N.Z. EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11931, 3 January 1901, Page 5

N.Z. EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

(From Our Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, January 2, The eighteenth annual meeting of the council of the New Zetilanjl Educational Institute commenced this morning. The main subjects for discussion are: Making provision for the efficient'' training of teachers, the revision of the syllable 011 the line of greater freedom of classification, and a colonial scale of salaries and classification of schools. Two new features in cpnnection with the meeting are the extensive collection of educational works and school apparatus on 'exhibition, and the inauguration of open evening meetings, at which half-hour papers by the leading educational and scientific experts are to be read. \ The proceMings were opened by the Mayor of Wellington by an address, in which he referred in the highest terms to the work and influence of teachers.

The President of the Council (Mr W. J. Grundy),, in 'his opening address, referred to the working of the new regulations for the examination of schools and the proposed colonial scale of staffs and salaries. Am to the former, he pointed out that 'though teachers had now-freedom of classification, the standard pass was still retained, to the detriment of real education. He suggested the excision of the .provision for. the standard pass, and the substitution of a special examination for a " leaving certificate," which might be called the "honour certificate." As to the colonial scale, 'he deprecated the cry of the boards that the institute wanted the control of teachers taken out of their hands and vested in the central department. The only change desired was the classification of the ; schools' of the colony, 60 that the staffing 1 of schools and the payment of teachers should he according to a definite colonial scale, and so as to make the system truly national. He strongly advocated a colonial scale of staffs and salaries, and quoted startling anomalies in salaries existing now in the various provinces, and stated that under tlie present system of allocating the maintenance fund salaries throughout the colony must continue on the down grade a* its there is a necessity for-the establishment of small non-paying schools in newly settled district?.

Tie Otago remits—that teachers be allowed to qualify for C and B certificates by passing in single subjects; that instructions be issued to inspectors strictly defining their duties, as at Home; that arrangements be made by the Government for the efficient training of teachers; that code ivords be adopted in teachers' examinations; that the names of examiners be placed at the bead of papers set'; and that for the guidance, of examiners and candidates word-spelling lists have the pronunciation marked and meaning given when necessary—were all passed. It was also agreed to recommend that tlie compulsory attendances be raised to a,t least three-fourths of the attainable.

Mr Hogben, the Inspector-general, was present throughout the day's proceedings,

(Per United Pekss Association.) WELLINGTON, January 2. ■ At the Educational Conference a' discussion took place on the training of teachers.

Motions on the subject froni : . Otago and Marlborough appeared on the agenda paper urging the necessity of making more adequate provision for training teachers. One of the speakers said he thought it unfair that (the Otago and North .Canterbury Boards, which had tho only .two 1 training colleces in the colony, should .bear the cost of training teachers for the -whole colony. A motion was moved that the Government should undertake: the'training of teachers for the whole colony, Tho mover urged that there should -be one training college for the whole colony! and , thought Wellington would be the' most suitable centre, Another speaker urged that a training college and chair of pedagogy, which it was proposed to establish in connection with Victoria G'ollego; would fit in well together. He pointed out that the Government had appointed dairy apd poultry experts, and asked ivliy should it not appoint teaching experts to ~go into the back blocks and instruct teachers there how to : teach. An amendment to tho motion was moved to the effect that the whole cost be paid by the department and no part come out, of teachers' salaries.' The motion was carried. The following resolutions' were also toThat the,foltowing changes be made in the methods of' examination for teachers' certificates: (a) .That code words or numbers he adopted instead of the names of candidates • (b) that the names of examiners be placed at the heads of papers set; (c) that spelling tests supplied to supervisors for dictation to candidates should show the pronunciation and meaning of each word for the information of the supervisors and candidates.", A remit from Southland was amended and, passed in the following form-.—"That the Minister of Education be asked to introduce a School Attendance Bill to raise the school age to 14 years, and- to make compulsory a limit distanco of three miles for those over nine years of age and two miles for 'those between seven and. pine," At the instance of North. Canterbury, it was resolved—" That the attention of the Minister of Education he called to the inadequacy of the provisions for enforcing the .School Attendance Act, and. to ■ the desirability of placing the duty_ of -snail < enforcement in the hands of the'police." It. was further resolved—" That- between the ages of seven and 14 years every child be required to attend for not less than three-fourths ofUhe number of times the school- is open each week."

The' report of the treasurer that the legal defence, fund has been raised to *438.