EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12648, 7 January 1904, Page 3

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

[PRESS ASSOCIATION.] NELSON; Wednesday. . At the Educational Institute meeting, the election of officers resulted as follows; —Mr J. Jeffery, of Dunedin, president; Mr A. Erskine, of Wellington, secretary; Mr T. Hughes, of Christchurch, treasurer. Vacancies in the executive were filled by the election of Mr J. K, Law for the North Island, Mr G. MacMorran for Wellington, and Mr Wm. Davidson for the South Island.

Messrs C. Watson, R, Stewart, and T. W. Grundy resigned their seats, thus causing three extraordinary vacancies. The report of the executive, as amended in committee, was adopted. Mr Taylor moved, “That this institute records its satisfaction at the proposed establishment of training colleges for teachers in the four centres.” Mr Holmes moved as an amendment, “ That, in the opiuion of the institute, one training college for teachers would be quite sufficient.”

The amendment was lost by 25 votes to 19, and the motion adopted'. On the motion of Mr J. Valentine, it wa,s resolved, “That the institute is of opinion that the practice of employing pupil teachers in public schools should be discarded for a better way, so that young men and women who desire to become teachers may be wel] grounded in literary work before entering upon their training in the art of teaching.” On the motion of Mr Aitken, it was resolved, “That, so long as the pupil teacher system remain in force, the Government be requested to make the pupil teacher system of examination a colonial one.”

Mr 0. Espiner moved, “ That the Government be asked to increase the salaries of pupil teachers.” Lost by 31 votes to 21.

Mr J. A. Johnson brought up the report of the committee appointed to consider the new syllabus, and moved, “That this institute approves of the general lines of the now syllabus, seeing that it is in conformity with the ideas of modern education.” Mr F. Gibbs seconded. A qualifying amendment was rejected, and the motion carried. Mr Johnston moved clause 2 of the report, “That the institute is of opinion that the syllabus will prove burdensome to teachers or otherwise according to the interpretation by Inspectors, and according to the methods of examine tion, and it respectfully recommends that a very definite code be drawn up for the guidance of Inspectors and examiners.”

The clause was carried by an overwhelming majority.

The third clause, which strongly objected to any dictation being given to teachers as to methods of instruction, was carried almost unanimously. The institute then adjourned.