EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3330, 9 January 1918, Page 47

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

WELLINGTON, January 2. Tho annual meeting of the New Zealand Educational Institute is being held. In the absenco of tho president (Mr L. D. Da Berry, of Hokitika), Mr W. Eudey (Dunedin), one of tho vice-presidents, presided. The gathering, which is very representative, was welcomed by tho Mayor. An interesting report by the executive regarding the position of education wa3 read. It deplored tho fact that tho idea that tho national system of education, should become the guiding spirit of the national life had been given a check through tho establishment by some denominations of church schools.

Tho conference passed tho following resolution: —"That the present method of electing education boards is unsatisfactory." Tho following-remit was adopted:—"That tho institute should endeavour to impress upon tho public and tho Government the great importance of providing improved educational facilities, and that the Government be urgod, during 1918, to provide adequate funds for school buildings and playgrounds; a sufficient number of inspectors to enable tho work of advising and assisting teachers to be satisfactorily carried out; medical inspection and free dental treatment for tho children of public schools; technical school buildings; compulsory continuation classes; tho conveyance of children to central schools; additional staffing; and a workers' educational association. January 3. At tho conference of tho Educational Institute the following motion was rejected:—"That, as education is of vital importance to the life and prosperity of any community, and as it is already impossible for education boards to fill vacancies with qualified teacherSj the institute is of opinion that the Education Department should take some steps towards the exemption of a due proportion of the male teachers from military service, as is being done by other official bodies, with a view to the maintenance of efficiency." Tho following resolutions were passed i—"That the Education Department be asked to take into serious consideration tho neoeafity for giving instruction in sex physiology in our schools; that the New Zealand Educational Institute is of the opinion that the proposal to terminate the primary school course at the twelfth year of a pupil's life is contrary to the best interests of tho youth, and therefore of the' people of the dominion."

January 4. The Educational Institute decided to-day thai a paid secretary should be appointed. Remits to the following effect were carried:—lt is improper for a senior inspector of a. district to be a member of the Grading of Teachers' Appeal Court, seeing that hie gradual is being appealed against; that some of the inspectors should do women; thac the institute views with grave concern the immoral influence of many picture films' shown, and urges the Government to set up a more rigorous censorship. The executive .reported that it -had correspondence before it showing that certain boards on several occasions disregarded the provisions of the Act in the matter of appointments, and it recommended that a strong protest should bo made against the action of the boards in defying tho provisions of the Act, and that the Minister be strongly urged to have subsection ?, section 71, of the Act repealed. The following officers were elected: President, Mr A. M. Burns; vice-president, Mr C. R. Munro 5 secretary, Mr H. A. Parkinson; treasurer, Mr J. E. Purchase; executive—Mr W. H. Newton (North Island), Misa N. E. Coad (Wellington metropolitan area), Mr F. J. Evans (South Island).