EDUCATIONAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 19, 5 January 1912, Page 5

EDUCATIONAL.

INSTITUTE’S ANNUAL MEETING. (Per Press Association.) Timaru, January 4. At the Educational Institute conference the morning was spent in discussing in committee the executive’s report on the past year. The report stated the memhersnip to ho 2633, an increase of 176. The trust fund lias not been drawn upon, and is now £1330. Much work lias been done in regard to the promotion scheme, hut no material progress could bo claimed. Teachers were, asked to request householders’ meetings to pass a resolution in favour of a Dominion scheme, but not one-sixth did so. Superannuation affairs had made no progress. An amendment had been made in the law giving a teacher right of appeal, against an unjust transfer. Appreciation is recorded of the careful attention to detail and the breadth of view of Mr Fowlds as Minister for Education. The expenditure on legal cases had been heavy, details of which* will be given in'the balance-sheet next day. The benevolent fund now amounted to £297. It was resolved that a dispute from Wanganui, regarding house allowance, be taken to court if necessary. 'A’ remit that pensions for. teachers’ widows should be increased was finally, with other superannuation questions, referred to a committee to report within six months. It was stated that the superannuation fund was now £IBO,OOO and the income £54,000, of which £7OOO was from the State. It was resolved that teachers who had omitted to join in time, should be given an opportunity of doing so, and that the attention of the Minister be drawn to the inadequacy of the staff of schools with from 401 to 500 pupils. Miss Simpson (Auckland) made a powerful appeal for equal pay for equal work for women teachers.

In the afternoon addresses were given by Mr J. Brown, agricultural instructor, on the subject of his specialty; by Mr IV. Davidson, on observations on schools and school methods with other lands; and a paper by Professor Miss Boys Smith (Otago University), on domestic science in schools.