TEACHERS CONFER

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9095, 14 July 1915, Page 10

TEACHERS CONFER

INSTITUTE’S ANNUAL MEETING

ADDRESSES DELIVERED AT OPENING SESSION.

The’ thirty-second annual meeting of the New Zealand Educauonal Institute was commenced in tne Jia;ouic nail, boulcoit street, last evening. The toilowing members were present: — Executive: President, Mr A. Erskine (Wellington); vice-president, Mr T. U. (Yells, Ji.il. (Auckland;; secretary, Mr H. A. Earkimson, M.a- (Wellington;; treasurer, Mr E- N.. Just (Lyttelton;. Non-official members of executive: Norm Isiand. Mr VV. ri. jNewton (Thames), Mr it. ±S. Holmes (Havelock iNOiln;; Wei-' iingioh Education District, Mr Geo. Flux, Mr W. T. Grundy; South Isiauu, Air <-/• u. Eiamauk (Huuediu;. Kepresenthtives of .district institutes: Auckland, Misses E. F. Hawkins, E. Simpson. Messrs A- J. O. Hall, H. G. . Cousins, M.A., H. A. Dai-row. D. W- Dunlop, W. O. Lamb, G. Lippiatt, M.A., and a.J. Ohlson; Taranaki, Messrs R L McIlroy, M-A., and G. H. Pope; Wanganui, Alessrs J. Aitken. 8.A., D. W. Low, and T. Thomas; Wellington, Mies J. Finlayson, - Messrs A. N. Burns, M.A., F. L. Combs. M-A., D. E. Leslie. A. McKenzie, and W. W. Bowntree; Hawke’s Bay.i Miss E. L. Faubert, Messrs J. Duggan, G- Harvey, and F. J. Rowley, 8.A.; Marlborough, Miss M. M- Brown and Mr H. E. Fisher; Nelson, Miss Graham and Mr D. H. Wilmot; Grey, Mr AI. Malone; Westland. Mr L. F. de Berry. M.A-; North Canterbury, , Misses E A- Chaplin, 8.A., A. M. Spence, Alessrs J. J. Adams, J. Caughley, M.A., and J. E- Purchase; South Canterbury, Alias J. Fyfe and Mr G. Dalglish; Otago Alisses AI. -McKenzie, C. Little, Alessrs T. Begg, W. Eudey, and J. Ironside: Southland, Alisses H. C. Birss, C. McLeod, Messrs H. AloFeely, and R. Wilson- ' • Mr E'rskine.was in the chair, and the evening, was mainly taken with addresses by representative citizens and educationists. An apology for absence was received from the Hon. A. L. Herdman, Minister for Justice. The first speaker was the Alayor (Hr J P- Luke), who congratulated Mr Q. Hogben (who was on the platform) on bis services to education and the manner in which the Empire had recognised those services. His Worship'referred to the importance of a teachers’ vacation, and said that country teachers were not yet sufficiently compensated, nor was their work adequately appreciated. . He was pleased to know that this conference was going to be an annual affair in Wellington. The young people, he hoped, would profit, not only by the results of this conference, hut by the goodwill that came from every teacher —male or female —connected with the education system. DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION SPEAKSDr Anderson (LL.D.). Director of Education; discussed a ■ number of the subjects appearing os remits on the orderpaper. On the matter of certificates, he said, the Council of Education would listen to anything the institute had to say, with the greatest respect. As to the action of . tho Senate of the University of New Zealand in regard to agricultural instruction, he judged by a remit on that subject that there was an increasing number of teachers interested in this branch of education. The Council of Education was doing its best to find a solution of this problem. While he believed that agriculture could not bo taught in the primary school, he stressed the importance of its basisnature study—in that department. At present the teachers must not expect too much from the Council of Education, which had been assembled at short notice- The action of the council so far had been in the main that of submitting to recess committees five or six matters of high importance, affecting primary and secondary education. He could well understand the attitude of those who opposed the system of payment of teachers based on attendance. AVhatever system w / adopted, however, at the back of it there must be average, attendance. If they had the class payment principle, chey must have, freedom of transfer, where a- teacher went from one school to another according to the requirements of the position and his ability to take that position.' As to the demands for increased salaries, the speaker urge© that members should not make the improvement of the position of the indi vidual teacher the main object of institute. meetings. In the last four, years the position of teacher's in general in regard to salaries had improved very materially.

"HEROES AND HEROINES.”

The Hon. J. G. W. Aitken, M.L.C., chairman of the Wellington Education Board, said that the board had always followed with considerable interest the reports of meetings and discussions of the institute, and he was satisfied that that interest would not lessen from the fact that the institute was meeting in Wellingon instead of. probably, at one of the ends of the Dominion, The board would take a very keen interest in the proceedings, and the delegates might find ’that the board would support their interest in a much more intelligent way than in the past. "It is very largely in your hands," Mr Aitken added, "to say what the next generation shall be. I am not quite sure that you always appreciate the tremendous importance of the work you are doing. Don’t forget that you are the heroes and heroines of the bo ( ys and girls who go to school. If your lives do not coincide with your teaching, the effect on the boys and girls will be very detrimental.” In conclusion Mr Aitken extended to the delegates a cordial invitation to visit the Brittomart street 'model school and the new training college which is in course of erection.

,A welcome to the delegates was also given by Mr T. R. Fleming, M.A., Senior Inspector of Schools, who referred to the meeting as a parliament of education. With reference to Mr Aitken’s injunction. he believed that there were_ many teachers who did their responsibility. . A response to the welcomes was made byl Mr W. HI Newton (Thames), who moved a hearty vote of thanks to the speakers, this being seconded by Mr T. IT- Wells (Richmond road, Auckland), nnd carried by acclamation. The president delivered an address on educational lines. He traced briefly the

1 istoricil do 'elopmciit, of the schooland stated that the greatest advance had * een n ade during the last two decades. The idea had gained a strong foohold that the child must be trained to fill its place in the world. It had become the supreme aim of education iu the older countries to develop sound bodies and well-balanc-ed minds. The speaker referred to the favourable comments which the New Zealand educational system had drawn from observers from other parts of the world. He went on to speak on the matter of rural education, his remarks on which subject are reported in another column. Mr T. N. Wells (Auckland) was appointed chairman of committees, and Mr G. H. Hume, of Christchurch, auditor-

Messrs IT B. Holmes, G. 6. Cousins, and L. F- de Berry were constituted a committee to apportion the Government grant. The following were appointed a committee to report on remits iO and 41 (dealing with scholarships): —Miss Birss, Messrs W. W. Ecwntree. H. E. Fisher, W. Eudey, L. F. de Berry, and J. Caughley. A letter was received from the Pioneer Club extending the privilege! of honorary membership to the lady delegates, and it was announced that the privileges of the Civil Service Club had been placed at the dispofl of the gentlemen. The following hours were fixed for the contitnuation of the conference :—9-30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., 2.30 p.m.- to 5.30 p.m., and 7.30 p.m- to 9.30 p.m.