TEACHERS’ INSTITUTE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19616, 21 October 1925, Page 4

TEACHERS’ INSTITUTE.

A READING CIRCLE. A meeting of the Dunedin sub-branch of the 0.E.1. was held in the Y.M.C.A. Rooms yesterday. There was a fair attendance, including Mr Marsden (Assistant Director of Education), Inspectors Fleming, Robertson, Lynsky, and Bain. The President (Mr C. MTCinnon) welcomed to the meeting Mr Marsden and the members of the inspectorate. Reference was made to the loss the profession had suffered by the death of Inspector Nicolson, and the meeting: passed a motion expression sympathy with Mrs Nicolson and the relatives of the deceased. Mr L. Forrester then presented the report of the sub-committee which had been sot up to consider the formation of a read ; itig circle. ■ The sub-committee recommended that, owing to counter-attractions during the currency of the Exhibition, no actual programme bo entered upon until next year. Chief-inspector Fleming addressed Ihe meeting, and outlined many suggestions as to how a reading circle might be successfully conducted.

Inspector Robertson then gave an instructive address, dealing with ‘'Pre-settlement History of Oir District.” The tendency now was not to restrict teachers to hidebound schemes dealing with sections of English history only, but to foster a really live interest, in the local history which lay at the door of every schoolroom. The history of New Zealand was a wonderful one indeed, and the more one studied it (he more engrossing it became. Local place names —especially those of Maori origin—were full of hidden meaning. The legends of the Maoris, too, were woven into and based upon the physical features of the country. In like manner, the speaker referred to the early sealers, whalers, ami traders, and to the visits of Tasman, Cook, and other great explorers. Dr Marsdon referred generally to history, and the difficulty that had been encountered in placing it in its rightful position in the various grades of schools. The speakers wore accorded a hearty vote of thanks. After further discussion in regard to the reading circle, the existing sub-committee was reappointed, with a recommendation from the meeting that it should make all necessary arrangements for commencing' the programme of the readipg circle early next year.