TEACHERS' INSTITUTE

Southland Times, Issue 18938, 11 May 1923, Page 10

TEACHERS' INSTITUTE

MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the Southland branch of the N.Z.E.I. was held in the Education Office on Saturday, May 5, the president, Mr C. N. Lawless presiding over a fair attendance of members. EDUCATION WEEK In view of the fact that this movement is new to Southland, it w-as considered that the initial effort was highly successful. Quite a number of parents \isited the town schools to see the children at their work, while several country schools were also visited. In future it- is hoped to have Education Week observed simultaneously all over New Zealand, when the joint efforts of pulpit, press and school, together with other organisations interested in education would be used to bring before the public the all-important question of the education of the youth of the country. The thanks of the Education Week Committee were due to the press for their wholehearted support, and also to Miss A. Drennan, M.A., Miss Farquharson, M.A., and Messrs T. D. Pearce, M.A.. J. P. Dakin, M.A., and G. F. Griffiths, who contributed articles to the local papers. SUMMER SCHOOL This project was first mooted by the retiring president, Mr D. M. Rae, at the annual meeting on April 20, and has been enthusiastically taken up by the Institute. In northern centres, notably in Christchurch, the Summer School movement, aided by such men as Professors Condliffe and Shelley, had taken a firm hold and promises to be an important factor in keeping teachers in touch with modern movements in education. A sub committee of the Institute was set up to make arrangements for a summer school to be held, probably at Queenstown, during the Christmas vacation. REMITS TO THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE The following delegates will represent the Southland branch at the annual meeting of the N.Z.E.I. to be held in Wellington during the present month Messrs D. D. Steadman, C. N. Lawless, G. F. Griffiths and James Lopdell. The order paper is a lengthy one, and included in it are the following remits sent forward by the Southland branch: (II That a uniform procedure in the conduct of proficiency examinations be followed throughout New Zealand. (2) That the Department be requested to publish in book form a school music course, designed to teach pupils to sing from old notation. That the course be published in grades and that a supply sufficient to provide each pupil with a copy or loan be sent to each school. (3) That a committee of the Institute be set up to report to next annual conference on, the teaching of spelling. (4> That in order to secure the best men for the inspectorate, the minimum salary for an inspector be at least £5O more than the sum total of all the emoluments of the headmaster of a primary school of the highest grade. BIBLE IN SCHOOLS A delegation from those churches that are interested in this question recently waited on the executive of the N.Z.E.I. in Wellington, when the following platform was placed before it:—(1) That a textbook be prepared by the representatives of the Christian churches for approval by the Education Department, including (a) passages of scripture readings; (b) a selection of hymns. (2) That this text-book be used in the State schools for scripture lessons to be given by the teachers with simple explanations for fifteen minutes every day. to be opened with the recital of the Lord’s Prayer. (3» That a conscience clause be allowed for teachers unwilling to give scripture instruction, and for parents not desiring their children to attend such instruction. (4) In the event of any teacher availing himself of the conscience clause, the school committee shall make suitable arrangements for conducting the scripture lessons. The executive decided to refer the platform to the branches throughout New Zealand for their consideration. When the question was brought before the local Institute a sub committee was set up to report on the matter. This committee, after due deliberation, recommended the branch to adopt the platform and this was done by resolution at a meeting on March 3. GENERAL A deputation from the Institute recently waited on the Education Board to place ’ before it the views of the Institute on the holiday question, and it is hoped that, as a result of the conference, this matter will be placed on a satisfactory basis. A committee has the matter of the syllabus for meetings in hand, and it is intended to print and distribute the syllabus as soon as it is completed.