EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS

Evening Star, Issue 22975, 4 June 1938, Page 15

EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS

TEACHERS DISCUSS PROBLEMS ANNUAL MEETING OF INSTITUTE There were over 300 teachers at the annual meeting, continued yesterday afternoon, of the Otago branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute in the Masonic Hall, Moray Place, and they discussed a variety of subjects relating to the welfare of the profession and the pupil. The president (Mr N. Matheson) was the chairman. The new president for the ensuing year is Mr C. Parr. ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report stated that the roll number for the year was 442, as against 477 for the previous year. There were 199 men members and 243 women. The branch was represented at the annual meeting of the institute by Misses Hayward and Woodhouse. Messrs Hanna, Armstrong, Abel, and Dr W. J. Boraman. Mr A. Hanna acted as advocate for teachers appealing against their position on the graded list, and he was to be congratulated on the able manner in which he conducted the appeals. Mr A. H. Wil-, liamson was elected a life member of tho branch. The Management Committee dealt with a large volume of business during the year. Some of the more important matters handled were unification of educational control, state of school buildings, devotional exercises in schools, group grading of teachers, and the ‘ New Freedom.’ The subbranches of the institute at Oamaru, Palmerston, Roxburgh, Tapanui, and Dunedin were functioning successfully. The institute took its part in the preparation for the New Education Fellowship Conference held in July, and this proved a wonderful success. A conference with the senior inspector and his colleagues was arranged by the Management Committee, and many points arising out of the new order of things were discussed. Some of these were the difficulties caused by the size of classes and the limitations of space, co-operation between teachers and inspectors, testing of pupils’ work, class teaching, and. an amended syllabus. The branch was represented on the national executive by Mr D. Forsyth, and it was pleasing he was again elected at its recent annual meeting. The report and balance sheet were adopted on the motion of the chairman and Mr A. Hanna. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following office-bearers were elected:—President, Mr C. Parr; vicepresident, Mr J. W. Armstrong; auditor, Mr D. Forsyth; secretary and treasurer, Mr W. F. Abel. NEW GRADING SYSTEM. An address on the proposed new grading system was given by Mr H. E. Betting (Roxburgh), who was the branch’s representative at the recent conference in Wellington. After-out-lining the deliberations of the conference the speaker answered numerous questions, and was accorded a vote of thanks. ASSISTANCE PROM MUSEUM. A short talk on the assistance offered town and country schools by the Dunedin Museum was given by Mr N. D. Anderson, who said that special showcases and exhibits would be lent to teachers to help them illustrate lessons. He mentioned that the schqmo would be in full operation in the near future, and it was hoped that teachers would make use of it and help in the expansion of the service. NOTICES OF MOTION. Mr A. M. Davidson (Macandrew Road School) moved as a notice of motion —“ That, whereas, in recent years, the amount of clerical work to be executed by the head master of Grades VI. and VII. schools has been such that tho head master is prevented from fulfilling the essential duties for which he is paid, suitable clerical assistance should be provided to enable the head master to spend more time for the assistance of his class teachers.”—After brief discussion, the motion was carried. Mr Davidson also moved that the National Executive take steps to see that the superannuation allowance for the widows of deceased teachers be increased.—This was also carried. A third motion by Mr Davidson to the effect that every contributor to the teachers’ superannuation fund should receive an annual statement regarding the financial position of the fund was canned.

Mr Hanna moved that in the election of members of the executive of the New Zealand Institute any teacher be eligible for one election only.—The motion was carried. Mr Davidson said that the Commissioner of Taxes had stated on one occasion that the money spent on text books by professional men would be exempt from income tax. He therefore moved that the amount spent by teachers on text books should also be exempted as was the sum expended in this way by other professional men.— The motion was carried unanimously. Mr A. E. Farrant moved—“ That this meeting deprecate the non-committal attitude of the executive and annual conference of delegates in the matter of alliance with the Federation of Labour.”—After a brief discussion, the motion was lost. FUNCTION OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS. A short address was given by Mr T. A. Morland. senior inspector for Otago, on the function of the primary school Mr Morland said that the present was a tijne of great uncertainty in the world, and a time of educational changes. The new Education Rill would probably bring about great differences in the system, and with the General Elections this year there was a possibility of further political and economic changes. Then there was the talk of “ New Freedom ” so that the teachers’ environment to-day was a very complete one. Mr Morland dealt with the need of primary schools to provide the. right atmosphere and experience for the child. The new mobile furniture was an indication of the desire to provide the right experience for the children, as no longer did they need to remain in the same position for every lesson. Mr Morland went on to deal with the question of separate subjects and the school time-table. The time would come, he said, when the word “ subject ” would be removed from schools and a scheme would bo evolved so that the day would be a continuous one of learning with no individual subjects. Thus would come about a more flexible time-table and finally its abolition. As far as he and his colleagues were concerned, Mr Morland said they would like to see teachers take a broad view of their time, and not be afraid to exceed the set time for a lesson if they thought lit. Teachers should use individuality in organising their schools. The speaker mentioned the amountof nervousness shown by teachers for inspectors, and ho expressed the hope

that this would be done away ■with, as all he would like to see would be cooperation between the inspectorate and the teachers. He referred to the_ wish of inspectors to co-ordinate their ideas, and that the greatest criticism levelled

at them by the teachers was that they gave conflicting advice. He assured his listeners that this would be rectified. Mr Morland concluded by saying that it should be the aim of teachers to start the child off on the right lines for.

being a good citizen. It should be their , aim to give children good, clean tastes, high ideals, and a determination to do i their best in life. A vote. of thanks was accorded the speaker.