THE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

Evening Star, Issue 11452, 21 January 1901, Page 1

THE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

In an article that appeared in our issue of the 16th inst. we dealt with the presidential address delivered by Mr W. T. Grnody at the annual Conference of the New Zealand Educational Institute, held in ! Wellington on the 22nd inst. and succeeding days.. In his address Sir Grundy confined his attention almost entirely to the consideration of the questions of a colonial scale of salaries and the abolition of the individual pass system .at the annual examination by inspectors.. Many other important matters were discussed by the Conference, and to some of these wo now purpose directing our readers' attention, but before doing so we take this opportunity of congratulating the members on the steady growth of their Institute, both numerically and financially. A very Krgo percentage of the public school teach?rs of the Colony now be ong to this organisation, and the last balance-sheet issued shows a credit balance of about £6OO. What is equally satisfactory is the fact that the Institute are gain ing considerable influence in the educa tional affairs of the Colony,. while the general public are beginniug to take a keen interest in their proceedings. Wo were pleased to note a new departure, in that several ardent educationists, who are not associated in any way with the Institute, were invited to address the Conference on various phases of educational work. Some of the papers read at these ''open meetings" wero exceedinglv valuable, and we venture to suggest t) the Executive that they might consider the propriety of including their publication in the official record of the Conference's proceedings. Another pleasing feature was the almost continual presence at the Conference of the Inspector-General (Mr G. Hogben), who, by the way, is an ex-president of the Institute, from which fact may be fairly drawn, we opine, the deduction that the Education Department is in strong sympathy with the teachers, and that its responsible officials are desirous of ascertaining the mind of the Institute, as well as co-operating with the members in their zealous efforts to further the cause of' educational progress in thi3 colon v. Turning to the agonda paper, we find that under the heading "Administration of the Act and status and payment of teachers" there were no fewer than thirty-rune remits from district Institutes, while " Syllabus and standard regulations" accounted for fifteen, and "Constitution of the Institute and general" for ten other remits. These, together with discussions on subjects ou which notices of motion were given during the various sessions, meant an enormous amount of work to be overtaken by members of the Council in three days, and it is little wonder that the sittin-'s averaged about nine hours a day. Among the many subjects discussed were some o°f a purely technical nature, of concern only to teachers themselves, but others were of general interest, and worthy of thoughtful consideration by everyone connected in any way with the administration of the Education Act. A subject of great importance and at the same time of general interest was the revision of the syllabus of woik prescribed for the various Standard classes. It has long been felt by those best qualified to judge that the syllabus is not up to date, and is much overweighted. It is also generally recognised that provision must be made for the introduction' of the kindergarten work, manual training, and kindred subjects. In view of the Conference of Inspectors, to be held in Wellington on the 28th inst.j at which the syllabus will be revised, we think that the Institute acted wisely in making bat few recommendations on the subject. We trust, however, that the Minister of Education will accede to the very reasonable request that the -teachers should be represented at the forthcoming Conference. Surely those who have a practical acquaintance with the operation of the present s) llabus, and who will have to work up.der the revised syllabus, may furly claim the right to have something to say in respect to the drawing up of t scheme of work for the pupils in the various classes in our primary schools. In our opinion it wdl greatly help the Minister, and certainly assist in the framing of a satisfactory schedule of future work, if the teaching body are represented at this Conference by their Executive—if not w,;h a deliberate voice and vote, certainly as an advisory council. The training of teachers also occupied the attention of the Council, and it was generally admitted in this connection that our education system is lamentably deficient. In ons two districts of the Colony—tow t, Canterbury and Otago—are there Traiumg Colleges, which for some years have been maintained almost entirely out of the funds of the Education Boards of these districts. Following up the work and seconding the efforts of the Institute, we notice that Mr Blair, the energetic chairman of the Wellington Board and a member of the governing body of the Victoria College, is moving in a direction that we have "consistently urged—viz., the establishment of a Chair of Pedagogy at some of our University Colleges, to which should be entrusted—one in each island—the preparation of the teachers of the future. Another question that occupied the attention of the Council was: "That the Education "Department be asked to issue to the "inspectors instructions similar to those " issued to inspectors in England." This motion (or something to the same effect) was carried unanimously. In the past, in some districts, much friction and dissatisfaction have been caused by the inspectors interpreting regulations relating to the inspection and examination of schools in a way quite at variauce with the meauing taken from these regulations by teachers; and wo thiuk that such instructions as those asked for by the Institute might do something to remove the dissatisfaction said to exist. We are, however, doubtful whether complete satisfaction can be hoped for until the inspectors become officers of the Education Department. Other important questions dealt with were school attendance, the raising of the age for compulsory attendance, and the appointmentof teachers. The Institute aivocated an alteration in the compulsory clauses of the Act, so that a child must in future be present at least three-fourths of the number of school attendances in each week. It was also agreed to urge that the standard of exemption be raised to Standard V., and the age bo brought up to fifteen years, which ought to have been done when the last Amending Act was before Parliament. It is of the highest importance that the Labor laws and the Education Act should be brought into line without delay. Altogether the Council a great many questions, and got through a amount of business The truth is that they ire prone to attempt too much, and holding that opinion very stioogly wo are <

disposed to counsel the Exf cutiv'\ when presenting the work of the Conierenca to the Minister, to bend their energies and exert their undoubted influence towards accomplishing one or two of the most important of the reforms that engaged their attention. When the question of the revision of the syllabus shall have been settled the Executive will do well during the current year of activity to concentrate their efforts ou organising an agitation from end to end of the Colony in favor of a colonial scale of salaries. These are the pressing questions of the time, and if they are satisfactorily dealt with the Institute will have good cause for congratulation in having assisted materially to promote thesa much-needed reforms. On the question of revision of salaries, to which we intend to recur, they have with them the majority of the Press, and unquestionably public opinion sides with them. Therefore a wisely directed and ably led constitutional agitation to bring about an equftable adjustment of the salaries of the teachers of our primary schools must, with such forces behind it, achieve snccess. At any rate, that is our sincere belief; and the Institute may count , on our hearty support in the furtherance of both reforms.