EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

Evening Star, Issue 8399, 27 December 1890, Page 2

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

The eighth annual meeting of the Council of the New Zealand Educational Institute is to opou in Auckland on January 6. A very long list of subjects has been Bet down for discussion by the Council. The following is the list of subjects proposed by the Auckland branch of the Institute : That the Council consider the question of placing administration of the compulsory clauses of the Education Act, 1877, in hands of police. That the Council consider the advisability (a) of a&ain pressing upon the attention of the Minister of Education drawing being made a clubs subject; (b) that the syllabus of drawing, drawn up by the Council at Duncdin lost year, be adopted. That the Council consider the question of calling the attention of ths Minister of Education to the fact that education boards are really Issuing additions to the standards of education in reference to the teaching of science and other subjeota. Inspectors must be under the central department. That the rights of teachers as citizens must not be interfered with, endangered, or threatened. Examination by inspectors for all standards below Standard IV. is entirely unnecessary. That agriculture be made an alternate subject for D examination. That children in and below Standard 111. be allowed to rule and measure in drawing. That history be struck out for Standard 111. That endowments for seoondary education bo colonialised.

Somewhat similar subjects for discussion are proposed by the Southern branches. The need for closer union among teachers seems to be generally felt, if we are to judge by the following proposals for discussion. The Wellington branch suggests " that the time is now come for somewhat remodelling the Institute with a view to making it a more efficient body in binding together the teachers of New Zealand, and for becoming an executive to carry out the aims of teachers and defending their interests." Mid-Canterbury proposes "The amalgamation of all the teachers' institutes in New Zealand into one body, to be called an association or union, with a view to amalgamation with the Civil Service Association of New Zealand," while Southland suggests a "National Union." Among other subjects which seem to be generally desired are a return to the system of paying by the working instead of the strict average, and greater freedom of classification. The South Canterbury teachers are determined not to allow their political privileges to be filched from them, and they propose —" That we, as an institute, desire to express our disapproval of the action of the Auckland Education Board in prohibiting teaohers from taking any active part in politics, such action being, in the opinion of the Institute, ultra vires." The Devonport School Committee have written to the secretary of the Auckland Educational Institute, forwarding resolutions of the Committee re amending the school syllabus. The first Resolution wiflhea to make teaching of a more practical character. The second resolution is as follows :—" This Committee would respectfully suggest to the New Zealand Educational Institute that it is desirable that definite instruction in morals, given by the head teacher, should form part of an amended syllabus, and would request the Institute to indicate in what way such instruction might be provided for."—' New Zealand Herald.'