EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

Evening Star, Issue 7361, 5 November 1887, Page 3

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

The monthly meeting of the Dunedin branch of the Otaeo Educational Institute was held this morning, whpn there were present—Messrs Chilton (president), White, Fitzgerald, Reid, Gray, Macdonald, Milne, M'Nicol), Grant, Rennie, A. Stewart, Jeffery, Church, Whettcr, Renton, Robertson, and Smith.

A USEFUL ESBAT. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr FitznKßALn! seconded by Mr M'NIOOIL, that a vote of thanks be accorded to Mr R. Peattie, of the Oamaru High Schoo , for hia trouble in compiling a short suggestivei« say. for the use of the Sixth Standard, on social economy. THE ADMINISTRATION OP EDUCATION. The President laid on the table copies of the report of the Committee appointed to consider various matters in *,** ttorf*Xtratioi. of education m this Colony. 1 he conclusions arrived at by the Committee we «, follow :-(a) That the comparative cost of Sir eduoation in New Zealand is lesathan that o! the neighboring colonies. Jb) That only 3.7 pir cent. fto*^^ w ,ffig* receive'salaries of' more than Lorn (c>ib»» KSoel age in New Zealand is ftlrendy b. 2 her

than that of Great Britain or any of the Australian colonic except Queensland, (dj la\ Thnt raising the school age in Otago to s.vm.in.an: : In the l.ir_<« bcUools to the extent of 15 per cut., ami m the Mil 11 schools to tho ext.-nt of 21 percent,, practically shutting a large number of the country schools. (b) That raising the school age to seven in the largo schools, and not in the small schools, means a retrenchment of 15 per cent, in large schools, and either a reduction of 6 per cent, m the salaries of the teachers in the existing small schools or the closing of something like twenty out of the 139 small school?. The Committee were ihanked for their labors.

THE CLASSIFICATION OF -TEACHERS. Mr Rennik said that Mr Macdonald and himself had gone through the figures quoted by •Vr Fraser at the Education Board, and had found that they were incorrect. It had been assetteel that the propoaeil alteration in tlie clarification of teachers would coat the Board L 1.200 for the present year; but having gone through the list, Mr Macdonald and himself had anived at the conclusion that the additional cost would not_ exceed L7OO. Mr Ronnie also drew attention to the statement by the Minister of Education that the raising of the school age to six and reducing the capitation money would not prejudicially affect the country schools. If the country schools were not to be affected, it might mean that the town schools would be cut down to a state of inefficiency.

Mr Fitzgerald said that it behoved the Institute to look very closely to the interests of education, and, though ho did not wish to say a word against retrenchment, he would move—- " That the General Committeo be requested to watch carefully the manner in which educational matters are being dealt with, and, if necessaryi call a special meeting of the Institute." Mr Macdonald seconded the motion.

Mr Milne thought they ought not to allow it to be assumed that the countiy schools were to be supported at the expense of the town schools. The Minister of Kducation, in all probability, did not mean that this avas to be tho case." Mr Gray thought that doing away with I bonuses avould work unfairly. The reductions should be made on a pro rata scale. Mr Bennie did not wish to raise any question of countiy schools versus town schools, but had broached the matter simply because it was the first duty of the Board to look after the schools within its own jurisdiction. The motion was carried unanimously. MB WHITE'S PAPiR. Mr White read a paper on " Amos Barton." It was a plea for greater attention being given by students and pupil-teachers to the study of English composition. Nearly all the members present made short speeches, in the course of which the paper was very highly spoken of as a most masterly review of George Eliot's work ; the opinion, however, being expressed that, with the existing syllabus, it was impossible to bestow more time upon this matter. One speaker gave it as his opinion that ar thmetic should be cut down so as to allow time for the adequate study of English. It avas unanimously resolved to tender Mr White a hearty vote of thanks, and, in replying, Mr White remarked that since he had been in his present position he had tried to bring tho course of composition within the lines laid down in his paper, but it was of course necesBiry to have an eye to the examinations and the tests for the examinations. His paper was hardly applicable to school avork, but it was well to set up an ideal and strive in that direction. i