THE 1930 SUMMER SCHOOL

Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1929, Page 17

THE 1930 SUMMER SCHOOL

GATHERING OF TEACHERS TENTATIVE PROGRAMME MADE. ADDRESS GIVEN BY SECRETARY. An address on the 1930 teachers’ summer school was broadcast from 2YB by Mr. H. W. Insull, secretary of the Taranaki Education Board'and of the ■Summer School Committee, last evening. The number of teachers who had notified their intention of attending, said Mr. Insull, was 500. Most of them were expected to arrive from the south by expresses to New Plymouth at 1 p.m. and 7.45 p.m. on January 11. They would be met by a fleet of taxis and taken to their billets.

The teachers were coming from the /following districts: —Auckland 107, Taranaki 109, Wellington 62, Hawke’s Bay 36, Nelson 37, Canterbury 36, Wanganui 46, Otago 21, Southland 7, native and private schools 25. At the Boys’ High School arrangements had been made to accommodate 198 teachers and at the Girls’ High School 100. The teachers camping at the schools would be met by a committee and sleeping allotments made. The school would be opened by the Minister of Education on January 13 and would conclude on January 23. The routine for each day would be: Before breakfast, physical training by instructors; 8 a.m., breakfast; 9.15 to 10.15, lecture; 10.15 to 10,45 a.m., eurythmics; 11 to 12, intensive course; 12.30 p.m., lunch; 1.15 p.m., post lunch addresses; afternoon,excursions, games, sports; 6 p.m., tea; 8 to 9.30 p.m., popular lecture.

In their kit, teachers were advised to include tennis racquets, cricket gear, ramc.’T.s, cv. ~ Hub#

and a pair of heavy boots for excursions or mountain climbs. Invitations. had been received for the teachers from tennis, bowling, cricket and other clubs. Mr. T. H. Horton, the park superintendent, had offered to conduct parties of 30 or 40 around Pukekura Park and fernery. The school would have a canteen providing soft drinks, fruit and tobacco.

The time-table would probably 'be; — Saturday, January 11. —(School hostel open to receive visiting teachers. Monday.—2.3o p.m., official opening; speakers, Mayor of New Plymouth, the Minister of Education and Mr. S. G. Smith, M-P-; 7.30 to 9 p.m., Education,” Professor Shelly, school hall; 9 to 9.30 p.m., musical programme, setting up of committees. Tuesday.—9 to 10 a.m., Professor Yamasaki; 10.30 to 12, study groups, Greek art, literature, geology, music, Maori liifo and history, folk lore and legend; lunch; post luncheon chat, Professor Shelly, Afternoon: Rambles and sport to be organised by the committee; 5.30 to 6.30, tea; 7.30 to 9 p.m., lecture, “Java,” by Dr. Marshall; 9 to 9.30, entertainment by Taranaki students. Wednesday.—9 to 9.30 a.in., curythmics, Miss Whistler; 9.30 to 10 a.m., introduction to Maori study, Dr. Fitt; 10.30 to 12, group studies; post luncheon chat, Professor Yamasaki. Afternoon: Sports, trip to museum, Mr. W. H. Skinner; 7 to 7.30, orchestra and glee club, Mr. Tayler; 7.30 to 9, “The Place of Literature in Life,” Miss King; 9 to 9.30, dance and cards.

Thursday.—9 to 10 a.m., “Education and the Maori Race,” Director of Education; 10.30 to 12, group studies; post luncheon chat, Mr. Smith (?), “Mt. Eg,mont—lts Flora.” Afternoon: Cricket match, School v. Town; 7 to 7.30, orchestra and glee practice, Mr. Tayler; 7.30 to 9, “The Legacy of Greece to Mankind,” Processor Adams; 9 to 9.30, entertainment by men of school. Friday.—9 to 9.30 a.m., Miss Whistler; 9.30 to 10, “Native Education Abroad,” Mr. N. R. McKenzie; 10.30 to 12, group studies. Afternoon: Tennis match, The Rest v. Taranaki; excursion to be arranged; 7 to 7.30, glee club; ~ rn in o Pest. and

Future,” Mr. D. Tayler; 9 to 10 p.m., women entertain the camp.

Saturday.—9 to 9.30 a.m., “Geology of Taranaki,” Dr. Marshall; 9.30 to 10, Mr. P. Smith, “Education and the Maori”; 10.30 to 12, study groups; post luncheon chat, Professor Yamasaki. Afternoon and evening free.

Sunday, January 19. —Church service; afternoon and evening free. Monday.—9 to 9.30 a.m., Miss Whistler; 9.30 to 10 a.m., Dr. Fitt; 10.30 to 12, study groups; post luncheon chat, visitor. Afternoon: Sport and excursions; 7 to 7.30, glee practice; 7.30 to 9, Professor Yamasaki; 9 to 10 p.m., entertainment by Auckland. Tuesday.—9 to 9.30 a.m., Professor Adams; 9.30 to 10, Mr. Skinner, “Maori and Pakeha”; 10.30 to 12, study groups; post luncheon chat, Miss King. Afternoon: Sport; 7 to 7.30, glee club; 7AO to 9, Dr. Marshall; 9 to 10 p.m., dancing and cards. Wednesday.—9 to 9,30 a.m., Miss Whistler; 9.30 to 10, Maori problems (discussion), Dr. Fitt; 10.30 to 12,group studies; post luncheon chat; election of officers for 1930. Afternoon: Trip to Mt. Eginont. Evening: Grand concert.

BRIEF HISTORY OF MOVEMENT. The school is the fifth to be held under an organisation formed six years ago in Auckland. Summer schools are not entirely new in New Zealand for many years ago enthusiastic teachers would sometimes congregate during their holidays to benefit by contact and exchange c*f ideas and 'by lectures. But to Professor Shelly, of Canterbury College, is due the credit of establishing the movement on a wide and more permanent basis. He first organised schools in connection with the Workers’ Educational Association and later the movement was taken up by teachers.

A member of one of the southern schools introduced the idea among Auckland teachers and after much preliminary work it was decided to try a venture at Cambridge. It was at first thought that any subsequent gatherings would be held in places of similar size so that the school would be for tho t : me bciner an integral part of the com-

munity, but so rapid has been the growth of the movement that the interests of larger communities can be aroused.

The first panel of lecturers included Mr. F. Milner, M.A., C.M.G., Rector of Waitaki Boys’ High School, Professor ! Shelly, Dr. Marsden, Dr. Marshall, Dr. ■ Buck and Mi’. Varley Hudson, and it I is no wonder that tho first gathering was a success. . Cambridge threw its • doors open to the teachers and co-opcr- ! ated in every possible way to make the i stay a particularly enjoyable and memorable one. The 120 teachers.who at- ■ tended were so enthusiastic that at the i close of the school each one went de- • termined to help forward the growth. ! To make sure that a certain perman- ■ ence would be assured, and at the ex- ; pressed wish of the people, Cambridge i was again chosen as the place of locai tion with even greater success than be- [ fore. The organisers were now convinced ' that the teachers were eager for sueh i schools. The Education Department has ; been most helpful from the inception, ; but the movement is a spontaneous one i on the part of the teachers, who are ! entirely responsible for the curriculum and organisation and who voluntarily give part of their holiday to attend. The third school was held at Nelson, ' for it was decided to have a peripatetic school on a Dominion basis. The next year the teachers gathered at Oamaru, where all the facilities o’f the Waitaki Boys’ High School were at their disposal. The movement has justified itself; in fact, it has proved worthy of the patronage of the Governor-General and has merited the approbation of the Education Department. .Those responsible feel that the objects originally set down have been achieved. They are, briefly, a cultural and inspirational course for tho teachers; something that will prevent the vision being horizoned by the four walls of the classroom;. contact with New Zealand’s eminent lecturers and prominent business men;, the benefit of interchange of ideas, not only among the teachers themselves, but also with °the public generally; enlivening a greater interest in education among the people and establishing broader I

sympathies towards the teachers and their work. The man in the street is able to see and meet the teacher away from the classroom and to understand the ideals for which the teacher is working. The teacher is able to gauge the attitude of the public towards education and this should result in more purposeful teaching. But the holiday spirit is not absent, for indeed the gathering offers a particularly well-balanced holiday, one wherein is real intellectual enjoyment, outings, rambles, sport and social functions.

The public is heartily welcome to the lectures, for which no charge is made. The high standard established is 'being maintained and New Plymouth people will have the privilege of hearing Miss H. M. King, principal of the Otago Girls’ High School, lecture on English literature and modern drama, Professor Adams’ on Greek culture and art, Mr. Johannes Andersen on nature lore in New Zealand, Dr. Marshall on the geology of Taranaki, Professor Fitt on the Maori race and on educational problems, Mr. W. H. Skinner on the history, tradition and lore of the Maori; Mr. E. D. Tayler on music, past, present and future, and Professor Yamasaki of the Institute of Pacific Relations, who is coming from Honolulu, on problems of the Pacific.

A local executive has been set up in New Plymouth to carry out the many duties of registration, accommodation and catering, no mean task when one thinks of the 496 teachers who have enrolled, which constitutes a record. The Taranaki Education Board readily consented to assist in every possible way and Mr. H. W. Insull, secretary of the board, has been acting as secretary to the local executive, which has spared no pains to make the gathering a delight to both the 'teachers and the public.