NEW ZEALAND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6966, 15 March 1884, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

AUCKLAND BRANCH. A meeting of the members of the institute' was held yesterday evening, in the schoolroom of City East, Wellcslcy-street. Thero vvas.a very large attendance of teachers (ladies and gentlemen) from the city and suburban: schools. Mr. H. Worthington; President of the institute, occupied the chair. The Chairman said, the meeting would expect from him some account of what ■took; place, at .the' conference of ; teachers beld. in' VVellington ,under :the..:auspices of the New Zealand-.. Educational''-Tn-' stitute at the commencement of the year. He and Air. V. Bindon, were ■■ elected by the Auckland, teachers to attend the conference of teachers to be held in Wellington,, and. to represent,the Auckland branch, of the institution.. Circumstances occurred which .prevented Mr.. Bindoir at-tending,-the principal, being his appointment to.the Inspectorship of the Wargauui district; He (the .Chairman) .was .therefore" compelled to do tbe: best, he could to represent the teachers of Auckland, Before proceeding to refer to the business of tbe conference, -ho .must, allude to the .great,'kindness : and 1 hospitality ho had met. with on all sides during his visit to Wellington; He felt bound to take the first available public opportunity of recording hiß;sense oVthat kindness, and to return most grateful thanks to those ladies: and gentlemen who had shown so ranch , attention .to,. him, although a .comparative stranger The members of .the, institute, would find the proceedings .of . .the 'conference minuted in tbe " Report of the first meeting of the Council;" There were,.:however, 'a few subjects, of special .importance brought before the conference, .One of these was "On Examinations," ' brought- forward by Mr. Peattie, of Ofcago; Mr. Peattie was a gentle* man. of great, lability; and experience,- and spoke on' this .subject with authority;.. He (the Chairman), was glad'to observe that Mr. Peattie. made some very forcible remarks upon the preference to bo given to educing the:mental qualities of the scholar rather than burthemng the memory with amultitude of details or figures which were forgotten nearly as soon as learnt. Mr. ■tlogben. (Christchurch) read' a paper on the relations between the,primary and secondary schools. This paper also elicited a good deal ■of discussion as to tho proper age at which -.pupils: of primary schools should be admitted .to the secondary schools. A great deal of ;■ information'was elicited from various teachers' on. this, subject. The Rev. T. Flavell read- a paper, on " CorporalPunishznent." It would be very desirable if. the "rod could bd buried;" but in this year of grace ISS4 it waa generally thought.that'-the. rod : ,could not be buried just yet. The;time might come whentherewould be no,necessity for.it.' He hoped . the meeting would excuse him if he referred to a matter which although of personal character had more than a personal si.nificaacp. He felt it.a matter to be proud of; that the conference had 'elected;-him td be President of the Institute. He was pleased wi h tho personal compliment, but he at the. .same time felt that a compliment was also intended "' for the Auckland tcaohers. (Applause.) Ho ' would himself do everything in his power 1 to show his. appreciation of the honour that had been done him. But the teachers of the Auckland district should do their duty also, and that duty would be best discharged in, securing a permanent basis for thia branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute. (Applause.) It was. clears that if any good work was to be done the means' for accomplishing tho end Bhonld be forthcoming;: Ihe most. efficient meana : for carrying any organisation- to successful results was: money:" In these days | a sound financial basis was the surest means to be-employed, is. success were'desired; Tha i, subscription, was very light, butifthe number of subscribers, .were sufficient,' the fund' I: could .be made to have, important influence. |He had the. pleasuro to announce that I the: conference .would be held ihAuck- | land next January. Tie could bespeak for the delegates who might, attend a hoapii. fality, similar to that 'which,he (Mr.< Worthington) had received in Wellington. (Applause.) Ho also thought- that . the teachers should look about 'them to -fix :on, those gentlemen orladies .who could; most effectively t aid and represent,tbe Auckland'branoh.' He ! might be allowed to say that, he would not r seek re-eloution. He hoped,, that when; he he laid down, his office of-President of the, Institute, he would do so with credit to himself, having given satisfaction, toatbose who did hinvthe honour to:place him in that position. (Applause.)

. On the motion of Mr. Bailey (Poneonby School)! seconded by;.Mrj Harrisson (Beres-ford-street; School); a vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Worthingtonbyacclaniation, ' ' for the manner .in which he had discharged; the duty. of representing the." Auckland branch while atWelhogton." GKOCKAPHV. Mr. E. Hart gave an illustration::of hia method of. teaching, geography.:- This waa by drawing an outline; map of a particular •country or section of country on; the. black" board, filing it. in with the rivers,; towns, ; and other details obtained- by. questions to. the members of the; class. The manner in which this, illustrative. lesson was -delivered elicited very general;encomium. A cordial' and unanimous, vote of\ thanks- was accorded to Mr. Hart for his lesson. Mr. and Mrs. Cranwell and a choir of teachers performed instrumental and vocal, during the proceedings.