EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2210, 9 July 1896, Page 30

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

The nineteenth annual report of the Educational Institute of Otago, to be presented to the meeting to be held on Wednesday,-Thurs-day, and Friday, embodies the resolutions and amendments passed at the last annual meeting. The committee report having written to tho Education BdftTd enclosing a statement drawn up in connection with the • allowances to committees, but no reply was received. The allowances have since been increased R-jereace iR made to the tneetiog of the. New "'Zetland Institute, the classification sqh,enie. and the action taken with regard to text -books Regret is expressed at the removal of Mr J. A. Johnson to Timaru, and the committee record with extreme sorrow the loss through death of Inspector Taylor. It is probable that a resolution will be submitted to the aunual meeting on the subject of the Bible in schools, which very vitally concerns teachers. It will be necessary for the Committee of Management to take steps when the time of election draws near, and as a diversity of opinion exists on this question, a vote of the members will of necessity guide tbe committee in its action. Mr Wuttfcer's resignation of hh -position as secretary was received with regret. Financially the institute is in about the same position as it was last year. The Committee of Management again urge on all those who are not members the advisability of at once joining tbe institute. This may be done.by becoming a member of the Educational Institute of Otago unattached to | any branoh, or by joining one of the branches. Those teachers who find it inconvenient to join a branch may forward their annual subscription •to Mr W. Eudty, Kensington School. It ia unnecees&ry to give reasons why teachers should be member* of the Educational Institute of New Zealand; reference to "Us Work, Hig- ! Tory, and Constitution," as shown in the last annual report of the council, will saticf j teachers on that head. It is not generally known thnt> legal defence fundhasb^enestablished^nto which \\ of each member's subscription is paid, mid to wb cb it is proposed to transfer £100 from the credit balance of the geaeral fund. The legal fund, thug strengthened, will in future with the ordinary levy be anffiuient to meet all legal I expenses incurred in thfe prot. * "on of teachers j belonging to the institute. Bi apart from the ! question of uaiug. an association as a mean* gai defence, a teachers' institute must, if strong,command the respect .of all connected with educational affairs, and therefore be of great benefit to the profession. Reports from the branches show that tbe

Dunedin branoh has a membership of 46, with an average attendance of 15 ; the Bruce-Clutha branoh has a membership of 25, and the" Central Otago branoh 11. The North Ofcsgo branoh seems to be defunct.