NEW ZEALAND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3498, 28 May 1920, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

o - RUAPEHU BRANCH, A meeting of this branch, was held in the Ohakune school on Satordaf, May 22nd, Mr Blyth presiding. Though the inclement weather caused a small attendance, a considerable amount of interesting business was transacted. The secretary, Mr Goldsbury, having read the correspondence, it was decided that he arrange for a deputation of Taihape teachers to meet Messrs Glenn and Smith M's.P., and put ’before them the claims of education throughout the Dominion. The secretary was also requested to write to the organising teachers of the district acquainting them with the explanation made to the executive of the N.Z E.I. by Mr Caughley in connection with the non-payment of grading increment to these teachers. A letter havinl been received from the president of the Horowhenua Branch complaining of the “somnolence}’” of theN.Z.E.I., and the lack of life” among its members, it was decided that the dissatisfied branch Jse asked to supply information, showing in what matters particularly connected with any phase of education in the Dominion, the N.Z.E.I. had been lethargic, so that the Ruapehu Branch might judge what benefits were to be gained by the formation of a Teachers Union. A letter from Mr Robert Irwin, President of the Nelson Branch, stated that a gentleman desirous of doing something for the cause of education had kindly arranged to present some books to each of the branches of the N.Z.E.I. The secretary’s action in accepting this generous offer was heartily endorsed. The books will form the nucleus of a teachers}’ library for this branch, and it is hoped that many others having at heart the cause of education in this district will follow an the footsteps of the Nelson donor. Several members present referred to the inequitable method by which the staffing of schools was made to depend on the average attendance. It was pointed out that several schools in this district (admittedly one of the worst in the Dominion so far as wea- ' thet is concerned) secured little relief by the method of excepting only those half dkys, on which the attendance falls below 50 per cent. The branch secretary was therefore asked to communicate with the secretary of the K.Z.E.I. asking him w r hat had been , done in the matter of remit 68, which dealt at the last conference of teachers with the grading and staffing of schools on the basis of the average roll. The business being Mr P. G. Lewis, M.A., read a paper on “The Teaching of Composition in the Senior , Division. ’ ’ This wa s favourably criticised, and the writer was asked to arrange for a copy of the paper to be sent to the various schools in tire district.