CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

Southland Times, Issue 22488, 24 January 1935, Page 7

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

CONFERENCE OF TEACHERS. A LENGTHY PROGRAMME. (Per United Press Association.) Dunedin, January 23. The annual conference of the Catholic Teachers’ Association of New Zealand was continued to-day. A lengthy programme kept the delegates fully occupied throughout the day. At the opening of the morning session the president (the Rev. Bro. M. M. O’Connor) extended a cordial welcome to Bishop Liston, of Auckland, who was making his first appearance at the conference.

The report of the sub-committee appointed to revise the syllabus of religious instruction for primary schools was read by the Rev. Father Terry, D.I. (Auckland), and a general discussion of its recommendations followed. The Rev. Father A. Loughnan delivered an interesting lecturette on the methods of teaching plain-chant music in the schools and made some very useful suggestions as to the text-books that might be successfully used by teachers. “The Cinema and the Child,” was the title of an informative paper read by the Rev. Dr. M. Klimeck, Adm., who discussed the powerful influence for good or evil exercised on the child mind by moving pictures, and quoted some startling results of recent scientific research into the matter. Every available educational agency should be mobilized to support a crusade for clean films.

The Rev. Father J. A. Higgins, S.M., addressed the delegates on the importance of the study of Catholic social science and gave an interesting analysis of some of its major problems.

For the afternoon session a paper on “The Mass” by Archbishop Sheenhan, of Sydney, was read by the Rev. Father Terry, the comprehensive treatment of the subject being greatly appreciated by all present. Bishop Brodie (Christchurch) made a moving appeal for a more adequate provision for the education of subnormal children.

One of the outstanding features of the day’s proceedings was an address delivered by Bishop Liston (Auckland) on methods of securing appreciation of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Many eminentlj' practical suggestions were made to teachers as to ways and means of educating children to love and value the great central act of Catholic worship.