INTERESTS OF TEACHERS

Taranaki Daily News, 21 February 1931, Page 9

INTERESTS OF TEACHERS

ANNUAL meeting of institute

HELP WANTED FOR BIG CLASSES.

The North Taranaki branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute met in New Plymouth last evening. Mr. J. E. Shimmin presided over an attendance of 251 ' t The year closed with a roll of 171, stated the ■ annual report. There _ was need for renewed interest in institute affairs arid the executive hoped tiliat the attendance at annual meetings might improve. Many important changes had taken place and several social functions were held. Mr, T. J. Griffin, inspector, was farewplled prior to his departure to the senior inspectorship at Nelson. Miss Andrews was congratulated on her selection as representative of the Women Teachers’ Association at the.Pan-Pacific; conference at Honolulu. Later Mr. R. G. Ridiing, senior agricultural supervisor, was the guest of the institute before he left to take up an appointment as inspector undpr the technical brknen of the department. The severest IpSs iVas the departure of the secretary, Mr. W. L. Wagstaff, to the .Ohura. The branch acknowledged its debt to Mr. Wagstaff for his work during the past seven years. Welcomes to the district were given to Messrs J. Hawke (in* speetor) arid D. Mackay (senior agricultural supervisor). Addresses had been given by Mr. 11. W. Insull on “Scholarships and Funds,’’ and by Mr. N. K. Mackenzie on “The Platoon System. The library committee had met regularly and many modern works had been purchased. Diiring'the year much work m tlie direction of a Taranaki schools’ survey had been carried out under the guidaiibe of Air. N. R. Mackenzie. A booklet, a Carefully prepared account of some 60 odd pages, was now being published, and members would, find it not only a record of the surveys made but also an instrument of special value {o the progressive teacher. Perhaps that work would be, to date, Taranaki s most important contribution to the educational world. The representatives to the annual conference were Miss E. Andrews qnd Mp. M. Goldsbury. At the conference Miss Andrews was elected to a position on the executive of the New Zealand Educational Institute, Though the credit balance for the year was not a large one the position was satisfactory except that a few subscriptions were still outstanding. The branch offered its thanks for the courtesy it had received, from the members of the inspectorate and the staff of the Education Board. “With the Atmore Report still before us,” bhejed the report,” and the Government retrenchment scheme seriously affecting the work of our schools, it ap* pears that the year 1931 will be an important one. Members are urged to throw in their weight and strengthen the branch in its efforts to advance the caUSe of education.” The annual statement of receipts and expenditure showed a credit of £lB 9s and the library fund, showed a credit of £5 6s 3d. Officers were elected as sident, Air. J. E. Shimmin; vice-presi-dent, Miss Papps; secretary and treasurer, Air. AL Goldsbury; recording secretary, Air. A. A 7. Gilbert; auditor; Air. G. if. Davey; appeals advocate, Mr. Adlaui; executive, Airs. Deighton, Mrs. Ruff, Miss Allen, Miss Fawles, Alias Aiidrew.s, Alessrs Brown, AdlUjn; AleKiriny, Thomas, Nicoll, Whiteside and Palmer; library committee, Alessi's Brown and Thomas. Air. Shiminhi agreed to accept the office of president for a further term of only one month.

The following motions from the meeting are to be forwarded to the headquarters of the institute in Wellington : —

The branch approves of the reduction of the number of probationers appointed but deplores the non-appointifleiit of additional assistants to lai'ge classbs. That the education boards should appoint the best qualified probationers and' place them irrespective of boarding allowance.