THE PRIMARY SYLLABUS.

Evening Star, Issue 12067, 12 December 1903, Page 8

THE PRIMARY SYLLABUS.

A special meeting of the Otago branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute fw held in the Technical Association building this morning for the purpose of considering the new Syllabus. Mr A. M. Bar* nett (vice-president )occupied the chair» and there were also present Messrs D. R. White, W. J. Moore, W. Bennett, Langle* Pope, W. Davidson, 0. Flamank, J. -Jetfery, G. W. C. Macdonald, P. S. Aldrod, E. Finder, A. Marshall, J. Botting, Q. V«. Carnngton. J. A. Fitzgerald, T. Begs* S. F. Booth, A. Davidson, R. J. Barretfc W. Rodger, W. R. Michaelis, J. Wilson, C. Kerr, W. Phillips, Miss Aitcheson, Miss Hooper, Miss Lawrenee, and others. The Chairman said that the management of the Institute last Saturday deemed it advisable to call a meeting of teachers and members of the Institute to consider the syllabus. It was felt by those members going to the Conference at Nelson that they should have the voice, so far as possible, of the Otago teachers, so as to guide them in a debate on the matter at Nelson. They should have the opinion of the Otago teachers to go upon. The feeling of teachen had been for a stronger freedom of classification, but the syllabus had'come down in such a way that they felt, instead of their labors being lightened, they were being increased. To a large mass of teachers, at any rate, it would be a matter of uttei impossibility to cany out the syllabus. He would not speak on the matter just now, but ask teachers to give their opinion? on the syllabus, and in the end move a resolution showing the voice of the meeting.Mr Aldred nsked how certain teachers had received copies of the syllabus and others had not. He had been a head teacher fos some years, but he had not received a copy of the syllabus. He hardly thought it right for the Education Department to send copies to some teachers and not to others.

The Chairman said that why the department did not, seeing that the new work was to begin from January Ist, give every teacher an opportunity" of knowing what they would have to do was more than ha could explain.

Mr Aldred: Perhaf they don't expeel me to cany it „out, b . to "go on the old lines.

Mr Flamank, the secretary, said that Mi Hogben promised *o sen i copies to the Institute on work relatinr. to educational matters, but he had received no copy of the syllabus from Mr Hogben or any member of the Hotr:e.

Mr Jeffery raid that he wrote some time ago to Wellington and a?ked that the Institute should be supplied with copies throurfi the secretary, but he bad heard nothing more about it.

Mr Aldred moved—"That the secretary communi rate with the Education Board, and aslC. why teachers as a body have not been supplied with copies of the new Syllabus."

Mr Pope seconded the motion, which was carried uiianimousiv.

The Chairman said that it would now b< for those members who had been able ta digest the syllabus to express their opinions about it. Teachers ought to give a, direct expression of the opinions they held, because if not their silence would" be held to be consent-

Mr Jeffery thought that tinder the circumstances—seeing that all the teachers had not been supplied with copies—th« meeting had better go into committee, an«J he moved accordingly. Mr White supported the motion, Mr Davidson also agreed, but thought that before going into committee they should express their strong disapproval of their treatment in this matter. The syllabus had" taken three years to hatch, yet the teachers were asked to accept it holns bohis without even three weeks' consideration. Mr Moore suggested that it would be wis« not to mix up the two proposals before the meeting. The Chairman agreed, and put the motion for going into committee, which was carried on the voices.

The discussion generally was decidedly adverse to the new syllabus. It was admitted that while the syllabus contains much that is good it is too indefinite, and allows of too great a variety of interpretation. It was generally felt that a slizhfc had been placed on teachers and inspectors in springing upon them a syllabus which has taken so long to compile. It was resolved—" Thnt thi' meeting express their emphatic disapproval of the course of instruction recently issued by the Education Department, and" that the Hon. R. J. Seddon. Minister of Education, be requested to call a conference consisting of an equal number of inspectors and teachers fci the purpose of drawing up a programme of inetructiou for the publie schools of tin colony."

It was further resolved that a deputation consisting of Messrs Grant. D. R. White, J. Jeffery. C. Smeaton. G. Macdonald. F. Aldred. S. W. Carrington. Flamank, and Davidson, with power to add to their number, wait on the Premier when he is in Dtmedin, in order to discuss the new Syllabus ; Mr Flamank to be convener.