NEW ZEALAND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17319, 20 May 1918, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

OTAGO DISTRICT. The forty-fast annuai report states that m March the executive oi the Institute of New Zealnd decided that an educational campaign should be inaugurated which wouid emphasise the need oi progress along the lines suggested by a comprehensive remit moved by A. N. Burns (president). The institute is well represented at the front. During the year the institute has lost Major W. W. Turner, who was rector of the Balclutha District High School at the time of his enlistment. The Committee of Management views with regret and anxiety the movements made towards denominationalism by sections of the community, and the insidious ways.of working to get denominational aid for secondary schools. It hopes that the institute as a whole, and members individually, will resist with all legitimate means that inserting of the denominational wedge. Since last annual meeting there has been erected in the Anderson Bay Cemetery the memorial stone in memory of the late Chief Inspector, C. R. D. Richardson. On July 1, 1917, the membership roll showed that 442 teachers were members of the Otago branch. During the succeed'ing _ months an earnest attempt was made to induce non-members to join, with the result that 90 new members enrolled, the membership now being 513. On July 1, 1917, tlie arrears amounted to over £100. By special efforts, and with much labour, the treasurer has managed to about £70 of this amount. iSome subscriptions, however, could not be collected, as the' members had left the service. The sum of £20 is still owing. The executive reports a credit balance of £142 17s 3d at tho end of December, 1917, in place of the debit balance of £19 6s lid on June 30, 1917. Unfortunately the New Zealand Institute decided that the financial year of the Branch Institute should close on December 31 intsead of. as formerly, one June 30. The result is that, though tho New Zealand Institute gains nothing financially by the change, the branch institutes realiy lose six months' subscriptions. The appointment of a permanent secretary to the New Zealand Institute will mean a great deal to the teachers, for he can devote all his time to tho work, and will be. able to push claims and improve conditions in a way that was impos6ble before. The institute will, however, ha.re to meet- extra expenses to, the extent of from £7tX) to £800 per anilnm., and the levy charged in future will probably be not less than 1m per member. The local executive is, therefore, faced with the problem of finding £1 Is per member per year. The Red Cross Society has undertaken a new responsibility—tho giving to the Government of a Military Convalescent Home at Montecillo. Teachers have shown how successfully they can organise, so is it not possible to raise £100 in tho primary schools to have a cot, suitably inscribed? A penny per pupil and a shilling per teacher would' more than provide the amount. Tho following recommendations will come before the annual meeting:—(l) That in addition to the members holding office ex officio, representatives of sub-branches on the following scale, form the Managing Committee—four from Dunedin Sub-brancli 5 , and one each from Waitaki, Bruce-Clutha, Lawrence, and Central Otago; (2) that the Committee of Management in May hold office until December, 15x9. the officers elected by sub-branches to hold office until the same date; (3) that for tho year ending December 31. the subscription bo 15s. and that in 1919, and thereafter until changed, the subscription be 21s; (4) that tho Emergency Committee consist of tho Dunedin snb-branch representatives, and the nominee of any other sub-branch interested. Hie Otago Assistant Masters' Association recommends(l) That the Minister of Education be urged to alter the regulations in such a manner as to make it impossible that a school should fall in grado and suffer a decrease in staff owing "to a sudden drop in attendance rrrought about bv severely inclement weather on a few days_ of tho yenr; (2) that the work nowrequired of inspectors in the marking of examination papers at Christmas ' time be considerably reduced; f3) that the number of inspectors be considerably increased. The following nominations have been received President. Mr C. M'Kinnon; vicepresident. Miss Mackenzie and Messrs W. Abel (Albany Street) and W. Croti (Kakamri); secretary, Mr J. Jeffery.