AFTERNOON SITTING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2368, 20 July 1899, Page 28

AFTERNOON SITTING.

The attendance at the afternoon sitting mcx eased to about 50, Mr Garrow presiding.

THE RONGAHEBE CASE.

Mr Davidson, convener of a committee appointed to draw up a resolution dealing with this matter, reported that they had considered the case very carefully, and seeing thai it was so long ago since *the act was perpetrated, and also that the member personally affected had oxpre3sed her desire it should not be made more public than necessary, the committee had come to the conclusion thai if they expressed their strongest sympathy' with Misa Annett, and also made it plain that the institute would always be ready to support any ffeacher placed in suoh a position, not only morally, but financially, that that would meet the case. Miss Annett haa stated that she was receiving very much better treatment now. He moved — " That this branch of the New Zealand Institute expresses its strongest sympathy wilh Miss Annett in regard to the cowardly treatment she received' on taking charge of the Rongahere School, and regrets that the police have so far been unable x to trace the perpetrators of the act ; the branch also wish teachers to know that 'they may always rely on tfie moral and financial support of the institute when requiring suoh support." The motion having been seconded, was put and carried unanimously.

FORMATION OF A -RELIEF FUND.

Mr J. Grant said that some eight' or ten months ago the Palmerston branch received a circular, asking for help for a teacher in distress. He thought it would be far belter that a fund should be created for this purpose. In several instances where help had been asked, the responses had been very meagre. Pie moved—'.' That the Committee of Management take info consideration what steps may ha taken lo form a fund for the purpose of financially assisting teachers who may be laid aside from active work, and remit the result of their deliberations to the branches during the year."

Mr Davidson seconded the motion, which was carried. ELIMINATION OF HISTORY FROM THE SYLLABUS.

Mr G. M 'Donald, in bringing up a remit on this question from the Oamaru branch, said theat they held that history was to a large extent beyond the comprehension of children. Further, they had a very wido year's work before them, and he wanted to reduce it if they could. History was one of the subjects that might go. The strain in covering the year's work was very h^avy. History was a very good subject in those cases where the faculties were matured. Te a large extent this motion had already been approved by the fact that history had been taken out of the junior scholarship papers. He moved — - "That history be eliminated from the syllabus."

Mr Tyndall seconded, and said that according to the method in which they were expected to teach history it was impossible to get satisfactory results. History in itself — that was^ philosophical history, and histqry from which they could learn lessons for the future development of society — was not a subject for immature children at all. He thought it was out bf place as a matter for primary instruction, and made mention of the fact that frequently historians found, as the result of research, that what was accepted as true was entirely wrong, and little more than a fairy tale.

Mr Barnetl said that he had strong views on the subject of history. He did not want to see it cast out altogether, but he certainly agreed thai jfc was useless to teach it as a subject for cause and effect. Mr C. R. Smith (Stirling) spoke to the motion.

Mr j. Reid thought that the inspectors should be confined to certain bounds in examining claEßes in history. Mr Jeffrey moved as an amendment — " That history be laken aa a reading subject, but nob examined upon." After some further discussion the amendment was carried.

THE RESULTS OF EXAMINATIONS,

Mr Mathews said that he desired 'to bring up a question that affected teachers greatly. He had noticed in that morning's paper that the result of the examinations at the Arthur street School had been published- He referred in very strong terms to the practice of publishing these results, and said that teachers had been fighting against this sort of thing for a long time. Mr C R. Smith and Mr Tyndall also spoke in much the same strain.

Mr Reid defended the action, and said that it was a splendid result, and the teachers were entitled to credit for it. He added:' "Let those present see if they can do the same." This brought Mr Barnett to his feet, who spoke strongly against the evils of comparing the results of schools, and said that he knew it led to cruelty in forcing children, under the average ability, to pass.

After further discUFsion, Mr Mathewe moved — "That the institute strongly protests against the practice of publishing examination results." Mr Barnett seconded the motion*, which was dalr carried. ""

{THE EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE AT WELLIXG-

By general consent the meeting agreed to proceed -with the discussion of the motions, of .which- notice had been given. Mr Davidson said that if the institute was represented at the Educational Conference, it .would give it additional importance and greater influence than it now had. The Otago ■Branch was numerically the strongest in .New •Zealand and he thought they would be best studying their interests, and those of the New •Zealand Institute, if they sent a representative to this conference. The programme contained questions of great interest indeed. Just now their education system, was in a state of transition, and he thought it quite possible that some radical change would shortly be made. The result of this conference would 'have a good deal of influence in shaping the changes that were about to be made. He moved — " That this branch accepts the invitation of the Wanganui Board to send a repreBentative to the Educational Conference, to be held in Wellington on July 18, and that Mr Garrow be a'fcked to represent the branch." Mr Tyndall seconded the motion, which was carried.

Second Day,

The morning sitting of the Educational Institute on the 12th was occupied in dealing .with motions, notice of which had been given on the previous day. Mr Garrow presided. -Mr-W, Davidson moved — "That in the [opinion of this district institute, members of the executive should be members of the council, ex officio." Speaking to the motion, he Baid that they placed a man on the executive in anjnvidious position if they asked him to represent the teachers of New Zealand on the Executive Council, and "prevented him from being present at the council meetings in order to explain the position he might take up on any question that might have arisen during the year. He felt sure that other district unions would pass such a resolution as this. — Mr Eudey seconded the motion, ;which was carried unanimously. Mr Jeffery moved — " That the Otago Educational Institute recommend the executive of the New Zealand Educational Institute to vest the surplus after the legal defence limit has been reached in the names of trustees appointed by the council." — Mr C. R. Smith eeconded the motion, which was carried.

Mr A. W. Tyndall moved — " That members of the committee of Management appointed by sub-branches and living at a distance from (Dunodin be paid their travelling expenses out of the funds of the Otago branch, on at least four occasions of attending' the committee's meetings." Speaking to the motion, he said that the institute's funds were now in such a flourishing condition that he thought the handicap placed on country teachers should be removed. If the Dunedin members wanted the aotive co-operation of the country members they should try and get the motion carried. — An animated discussion followed, in iwhich the majority of the members' appeared to think that the finances of the institute could not stand the strain without an increase in the subscription. — An amendment — "' That the matter be left in the hands of the Committee of Management" — was eventually carried.

Mr A. M. Barnett moved—" That it be a recommendation to the JNew Zealand Educational Institute that the police should act as truant officers in country districts." Mr Barnett stated that at the present tim * •» board sent out notices for returns of those children ■who had not attended school to be sent into them. He knew of one case where a committee interfered with a lady teacher and tried to prevent her sending these returns to the beard. Ii the matter were in the hands of the police it would relieve the teachers conBid erably.— Mr F. S. Aldred seconded tho motion. — Mr Malhews pointed out that the chairman of committees had power to grant exemption certificates, and thi? practice was frequently availed of. — Mr M'Donald wanted truant officers appointed by the department for the whole colony. He opposed leaving the matter to the police.— The motion was lost.

Mr Jeffery moved— "That the president and secretary be ex officio delegates to the Council of tho New Zealand Educational Institute. "-—Mr Tyndall seconded the motion. — The motion was ruled out of order, and consequently lapsed. Mr Jeffery moved— " That the Committee of Management notify in the next annual report that in future printed copies of the annual reports will be sent to members only." — Mr Tyndall seconded the motion, which /was carried.

Mr Jeffery moved — " That a sliding scale of entry fees be adopted after the next annual meeting." Speaking to the motion, he eaid the institute had now considerable resources, resulting from the sacrifice made by •those teachers who had been loyal to it. He thought that the time had arrived when outside teachers who wished to join the institute and take advantage of these resources, should pay entry fees in proportion to tho advantages that would accrue to them through membership. — Mr Davidson, in seconding the motion, said that it would help them to become more of a rjal union, and he would be glad if they could come under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. Throughout the whole colony there was a tendency to reduce salaries. When the colony was in a depressed condition they suggested how the cost of administration of the education system could be lessened; now, when things were prosperous, they had to enjoy reductions. He believed in taking any step that would tend to make the institute a union. — The motion was carried.

Mr Jeffery moved— " That after July 1, v.BOO, the Committee of Management do nothing to defend a teacher who has not been a member six months before the occurrence of the offence which causes the teacher to ask for assistance." — Seconded by Mr G. M'Donald and carried.

It was decided that the minutes of the annual meeting should be printed in the annual report, and that in future the annual meeting be held in show week in each year.

Aftehnoon Sitting.

The attendance at the afternoon sitting of the institute numbered about 100; Mr Garrow presiding.

Miss Sinclair, 8.A., read a paper entitled " Difficulties of a Country Teacher." The essayist dealt with the exacting nature of a country teacher's duties, and referred chiefly to the number of classes that had to be superwised, the amount of preparation required for school work, and the difficulty in obtaining suitable apparatus for science, geography, kindergarten work, and gymnastics, "otc. Instead of benefiting by the use of gymnasiums such as existed in town f-ehools, the country teacher had difficulty in getting .window blinds and shelter sheds. Miss Sinclair also pointed out that the want of roads frequently spoiled the attendance in winter, and that in summer children were apt to be kept away to help their parents. The counXty teacher also suffered from isolation, — Hherever he went he was always the teacher,

and could never get out of sight of his work, or get quit of the interminable quory : " llow are the children getting on? " The country teacher in a school by himself missed entirely the sense of camaraderie to be got by talking over difficulties with a fellow teacher, and the habit of repression grew on him till it became second nature. After a time he ceased to desire to talk about his work except in a general way, and he also forgot to interest himself in the teaching interests of others. This was apt to make him self-centred and egotistical. The country teacher was subjected to more criticism than the town teacher. Frequently committees expected a country teacher to attend to a post and telephone office in addition to his ordinary work. The paper was not all written in a complaining spirit, and the humorous side of things cropped up in several places. On the whole it was a very fair statement of the lot of the country teacher, and Miss Sinclair was accorded the customary vote of thanks at the close.

Mr D. R. White, M.A., read a paper entitled " How to Make the Junior Class Work of Small Schools Interesting and Instructive." Mr White prefaced by saying that he had been studying methods of teaching for many years, but until recently his experience had been confined almost exclusively to methods of teaching applicable to large classes. For the past four years he had been carrying on a small school in connection with the training college class. This had opened up a new field of work and observation. He went on to refer exhaustively to kindergarten work, and said in this connection a great deal that went under that name was neither suitable nor practicable in public school work. By illustrating his remarks with various mechanical devices in the form, of woo"den letters, and parts of words made of wire, etc., he .showed how young pupils were enabled to grasp easily the principles of word construction. Passing on to arithmetic, lie showed metal discs and other articles, the use of which was designed to assist cliildren in learning to count and add up. In drawing, it was found expedient to utilise pieces of wood, and so on. All the apparatus employed was inexpensive, and most of it could be made by teachers themselves. It did not take long to prepare pupils to do the different kinds of desk work by themselves. It could easily be done in the time specified in the time tables under whioh they were working their small school, but all the expository or oral lessons must proceed on the same principles as the desk work. — Mr White's paper was listened to with deep interest by those present, and a number of the teachers present referred to it in high terms of appreciation.

Evening Sitting.

The institute resumed at 8 p.m. to hear a lecture by Professor Benham, D.Sc, on " Sugar, Alcohol, and Vinegar." The Lecturer stated at the outset that these three familiar substances were intimately related to each other in that the two latter • were produced from, first, by a series of mysterious chemical changes brought about by living organisms. These three links in a chain of changes might be regarded as the youth, manhood, and old age of a particular chemical substance, and they also might bo taken as typical of the three " ages " of man. Childhood was sweet ; it was then, before they had tasted the bitters that the world had in store, that all was innocent and harmless, just as sugar was. Then, leaving the preparatory, or incubatory stage, they passed rather suddenly, perhaps, into the joys of manhood. When a lad entering business got his first taste of town life, there was a distinct tendency to eschew sweet things and take stronger drink. Sweet lemonade gave place to beer, and even spirits, and throughout manhood the average man, when needing some fluid to quench his thirst, took alcohol in some form or other — not always in moderation, unfortunately. The middle term of their chemical series typified manhood in its strength and prime. But beer and claret were apt to turn sour in the third term of the series — vinegar, which represented the breaking up of man's faculties. Old age in many cases was very beautiful, but in other cases there was a bitterness, a " regretfulness, a sourness about it. So with vinegar, unless it were mixed with some mustard or pepper or oil to make it palatable, either as pickles or salad dressing. But in its nakedness, it was 'tadly wanting. The speaker then went on to demonstrate the relation of the substances to each other, and he showed how they were produced by minute living organisms. Illustrating his remarks by diagrams, Br Benham held tho attention of his audience for about an hour with a very instructive lecture. Mr C. R. Smith said that he considered the institute very much indebted to Professor Benham for his paper, which, like another paper they had heard that afternoon, had the great value of being practical. He moved — " That a hearty vote of thanks be accorded Dr Benham for his lecture."

Air J. Ti. Ferguson seconded the motion, and the vote was passed by acclamation. Tho Chairman, in conveying the thanks of the-meeting to the lecturer, stated that it had been the custom of the institute to ask some one conuected with the teaching profession to deliver one of the addresses during the session. He thoiighb the practice a good one. It tended to widen their views, especially when the lecture was on some department of science that the majority of them had not time to become acquainted with. Dr Benham briefly acknowledged the vote.