EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE

Otago Witness, Issue 3247, 7 June 1916, Page 62

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE

ANNUAL MEETING. _ The annual meeting of the Otago Educational Institute was commenced in the King Edward Technical College on the Ist, tha president (Mr J. A. Moore] occupying the chair, and a largo number of members, both ladies and gentlemen being present. The annual report and balance sheet were adopted. Mr Moore chose as the subject of his presidential address "A Plea for Continuity in Education." Children, he said, had acquired much useful education before they were enrolled in the schools, and if there was not to be a serious break at that early stage, the school must copy to some extent the methods of the home. The speaker went on to explain how the child learned by doing things in his play, and by taking notice of things about the house, about the streets* and about people, and copying these. He spent hours daily modelling in plrtsticcne, setting out railway lines and constructing his various childish works. He drew figures of animals, houses, the clock, and indeed of everything that interested him. The child of a few years old discovered almost everything for himself except tho names of tho tilings. A little suggestion was necessary at times to put him on a new line of thought, but. once started, he would conduct his own investigations and make his own discoveries. A vote of thanks was accorded to the president, and it was recommended that the paper should be forwarded to the editor of the Journal of Education for publication. Office-bearers were elected as follows: — President, Mr W. Phillipps (Albany Street); vice-presidents, Miss C. Little (Albany ■Street) and Mr Nelson (Fcrbury); secretary, Mr -L Jeffory; library, Miss M. Ralston; auditor, Mr R. R. Hunter (Arthur Street). An interesting address on "Physical Education in Onr Schools" was delivered by Dr Ada Paterson, Medical Inspector of Schools. Tho matter of the dental treatment of school children was dealt with at length by Mr W. Cron, and the following motion moved by him was carried:—"That this meeting desires to impress upon the educational authorities the desirability of making provision for the dental treatment of children of our schools, and especially of those in our country schools." ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETING. The report of tho delegates to the annual council meeting was heard and considered. Mr F Hilgendorf moved —"That this institute requests the Education Board to provide free of charge the cheque books required in connection with the payment of teachers' salaries." Mr W. J. Rogers moved —"That, with a view to lessening the life handicap of backward or sub-normal children who are incapable of reaching the Fourth Standard, they should be allowed the advantages of attending the technical classes set up in the schools." Mr W F. Abel moved—" That this meeting of teachers considers that, owing to the increase in the price of paper aril stationery, a return to slates in some of our country schools is advisable." The mover pointed out that a saving was desirable; parents had much to justify them in their complaints.—Other members said that there was hardly a slate to be got in the city. Tha provision of slates would be a difficult problem. —The motion was carried by a bare majority, The ovening session was devoted to the hearing and discussing of a particularly interesting paper by the principal of the Training College (Mr E. Pindcr)—a comprehensive survey of the "Progress of Education," showing how modern education instead of being viewed as formerly as isolated from everyday life is gradually evolving a close connection with it. Mr Finder was accorded a very hearty vote of thanks for his paper.