The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MOPPING. Luceo Non Uro. THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 1927. AFTER FIFTY YEARS

Southland Times, Issue 20148, 7 April 1927, Page 6

The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MOPPING. Luceo Non Uro. THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 1927. AFTER FIFTY YEARS

Occasionally—the instances are rare fortunately—there are heard criticisms which suggest that the New Zealand Educational Institute is the instrument forged by the school-teachers for the purpose of gaining higher pay and shorter hours. How far from the truth that idea is can be discovered by anyone who has the opportunity of perusing the excellent Jubilee Memoir of the Southland Branch of the institute in connection with the branch’s celebration of its fifty-years of work. The Southland branch goes back to May 5, 1877 when eleven teachers gathered at the Grammer School, (now the Middle School) and formed a “Local Association of the Teachers of Southland.” The names of those foundation members are sufficient to disclose the earnestness with which the movement was launched as an effort to assist the cause of education as much, or even more so than the interests of the teachers individually. In 1877 important events were moving in New Zealand.

The national system was being put into legislative shape, and it is worthy of note that at its second meeting the association decided to send for a copy of the Education Bill, designed to give New Zealand its national system of primary education. In common with similar bodies in the country, the Southland Association assisted in the establishment of the national educational organisation by constructive criticism, and the energy with which the Southlanders approached their task is shown by their efforts in those days to secure the introduction of a Teachers’ Superannuation Scheme and to bring into being a New Zealand organisation through which the teachers could assist the department. In 1879 the new syllabus was under consideration, and it is surprising to read that in the beginning the teachers were warning the department against overcrowding, not as an effort to lighten their own tasks but to secure better opportunities for giving the children sound foundations on which to build in the future. To-day the teachers, through their organisations, are hammering away at the same point, a melancholy fact sug- i gesting that the authorities, in a country where laymen have an influential voice, are hard to convince. In these early days the Southland branch sought to help its members, and through them the cause of education in the province, by importing distinguished lecturers, in this way anticipating the more elaborate Summer Schools through which the teachers of this country now obtain “refresher courses.” Once it is realised that no matter what may be 1 the qualifications of the man at the head of the department, the success of primary education in this country depends on the teacher in personal contact with the children, the peculiar importance of the Educational Institute can be seen, as well as the significant fact that the interests of the individual teacher are intermingled with those of the pupil. The relationship of the two, and the teachers’ estimate of that relationship can be seen in the failure of the movement to replace the Institute

with a Teachers’ Union. Selfishness dietfated that the Union, concerned only with the betterment, of teachers’ pay and conditions, was preferable; but me institute, ; with its broader outlook, its higher purpose, its recognition of the peculiar position of the profession in the life of the country, withstood the shock nobly and the Union movement waxed and waned as it did on a later occasion. This Jubilee Memoir, written primarily for teachers, has more than an historic value because it will serve to correct the unjust impression that it has fought selfishly. It has been an instrument for the advancement of education, and to-day, it is pleasing to note, it lacks none of the vigour and the earnestness that characterised it when it was assisting to lay the foundation of the school system. Recognition is given to the men and women who have served the Institute in various capacities during its fifty years, the roll of names showing that the Southland Branch has been extremely fortunate in its officials during a • vigorous and useful effort extending over half a century. The Institute of to-day is to be honoured for its past, congratulated on (he maintenance of its high purpose, and encouraged frankly to carry its activities forward in the light of its inspiring record.