TEACHING QUESTIONS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7021, 8 January 1910, Page 8

TEACHING QUESTIONS

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WOIIEX'S POSITIOX IX SCHOOLS

COXCLUSIOX" OF THE EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE,

Matters affecting the conditions oi teachers wove considered by the New Zealand Educational Institute Conference at its final sitting yesterday morning, Mr G. W. C. Macdonald prC'idin^S rPIGIi AX nt: ATIOX.

Mr Davidson (Dunedin) moved; That, as an act of justice, the following amendments to the Public Service C lassification and Superannuation Act should be made with the least possible delay; That contributors to the Teachers’ Superannuation Fund who retired between January Ist. 1900, ami October 10th, 1908, and whoso retiring allowances are smaller than they would have been under the Act of 1908, should, from the first day of the month following the passing of this amendment, have their allowances calculated according to tho provisions of the Act of 1908. That teachers who faded to give notice of their desire to remain under the Act of 1900, or those who, from want of knowledge, gave such notice and are thereby penalised, should be allowed to reconsider their position, and should they so desire, alter their decision. The mover pointed out that teachers who retired <m superannuation prior to the operation of the Amending Act of 1908 rvere in a worse position financially than those retiring under the new Act. A school 'inspector whom ho know, who had retired on an allowance of £lOl per annum, would have receiv ed £lsl "had he retired a few months later. Everyone should be placed on an, equal footing, and he felt sure the annual cost of doing so would not exceed £2OOO. Mr Hughes (Christchurch) ,in seconding, remarked that the number of teachers whose allowances ought to bo reviewed was rapidly decreasing every year. ; Mr Foster (Wellington) stated that similar amendments. put forward by tho Superannuation Board and endorsed by the Minister of Education weifo to have been embodied in the last amending Bill, but were not included because Sir Joseph Ward, it was believed, did not desire any contentious matter included in the measure at that stago of the session. The - motions were unanimously adopted. STANDARD TEACHERS’ CERTIFICATES. Mr T. Warren (Auckland) moved:— “That the department,, be urged to adopt a standard teacher’s certificate. It was mentioned during the discussion that school committees had made many mistakes by appointing persons of inferior capabilities, owing to their ignorance of the complicated methods of naming _ tho certificates. On the other hand, it was urged that the motion involved a, reflection on the committees, and there were differences of opinion upon tho alternatives for tho "present system. The motion was lost. “ EQUALITY FOR WOMEN.” Tho Education Act provides that of the first throe assistants in a primary school, one must be a woman. Miss L. Birss (Southland) moved that the institute urges an amendment providing that a woman must be included in. the first two assistants. It was urged by a number of lady delegates that the position was - the highest attainable by a woman, and the experience of the Christchurch and Hawke’s, Bay .Boards, showed that women were quite capable of, holding the higher position, where they re mained longer than men, who regarded it simply as a stepping-stone to a •higher appointment. Opponents of the remit stated that the remedy for tho women teachers lay with the Education Boards, which have the power to give the second assistant s position to a woman. Air Phillips (Otago) moved, as .an amendment the deletion of all limitations in regard to women, leaving all positions open equally to both sexes. Miss Shrewsbury (Auckland); stated ■tliat perfect equality was exactly wluxt the -women wanted,, but if these protective footnotes to the schedule were struck opt a large number, of board members, actuated by Old >\orld prejudices, would never appoint a woman to a good, position. . . The amendment was negatived, and the motion accepted by a fair niaInvitations were received from 1 the. Hokitika and Timaru ; districts as .the location of the next annual meeting, abd it was decided to go to the West Coast. Votes of thanks wore passed to the officers of the institute, the chairman of committee (Air Harkness), the Wellington District Institute for its hospitality, the Minister of Education for. a grant of £IOO towards the expenses of tho. meeting, the! Pioneer • Chib, and the Press- '