago Educational Institute was held at the Normal School on Saturday. The president (Mr O. Chilton) occupied the chair, and about twenty members were present. TEACHERS AND BOOKS. The President read a paper on “Teachers and Books,” During his remarks ho said that he had been somewhat surprised and considerably disappointed since Le had become a member of the branch to find that so few of the younger teachers took an active part in its work. Ho thought he was right in saying that during the past year the greater part of the actual work had been done by the older members—men whom be might call veterans in the cause of the Educational Institute, Their programme for the present year showed the same thing, the names oi the persona contributing papers being just the same ns they bad been some five or six years ago. This was not as it should be. He could well understand that a commendable feeling of modesty might deter many young teachers from taking their place in the branch with those who were much older and more experienced than themselves, but they might be too long in realising that as they grow up and commenced the actual work of their profession, new duties arose for them, and that they owed a debt to their fellow-teachers which they could not discharge in school hours, however well they mighttoach. They must remember thatthey were members of a class having common interests and besot with common dangers ; and that, ns they shared in its privileges, they must also take their part of its duties and responsibilities. It was with a view to encouraging younger teachers to become members that he would like to see an effort made to re-establish the schoolmasters’ library. It was a great pleasure for teachers to be able to indulge in a little miscellaneous reading, especially those residing in the country; and it would be a great advantage to have access to a good library. Apart from the mere pleasure to the teacher derived Lorn reading, it should be recognised that a certain class of books would vender him better fitted to instruct his scholars. A number of most eminent men had written books of travel that the teacher might read not only with pleasure to himself, but also with tho greatest advantage to his scholars, if ho would only make use of what he read. What teacher was there who could read Wallace’s “Malay Archipelago” without putting far more life and interest into his teaching of the geoaraphy of that part of the world ever afterwards ? For a description of the Amazons Bates’s “Naturalist on the Amazons ” might also be used, and for other parts of the world there were plenty of books that woidd supply the teacher with trustworthy descriptions, such as Belt’s “Naturalist on the Nicaragua,” and Darwin’s “ Yoyage Round tho World.” It could be easily shown how a teachei’s reading might be utilised in teaching history. In order to gain real advantage from reading such as he had described, the teacher mast go to the fountainhead—to the actual books themselves, and not be content with the insipid hash that was served up for him by the manufacturers of textbooks. In these he might get the same facts, and they might even be selected and assorted most conveniently for him ; but there would be wanting that vital, life-inspiring spirit that Thring talked fo much about in his ‘Theory and Practice of Teaching,” and to get this the teacher must gather his facts for himself. In concluding, Mr Chilton suggested that an effort should be made to revive the schoolmasters’ library in this manner : The books should be re-covered as far as possible, and carefully divided into two parts—those suitable for reference only being kept in some central place as the nucleus of a reference library for the use of tho students in training at the Normal School, and the pupil-teachers and teachers'of the surrounding districts; while the other works could form an ordinary circulating libiary for general use by tho teachers. The paper was favorably reviewed by Messrs Rennie, White, Fitzgerald, Geoffrey, Stuart, Read, and Milne; and Mr Chilton was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for it. EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION.

Mr Fitzgerald presented the report of tho Committee on Mr Milne’s paper (already published by us). He complimented Mr Milne on the manner in which he had done the laborious work in connection with tire statistics, and acknowledge the indebtedness of the Institute to him. He pointed out that the Committee had not considered it expedient to deal with tho motion with regard to reduction of Salaries, which had been referred to them. He stated that candidates for Parliament seemed to have now abandoned the proposal to raise the school age to seven years, but that a few considered that great saving could bo effected by raising it to six years. If they looked into the matter they would find themselves greatly mistaken. In the four City schools on tho flat there were 3,231 pupils on the rolls; of these only IG6 were under six years, and many of these close on seven. To dismiss these 'from school would effect next to no reduction in the expense of these schools ; but in proportion it would have a much more disastrous effect on the small country schools than the previous proposal. The report was received. teachers’ salaries.

Some discussion took place with regard to a motion brought up at last meeting with regard to the salaries of teachers. It appeared that a wrong impression bad got abroad that this motion acknowledged that teachers were willing that a reduction should be made all round, and that it had been carried. The real fact was that the motion was icferred to a committee for consideration, and it only suggested that, in the case of a reduction being cousidered necessary, teachers ought to be placed on the same footing as the Civil servants, a 5 or G per cent, reduction being made to apply to higher-salaried officers. This course, it was also urged, would be obviously preferable to an increase of the minimum school age.

After some deliberation as to the best mode of setting the matter right, it was resolved—- “ That the attention of the Press bo drawn to the fact that the motion rc reduction of salaries proposed at last meeting was not dealt with, as tho whole matter was referred to a committee.” The meeting then terminated.